"How can they? Those that are quarrelling would not listen to them. And for that matter, you may see a priest himself sometimes walking about with a dagger or a pistol at his belt."
"But only to defend himself?"
"Well, yes; to defend himself," replied Antonio, a little doubtfully.
"Antonio," said I, "do you think it right to shoot your enemy down?"
"No, I do not think it right."
"But, if he had shot one of your family, would you do it?"
Antonio was silent. He was a calm, but a very truthful young man.
"Would you?" I asked again.
"I don't know, mademoiselle. A man cannot tell what he may do in anger."
"But it would be murder," said I; "and now you have courts, where your enemy would receive due punishment."