“My son,—”
This word opened my heart. He continued:
“My son, do you believe in God?”
“Oh, yes, Father!” I answered him.
“Do you believe in the holy Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church?”
“Willingly,” said I.
“My son,” returned he, “you have an air of doubt.”
Then he began to speak. He spoke a long time; he uttered a quantity of words. Then, when he had finished, he rose, and looked at me for the first time since the beginning of his discourse, and said “Well?”
I protest I had listened to him with avidity at first, then with attention, then with consideration.
I also rose and said, “Sir, leave me for a time, I beg of you.”