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The women bent down their heads; but in the mind of Renzo anger

prevailed over disappointment. "I would know," cried he, gnashing

his teeth, and raising his voice as he had never done before in

the presence of Father Christopher, "I would know what reasons

this dog has given, that my wife should not be my wife?"

"Poor Renzo!" said the father, with an accent of pity, and with a

look which greatly enforced moderation; "poor Renzo! if those who

commit injustice were always obliged to give a reason for it,

things would not be as they are!"

"He has said, then, the dog! that he will not, because he will

not?"

"He has not even said so, poor Renzo! There would be something

gained, if he would make an open confession of his iniquity."

"But he has said something; what has this firebrand of hell

said?"