"Ah, massa, what me do? Dis priest, him say soon as dear missy be well again, she go to convent to be comforted, and take care ob little chile. Does massa tink him eber let her out ob dat?"
From the knowledge he had acquired of the Romish system, Guy could too easily guess the drift of the arrangement, and when admitted to her presence, earnestly entreated the Countess to accept such assistance as he could offer in leaving Italy at once.
"Not while my husband lives," she said mournfully. "I will at least be near the prison to which my apostasy has consigned him. Don't you know that Rome can forgive everything but thought, word, or deed that seems to favour the cause of liberty, national or individual? Revenge, not justice, is her main-spring in this matter."
"But can he not claim a trial for the real offence, and explain how he innocently yielded hospitality to an unexpected guest?"
"Read," said the Countess, placing her husband's note in his hand.
It was short, but tender and touching, and concluded with all injunction to train up their child as anything rather than a Catholic.
"My own words to you, my wife, were quoted to me concerning our ill-starred guest, and then I knew what instrument of torture had wrung the secret from you, and why a lying charge must be trumped up to legalize my sudden arrest. Rome may claim omniscience and omnipotence while her priests sit in the confessional, and men and women kneel crushed slaves at their feet. I have groaned beneath this bondage, and secretly resented it for you, but now I will be free, and the God of the free and true shall alone hear my last confession."
"Countess," cried Guy with animation, "the Spirit of that God cannot be excluded by prison walls. If He teach at all, He teaches only truth, and 'if the truth make him free, he is free indeed.' Whatever is to occur on earth, you may by God's grace be one in Christ in heaven."
"I!" said the Countess. "I,—an apostate, a murderess! There is no hope for me in this world or the next. I turned from light to darkness: I deserve all I suffer and more, if more can be."
"Did you live in God's light of holiness and truth? Did you ever realize His love in Jesus Christ? Have you ever really felt the power and sweetness of forgiving grace?"