Quite suddenly, quite softly, almost as a man who swoons, he sank down again into the chair from which he had risen.
He set his elbows on the table, and took his head in his hands.

A groan escaped him.

She heard it, and looked at him in her furtive way.
"You are moved by this knowledge, Fra Gervasio," she said and sighed.

"I have told you this--and you, Agostino--that you may know how deep, how ineradicable is my purpose.

You were a votive offering, Agostino; you were vowed to the service of God that your father's life might be spared, years ago, ere you were born.