Had the Canon been young, she would not have
been willing to forsake him, and the admonitions of the ladies would
have been as ineffectual as the sacraments."
"Further," said Nomerfide, "I think she did well not to confess her sin
so readily; such an offence ought to be humbly acknowledged to God, but
stoutly denied before men. Even though it be true, still, by deception
and swearing, doubt may be cast upon it."
"Not so," said Longarine. "A sin can scarcely be so secret that it will
not become revealed, unless God in His pity conceal it, as in the case
of those who for love of Himself have truly repented."
"And what," said Hircan, "will you say of those women who have no sooner
done a deed of folly than they tell some one about it?"
"I think that a strange thing," answered Longarine, "and a sign that sin
is not displeasing to them. If, as I said, a sin is not covered by
the mercy of God, it cannot be denied before men; there are many who,
delighting in such talk, glory to make their vices known, whilst others
who contradict themselves in this way become their own accusers."
"If you know any such instance," said Saffredent, "I give you my place
and beg you to tell it us.
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