Your Erasmus said that his heart was Catholic, but his stomach desired to be Protestant.

You have an easier task than we." "On the contrary," the young theologian burst forth.

"It is mere child's play for you to obtain forgiveness by acts which really do not cut deeply into the flesh; but if one of us errs, how hard must be the conflict in his own breast ere he attains the conviction that his guilt is expiated by deep repentance and better deeds!" "I can answer for that," here interposed old Ursel, who from her arm-chair had listened to the conversation between the two with intense interest.
"Good heavens! One went forth from the confessional as pure as a white dove after absolution had been received and the penance performed; but now that I belong to the Protestants, it is hard to reach a perfect understanding with the dear Saviour and one's self." "And ought that to redound to the discredit of my faith ?" asked Wolf.
"So far as I have learned to know men, the majority, at least, will not hasten to attain our Ursel's complete understanding with one's self.
I should even fear that there are many among you who no longer feel a desire to heed little sins and their forgiveness----" Here Ursel again interrupted him with an exclamation of dissent, accompanied by a gesture of denial from her thin old hand; but Wolf glanced at the clock which the precentor had received as a testimonial of affection from the members of the cathedral choir, which he had led for years.
It was already half past one, and for the sake of Ursel, who was still obliged to take care of herself, he urged departure, adding gaily that he had not the ability to "defend himself against two." Erasmus, too, was surprised to find it so late, and, after shaking hands with the old woman and promising to visit her soon again, seized his cap.

Wolf accompanied him.
The May night was sultry, and the air in the low room had been hot and oppressive.
He would gladly have dropped the useless discussion, but Erasmus's heart was set upon winning his schoolmate to the doctrine which he believed with his whole soul.

He toiled with the utmost zeal, but during their nocturnal walk also he failed to convince his opponent.