having contributed discoveries of utmost importance to the medical
science, "and there is a physical weakness combined with this mental
assertiveness which doth make it a danger to oppose her beliefs. Yet I
would I might comfort her, for her soul is tortured."

"It must be that thou shalt convince her!" Santorio pleaded with him.

Thus urged, Fra Paolo spoke again, in a tone that pity rendered
strangely near to tenderness. "I would not weary thee, my daughter,
having spoken the truth which I would fain have thee embrace for thine
own healing. Only this would I remind thee--that none may be excluded
from the Holy Catholic Church if he be not first excluded by his own
demerits from Divine Grace."

She answered nothing, but there was an unspoken argument in her face.

"See'st thou not that those terrors which thou dost fear shall not come
upon Venice, since she hath not sinned? It is this which, for thy peace,
we would have thee comprehend."

"My Father, there is but one whose teaching fitteth my reasoning," she
answered resolutely, "and he hath fled from Venice that he may be free
to believe and to practise his religion as our Holy Church doth require,
and to plead against our doom, where prayer may be heard, unhindered by
the cloud which keepeth us in Venice from God's favor. He, being a holy
man, hath taught me that the law of obedience to the Supreme Head of the
Church may not be transgressed--that our doom cometh not undeserved--and
my whole heart is sick with fear!"

"There is but One to whom is owed this supreme and inalterable
obedience, my daughter; we do not differ in our beliefs; yield it always
to him, most reverently and unreservedly," Fra Paolo answered solemnly.
"But upon this earth, it hath been taught us by our Lord himself, 'there
is none good--nay, not one.' The Head of the Church of God is God
himself, the only infallible and just. Thinkest thou that He would have
us obey a command conceived in error, with intention to exclude from
every benefit of our Holy Church, in the hour when they most need divine
comfort and protection, those who would faithfully do him service? Thus
read we not the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father!"

"Most Reverend Father," she cried, clasping her hands in extremity.
"How shall a weak, untaught woman reason with the Counsellor of Venice!
I know not where the words are written--but, somewhere, Fra Francesco
hath taught me, yet his soul is loving--there is a thought of