"Nationality?" he asked next. I told him
"Inglese." One of the friars, that evil, bearded fellow, I noticed, had
drawn near and was listening with all his might. Now it was to be
noticed of him that he breathed very short and fast, and that his breath
struck like fire upon my skin. The interrogatory was renewed.
"Your place of immediate origin?" I was asked.
I said, "Padua."
"Your present occupation?"
"Repentance," I said, and spoke the truth.
"Your means of support?"
"Grace," said I, and he stamped on the ground.
"You are trifling with me--I advise you to take care. Answer me
truthfully of what you repent."
This angered me. I told him shortly that, like everybody else in the
world of my way of thinking, I repented of sin.
He turned to his amanuensis. "Write down that the young man refuses to
give an account of himself," he said harshly; and then asked me what I
wanted of the hospital.
I said with heat, "My brother, I had required of it what I now see I am
not to expect, charity, namely, both of judgment and act. I am
afflicted, as you ought to have seen at once; I need your wisdom--but
need most your sympathy--" To my amazement he cut me short, as he had
done with the Jew, by the brief command, "Search him." I recoiled as
well as I could in my fainting and helpless condition.
"Do you dare insult a sick man?" I cried; and to the clerk, who was
about to put me to this indignity, I said, "Touch me at your peril, sir;
for though I die for it, you will pay for your temerity.
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