So thought the parroco. He was undismayed. Come what might, he had an
explanation ready. Saint Dodekanus, if the ashes continued to fall, was
only showing his displeasure; he was perfectly justified in letting his
wrath be known for the better guidance of mankind. Certain of the
younger priests, on the other hand, were growing nervous at the
prospect of a possible failure of the procession. They began to blame
His Reverence for what he had given them to understand was his own
idea. For two hours they had now been in movement; they had swallowed a
hatful of ashes. And yet no sign from Heaven. The sky appeared darker
than ever. Many of the followers, exhausted, dropped out of the
procession and returned sadly to their homes. They thought the
speculation was going to turn out badly. The others deemed in not
impossible that the Saint could not see them through so thick a
curtain. Well, then, he might hear them. They chanted more furiously.
The sound must have reached Heaven, at last, for a miracle occurred.
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