“It will be time to discuss that when we come to it. Do you wish to return to the true church and receive absolution?”
“I am in the true church,” replied Aglipay, hardly above a whisper. “You will not murder me?”
“We do not murder snakes and vermin when we destroy them. And to think, you used to be a priest in the one true church. You see now what your ambition brought you to.”
“Ambition!—I would talk about ambition if I were you. You, who have mastered the poor Filipinos; you, who are planning for control of America! Ambition—may God forgive you!”
“I am sorry I can not return the compliment of praying for your forgiveness, but you are so unrepentant. However, I will hear your confession if you wish.”
“I will confess to God and not the devil.”
“You might as well begin your confession then.”
Aglipay paled. But he faced the nuncio and spoke in a calm voice: “How can you profess religion, you who are so cruel, so ambitious, so licentious? Do you really believe, or is it an open mockery with you?”
“Yes,” answered he, “there is a God, and truth, too, in religion. But it is moral to rise to your full height, though you may trample others as you rise; and though it seem a pity to devour the weaker creatures, no one thinks about it. It is a part of feeding, and is right. We eat a woman’s flesh as ’twere a fowl’s, and take a poor man’s life as though a bird’s; that is, the great do, those with authority. It is doing this that makes them great. Repression is but failure. Life and success came from expression and experience. I am friendly with you because we must part. Good-bye; Bishop.”