'What am I to do?'

'Take her at her word.'

'Good heavens! I shall be excommunicated! And--and--what is to
become of my soul?'

'What will become of it in any case, my most excellent lord?'
answered Raphael blandly.

'You mean--I know what you cursed Jews think will happen to every
one but yourselves. But what would the world say? I an apostate!
And in the face of Cyril and the populace! I daren't, I tell you!'

'No one asked your excellency to apostatise.'

'Why, what? What did you say just now?'

'I asked you to promise. It will not be the first time that
promises before marriage have not exactly coincided with performance
afterwards.'

'I daren't--that is, I won't promise. I believe, now, this is some
trap of your Jewish intrigue, just to make me commit myself against
those Christians, whom you hate.'

'I assure you, I despise all mankind far too profoundly to hate
them. How disinterested my advice was when I proposed this match to
you, you never will know; indeed, it would be boastful in me to tell