"What is your purpose, then ?" he asked, with the first indication of priestly sympathy in his manner.

"You cannot ask forgiveness of the earthly father you have injured, you refuse the intercession of Holy Church with the Heavenly Father you have disobeyed.

Speak, wretched man! What is it you want ?" "I want to find the child." "But if it were possible, if she were still living, are you fit to seek her, to even make yourself known to her, to appear before her ?" "Well, if I made it profitable to her, perhaps." "Perhaps," echoed the priest, scornfully.

"So be it.

But why come here ?" "To ask your advice.