"I do not know. The things we hope for are always the things we do not know."
His hands wavered in the air, then fell down again.
"Time is passing," said the priest and began all over again.
"Tell me the circumstances of your sin. Tell me. When you were alone with this person, when you two were close together, did you talk to each other, or did you keep quiet?"
"I do not believe in you," said the man.
The priest frowned.
"Repent, and tell me that you believe in the Catholic religion, which will save you."
But the other man shook his head in utter anguish and denied all his happiness.
"Religion—" he began.
The priest interrupted brutally.