"Then why don't you act as if—"
"I'm devoted to you. It was stupid of me not to think of this obstacle sooner."
"Do you really love me?" She softened a little.
"Of course I do! I've never known anyone like you." The last sentence was truthful. "But facts are facts."
Mathaswentha rubbed her forehead, obviously struggling with conflicting emotions. She asked: "If you haven't seen her for so long, how do you know she's alive?"
"I don't. But I don't know that she isn't. You know how strict your laws are about bigamy. Edicts of Athalarik, Paragraph Six. I looked it up."
"You would," she said with some bitterness. "Does anyone else in Italy know about this American bitch of yours?"
"N-no—but—"
"Then aren't you being a bit silly, Martinus? What difference does it make, if she's on the other side of the earth?"
"Religion."