Pagina 542 van 1118

"There is in his neighbourhood a capuchin friar who sets himself

in array against my cousin, who hates him, and the matter stands

thus--"

"How often have I told you both to let the friars manage their

own affairs? It is enough for those to whom it belongs-but you,

you can avoid having any thing to do with them--"

"Signor uncle, it is my duty to inform you that Roderick would

have avoided it, if it had been possible. It is the friar who has

quarrelled with him, and he has used every means--"

"What the devil can the friar have in common with my nephew?"

"First of all, he is known to be a quarrelsome fellow; he

protects a peasant girl of the village, and regards her with a

benevolence, to say the least of it, very suspicious."

"I comprehend," said his uncle; and a ray of malice passed over

the depth of dulness which nature had stamped on his countenance.

"For some time," continued Attilio, "the friar has suspected

Roderick of designs on this young girl--"