and his eyes filled with tears. Then came the violent reaction of his will against this soft langour of the intellect, this temptation of weakness.
"No, no, no!" he murmured, half aloud. A voice behind him answered:
Benedetto turned round, surprised. Three young men stood before him. He had not heard them enter. The one who appeared to be the eldest, a fine-looking young fellow, short of stature, dark, with eyes speaking knowledge of many things, asked him boldly why he had laid aside the clerical dress. Benedetto did not reply.
"You do not wish to say?" the other exclaimed.
"It does not matter, but listen to us. We are students from the University of Rome, men of little faith, that I confess openly and at once. We are enjoying and making the most of our youth, that I will also confess at once."
One of his companions pulled a fold of the spokesman's coat.
"Be quiet!" said the leader. "It is true there is one among us who, though he has no great faith in the saints, is very pure. He, however, is not here before you. There are others missing also, who are playing cards at the tavern. The 'Most Pure' would not come with us. He says he will find a way of speaking with you alone. We are what I have told you. We came from Rome for an excursion, and, if possible, to witness a miracle; in fact, we came to have some fun!"
His companions interrupted him, protesting. "Yes, yes!" he repeated, "to have some fun! Excuse me, I speak frankly. Indeed our fun came near costing us too dear. We joked a little and they wanted to knock us down, you know; and all to your honour and glory! But then we heard the little speech you made to that crowd of fanatics. 'By the Lord Harry,' we thought, 'this is a new style of language for a priestly or half-priestly mouth! This is a saint who suits us better than the others!' Forgive my familiarity! So we at once decided to ask you for an interview; because even if we be rather sceptical, and fond of worldly pleasures, we are also more or less intellectual, and certain religious truths interest us. I myself, for instance, shall perhaps very shortly become a Neo-Buddhist."
His companions laughed, and he turned upon them angrily.
"Yes indeed! I shall not be a practical Buddhist, but Buddhism interests me more than Christianity!"