Oh, my poor child, by what wicked counsels have you been led so
far astray?" The sweet, tender eyes of the inquisitor were
luminous with unshed tears. Sorrowing pity shook his gentle
voice.
And then Don Rodrigo's terror changed to wrath, and this
exploded. He flung out an arm towards Isabella in passionate
denunciation.
"It was that woman who bewitched and fooled and seduced me into
this. It was a trap she baited for my undoing."
"It was, indeed. She had my consent to do so, to test the faith
which I was told you lacked. Had your heart been free of
heretical pravity the trap had never caught you; had your faith
been strong, my son, you could not have been seduced from loyalty
to your Redeemers"
"Father! Hear me, I implore you!" He flung down upon his knees,
and held out shaking, supplicating hands.
"You shall be heard, my son. The Holy Office does not condemn any
man unheard. But what hope can you put in protestations? I had
been told that your life was disorderly and vain, and I grieved
that it should be so, trembled for you when I heard how wide you
opened the gates of your soul to evil. But remembering that age
and reason will often make good and penitent amends for the
follies of early life, I hoped and prayed for you.
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