“Nor better,” said Hugh, in his quietest manner.
“Nay!” urged Bertram, who thought he had the advantage here, “but an’ it be well to confess at all, it is good to confess unto any: and if to any, to a woman; or if to a woman, to a man; or to a man, then to a priest.”
Hugh gave a soft little laugh.
“Good friend, I could prove any gear in the world by that manner of reasoning. If it be good to confess unto any, then unto anything that liveth; and if so, then to a beast; and if to a beast, then to yonder cat. Come hither, Puss, and hear this my friend his confession!”
“Have done with thy mocking!” cried Bertram. “And mind thou, the Lord did charge the holy apostles with power to forgive sins.”
“Granting that so be—what then?”
“What then? Why, that priests have now the like power.”
“But what toucheth it the priests?”
“In that they be successors unto the apostles.”
“In what manner?”