“Who are you, then?” asked the old man, dropping into a chair.
“I myself,” replied Godefroid, “am nothing; but I serve powerful persons to whom your distress is known, and who feel an interest in you. Ask me nothing more about them.”
“But what induces them to do this?” said the old man.
“Religion.”
“Religion! is it possible?”
“Yes, the catholic, apostolic, and Roman religion.”
“Ah! do you belong to the order of Jesus?”
“No, monsieur,” replied Godefroid. “Do not feel uneasy; these persons have no designs upon you, except that of helping you to restore your family to prosperity.”
“Can philanthropy be anything but vanity?”
“Ah! monsieur,” said Godefroid, hastily; “do not insult the virtue defined by Saint Paul, sacred, catholic Love!”