You do not deny this!" The slight flush had vanished from the ivory face; the lips, which at one moment had parted, ready to utter, words of calm severity, were now motionless; the penetrating eyes were fixed upon the Abbot with the same sweaty grave look as before.

And this calm silence seemed to exasperate the Abbot.
"Speak then!" said he.

"Confess! Have you not also boasted of special gifts, of visions, of miracles even, for all I know?
You have been a great sinner?
Prove that you are one no longer! Exonerate yourself if you can.

Say how you have lived; explain this pretension of yours that God has called you; justify yourself for coming here to eat the monk's bread for nothing; for you did not wish to become a monk, and as to work, you have done little enough of that." "Padre," Benedetto replied (and the severe tone of his voice, the austere dignity of his face, accorded ill with the humble gentleness of his words), "this is good for me, a sinner, who for three years have lived the life of the spirit, in ease and delights, in peace, in the affection of saintly men, in an atmosphere full of God Himself.

Your words are good, and sweet unto my soul, they are a blessing from the Lord; their sting has made me feel how much pride there is in me still, of which I was ignorant, for it was a joy to me to despise myself.