It was not entirely disbelief.

It was a more hopeless thing than that.
"You do not believe me!" he said.
"It is my religion to believe, Jimmy," replied Father Layonne in a gentle voice into which the old calmness had returned.

"I must believe, for your sake.

But it is not a matter of human sentiment now, lad.

It is the Law! Whatever my heart feels toward you can do you no good.