Her infirmity even, for so he deemed her notions to be, had a charm in his eyes; few men, however loose or sceptical in their own opinions on such matters, finding any pleasure in the contemplation of a female infidel; and he had never looked more fondly into her anxious but lovely face than he did at this very instant, making his reply with a truth that bordered on magnanimity.
"_Thou_ art my religion, Ghita!" he said; "in thee I worship purity and holiness and--" "Nay--nay, Raoul, _do_ not--refrain--if thou really lov'st me, utter not this frightful blasphemy; tell me, rather, if thou didst not find the holy father as I describe him ?" "I found him a peaceful, venerable, and, I firmly believe, a _good_ old man, Ghita; but _only_ a man.

No infallibility could I see about him; but a set of roguish cardinals and other plotters of mischief, who were much better calculated to set Christians by the ears than to lead them to Heaven, surrounded his chair." "Say no more, Raoul--I will listen to no more of this.

Thou knowest not these sainted men, and thy tongue is thine own enemy, without--hark! what means that ?" "It is a gun from the frigate, and must be looked to; say, when and where do we meet again ?" "I know not, now.

We have been too long, much too long, together as it is; and must separate.

Trust to me to provide the means of another meeting; at all events, _we_ shall shortly be in our tower again." Ghita glided away as she ceased speaking and soon disappeared in the town.