"Look, Robert Annys, then, I cannot find it in my heart to cast thee
wholly from Grace, and I may yet intercede for thee, because thou art
such as err through too great enthusiasm. Tell me concerning these
ideas of marriage. Let me hear all from thee, that I misjudge thee not."
"Most Holy Father, I thought that religion should lie in every act
of man and not alone in breviaries and masses. I sought to create a
priesthood that would understand the people and enter into their lives
and needs. And we shall never have that, O Holy Father, until the
priests share the people's joys and sorrows. The heart of the priest
must beat at the same sight that thrills the heart of the peasant; the
smiles of the priest must spring from the same source that gladdens
the humblest breast; the tears of the priest must flow from the same
anguish that wrings the heart of the lowliest one."
The haughty prelate listened patiently while the young poor priest
spoke.
"Ah, my son," he said at last, seeing him pause, "such a vision takes a
high hope of Man and a firm belief in his purity of heart. I fear thy
faith would not be justified. It takes account of the priest lifting up
the average man, but it takes none whatever of the average man drawing
down the priest."
Annys opened his lips to speak, but Hildebrand waved one hand to
command silence and continued: "Now, my son, in the course of thy
wanderings, doubtless thou didst encounter women such as thou hast been
fond of describing, who would, through their great purity and perfect
sympathy and unselfishness, make the ideal spouse for the priest. Tell
me of such women, do they exist?"
"They exist," cried Annys, vehemently, and then his voice failed him.
He could not bring himself to speak of Matilda.
The eyes of the Pope blazed. "Ha! I thought as much," he murmured.
Then at last, reluctantly, Annys brought himself to speak of Matilda,
her simple charity, her ready self-sacrifice, her tender sympathy and
unfailing helpfulness.
"And of course, were Rome to give thee permission to take a wife, it
would be this same gentle, helpful, ideal spouse thou wouldst choose?"
Hildebrand watched the face of Annys keenly.
But Annys covered his face with his hands.
A bitter smile crossed the Pope's face. "How? could it be that one
could hesitate before all this perfection?"
"Ah, torture me no longer," burst out Annys. "I will confess all."
"No need," answered the Pope, coldly. "I know all. I have followed thy
career with a great compassion in my heart. Dost still think that did
the Church permit the marriage of the priests, they would all take unto
themselves Matildas? Ah, Robert Annys, see how utterly thou didst fall
from Grace! I tell thee, thy religion would be one only for saints, but
the Holy Catholic Church takes cognizance of the weak and sinful."
Annys strove to reply, but his voice failed him. Then it seemed to him
that the figure of the Pope disappeared with a loud noise, and there
came the sound of heavy blows upon the door of his cell; he tried to
rise and go to the door, but he fell back unconscious.
When he opened his eyes, it was to look into the gentle face of the
Bishop of Ely bending solicitously over him.