"Yes, a man of holy life," said Don Matteo, earnestly.
"I do not see how a man of such disposition could have been so lacking in courage afterwards," said the cardinal.
"But suppose that it were exactly as I represent the case, Eminence, what should the confessor do?"
The cardinal looked into his eyes long and gravely.
"I should think it best to make a priest of him as soon as possible," he said at last.
"But how? No bishop could ordain him a priest without knowing his story."
"I would ordain him, if he came to me. I think I should be doing right."
"But then your Eminence would know him, and the secret of confession would have been betrayed."
"That is true. Let him go to another bishop and tell his story."
"Another bishop might not think as your Eminence does. Besides, the question is what the confessor is to do under the circumstances."