But why do you evade my question by asking me another?"
"It is impossible for me to reply to your question."
"For what reason?"
"Because it is impossible for me to give answers which must
refer, whether they are affirmative or negative, to what I have
heard in confession."
"We have spoken enough," said Fabio, turning angrily from the
priest. "I expected you to help me in clearing up these
mysteries, and you do your best to thicken them. What your
motives are, what your conduct means, it is impossible for me to
know, but I say to you, what I would say in far other terms, if
they were here, to the villains who have written these
letters--no menaces, no mysteries, no conspiracies, will prevent
me from being at the ball to-morrow. I can listen to persuasion,
but I scorn threats. There lies my dress for the masquerade; no
power on earth shall prevent me from wearing it to-morrow night!"
He pointed, as he spoke, to the black domino and half-mask lying
on the table.
"No power on _earth!_" repeated Father Rocco, with a smile, and
an emphasis on the last word. "Superstitious still, Count Fabio!
Do you suspect the powers of the other world of interfering with
mortals at masquerades?"
Fabio started, and, turning from the table, fixed his eyes
intently on the priest's face.
"You suggested just now that we had better not prolong this
interview," said Father Rocco, still smiling.
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