"Say, five hundred, and perhaps more;" I answered.
"Well, my boy, do you spend all your time in mocking me?"
"Not all my time: but unfortunately, I have done it very often."
"Yes may you say: "unfortunately!" for to mock, your priest, who holds the place of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a great sin and a great misfortune for you. But tell me, my little boy, what reason have you for mocking me, thus?"
In my examination of conscience, I had not forseen that I should be obliged to give the reasons for mocking the priest, and I was thunderstruck by his questions. I dared not answer, and I remained for a long time dumb, from the shame that overpowered me. But, with a harassing perseverance, the priest insisted upon my telling why I had mocked him: assuring me that I would be damned if I did not speak the whole truth. So, I decided to speak, and I said: "I mocked you for several things."
"What made you, first mock me?" asked the priest.
"I laughed at you, because you lisp: among the pupils of the school, and other people, it often happens that we imitate your preaching to laugh at you," I answered.
"For what other reasons did you laugh at me, my little boy!"
For a long time I was silent. Every time I opened my mouth to speak, my courage failed me. But the priest continued to urge me, I said at last; "It is rumoured in town, that you love girls: that you visit the Misses R's——almost every night; and this, often made us laugh."
The poor priest was evidently overwhelmed by my answer, and ceased questioning me on that subject. Changing the conversation, he said: "what are your other sins?"