"Thanks, father!" the other said, as he took a seat beside him and ordered coffee. He waited till it was brought, and then went on: "I wanted to see you about a rather delicate matter that concerns you, and, I may say, the Church."
The priest looked surprised.
"You are, I know," the count went on, "the spiritual adviser of Count Leon de Balen and his family."
"I can hardly say of the count," the priest said with a smile, "for, like too many young noblemen of his age, he does not trouble me with his confessions; but of the ladies, yes."
"May I ask if Donna Mercedes comes very often to confession?"
"Well, my son, unless you ask for some very particular reason, that is a question I should not care to answer."
There was a ring of dissatisfaction in the priest's answer that the count was not slow to notice.
"I have a reason for asking," he said. "You know, father, that I was at one time, I will not say actually betrothed, but very nearly so, to Donna Mercedes. She broke off the affair under the plea that she had made up her mind to remain single and to devote herself to good works."
"So she told me," the priest said, "and I highly approved of her determination."
"May I ask, father, if she has repeated that statement to you of late?"