"Art thou a renegade from the most Holy Faith?" he asked in stern and heart-grieved tones.
"Not so," was the short and absent-minded answer, while eyes and thoughts were still equally fixed, it was very evident, upon that cross.
Father Olmedo was greatly puzzled, but very doubtful, he hardly knew of which—whether of his suspicions, or of Diego. In his turn laying a hand on the other's arm, he said impatiently—
"Rouse thyself, my son, and answer me like a man, and, if it may be, the Blessed Virgin grant it, like a true son of the Church—"
"Which I am."
"May the saints grant it, I have said."
"Why, father, I would vouch for that grave Toro's allegiance to Holy Mother Church with my life!" cried Juan de Cabrera springing to his feet to take part in the question.
There was a scarcely perceptible pause, and then Cabrera added—
"Why do you doubt him, my father?"
Montoro answered the question with quiet gravity.