My mind, however, was as far from thoughts of gallantry as if she had been a black-veiled nun.

I believe I have not told you that I was of the Holy Catholic Faith.

My religion, I may say, has always been more nominal and political than spiritual, although there ran through it a strong vein of inherited tendencies and superstitions which were highly colored by contempt for heresy and heretics.

I was Catholic by habit.

But if I analyzed my supposed religious belief, I found that I had none save a hatred for heresy.