No offence, madam, no offence, pray retain your seat," said he,
observing that Belle had started up; "I mean no offence. Well, if
you will not consent to be an abbess, perhaps you will consent to
follow this young Zingaro, and to co-operate with him and us. I am
a priest, madam, and can join you both in an instant, connubio
stabili, as I suppose the knot has not been tied already."
"Hold your mumping gibberish," said Belle, "and leave the dingle
this moment, for though 'tis free to every one, you have no right
to insult me in it."
"Pray be pacified," said I to Belle, getting up, and placing myself
between her and the man in black, "he will presently leave, take my
word for it--there, sit down again," said I, as I led her to her
seat; then, resuming my own, I said to the man in black: "I advise
you to leave the dingle as soon as possible."
"I should wish to have your answer to my proposal first," said he.
"Well, then, here you shall have it: I will not entertain your
proposal; I detest your schemes: they are both wicked and
foolish."
"Wicked," said the man in black, "have they not--he! he!--the
furtherance of religion in view?"
"A religion," said I, "in which you yourself do not believe, and
which you contemn."
"Whether I believe in it or not," said the man in black, "it is
adapted for the generality of the human race; so I will forward it,
and advise you to do the same.
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