Karvel—"Explain yourself more clearly. Be indulgent with my ignorance. Let us be definite. In a city that is taken by storm, a mother flees with her child. You slay the mother. Is that a worthy act before God?"
Montfort—"The viper that is crushed, breeds no more little ones. The supply of the miscreants is thus reduced."
Karvel—"That is logical. But why slay the child? That is an abominable act?"
Montfort—"Of what age are you supposing the child to be?"
Karvel—"I suppose it to be at its mother's breast."
Montfort—"Has it been baptized by a Catholic priest?"
Karvel—"That child at its mother's breast whom you slay—has been baptized."
Montfort—"Then it is in a state of grace and ascends straight into Paradise. As to children who are older than seven years, they go to purgatory there to await their admission in the blessed resting place. But if they have not been baptized—then the case is grave—"
Karvel—"What happens to those children?"
Montfort—"The poor little creatures, still dripping with the soilure of original sin, go straight to hell where they are forever deprived of the countenance of God. Nevertheless, in consideration of their tender years, the hope is left to them of being exempted from the everlasting flames by the prayers of the faithful—a grace that never would have fallen to their share had they been allowed to remain wallowing in the pestilence of heresy! Their death will have resulted in a mitigation of their punishment."