"I could tell you nothing without betraying others." "Betraying! Is it a crime that you have on your conscience ?" The priest's voice was low and troubled.
"Many crimes," answered Bosio.

"The crimes that must come, and that I cannot prevent by living, nor hinder by dying." Again there was silence during several minutes.
"You may trust me as a friend, even if, as a priest, you could not confess all the circumstances to me," said Don Teodoro, after the long pause.

"I do not wish you to make confidences to me, unless you are impelled to do so.

But you are in that frame of mind, my dear Bosio, in which a man will sooner or later unburden himself to some one.

You might do worse than choose me.