"Father, has it ever happened that a penitent, has revealed to you a conspiracy to commit a crime?"
"More than once it has happened."
"And what have you done?"
"Persuaded him to reveal it to the civil authorities, or else tell it to me outside the confessional."
"Has the penitent ever refused to do so?"
"Never."
"But if ... if the case were such as made it difficult for the penitent to reveal the conspiracy to the civil authorities, having regard to the penalties the revelation would bring with it ... if by reason of ties of blood and affection such revelation were humanly impossible, and it would even be cruel to ask for it, what would you do then?"
"Nothing, your Holiness."
"Not even if the crime to be committed were a serious one, and it touched you very nearly?"
The Capuchin shook out his coloured print handkerchief and said, "That could make no difference, your Holiness."