"Very well," said Magnani, "if you do not consider me capable of making the most of your counsel, will you promise to answer, without hesitation, and with perfect frankness, a question I am going to ask you?"
"Hesitation is not a failing of mine, my friend. But for lack of careful handling one may inflict much pain on those whom one loves, and do you want me to be cruel to you? You subject my affection to a painful test!"
"You frighten me beforehand, Padre Angelo. It seems to me that you have already guessed the question I am going to ask you."
"Ask it, so that I may see if I am not mistaken."
"And you will answer?"
"I will answer."
"Well," said Magnani, in a trembling voice, "should I do well to ask your brother to give me Mila's hand?"
"Precisely, that is what I expected. My brother has already spoken to me about it. He thinks that his daughter loves you; he thinks that he has detected it."
"Great God! if it were true!" said Magnani, clasping his hands.
But Fra Angelo's face maintained its cold, sad expression.