"You have been," she said, "an imprudent cavalier."
The fountain flashed below us, a gray dove flew over
garden. I said, "There is a text, `With all thy getting,
get understanding.' There is another, `For God so loved
the world'--that He wished to impart understanding."
She sat quiet, seeming to listen to the fountain. Then
she said, "Are you ready to avow when they ask you that
in every particular to which the Grand Inquisitor may point
you are wrong, and that all that Holy Church through mouth
of Holy Office says is right?"
I said, "No, Madam! Present Church is not as large as
Truth, nor as fair as Beauty."
"You may think that, but will you say the other?"
"Say that church or kingdom exactly matches Truth and
Beauty?"
"That is what I am sure you will have to say."
"Then, no!"
"I do not see," she said, "that I can do anything for
you."
There was a chair beside her. She sat down, her chin on
her hand and her eyes lowered. Silence held save for the
fountain plashing. Don Enrique stood by the railing, and
Jayme de Marchena felt his concern. But he himself walked
just then--Don Jayme or Juan Lepe--into long patience,
into greater steadfastness. Into the inner fields came translucence,
gold light; came and faded, but left strength.
Dona Beatrix raised her eyes and let them dwell upon
me.
Pages:
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46