Probably, however, his age was much short of that.
For the nature of his dwelling-place was such as to stand in the
place of time, in its power to do worse than time's work on the
human frame.
Of course, it can be no matter of question, why a monk is here or is
there, does this or does that. Obedience to the will of his
superiors is the only reason for all that, in the case of other
human beings, depends on their own volition. The monk has no
volition.
No human being who had, it might be supposed, would consent to live
at St. Apollinare in Classe, with one lay brother for a companion,
and discharge the duties assigned to the Padre Fabiano. But the
question why his superiors sent him there, was still one that might
suggest itself, though it was little likely ever to be answered. And
the absence of all answer to such question was supplied by the
gossips of Ravenna, by tales of some terrible crime against
ecclesiastical discipline of which the Padre Fabiano had been guilty
some sixty years or so ago. Certain it was that be had occupied his
dreary position for many years; and it was wonderful that fever and
ague and the marsh pestilence had not long since dismissed him to
the reward of his long penitence on earth.
He rose from his knees as Paolina approached him, and gravely bent
his cowled head to her in salutation.
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