human
Meanwhile a strange numbness of mind was stealing over me. I never saw Doña Maria without trembling and confusion. I could not pray; I could not think. I could not even eat; and I knew that her satanic influence was exerted after the heathen manner, to lead me to perdition. But from this I was mercifully preserved. On the day I delivered the citation, she and her brother left their house at night and took refuge with the Moorish Governor, who at once sent them to Juldroog, and thence they were taken to Beejapoor. I was then free; a great weight seemed to be removed from me, and I came hither to lay all before the Church and seek ghostly counsel. Fathers, my short statement is ended; but of heresy and sorcery of the most devilish kind I accuse them both, and demand that in consonance with the laws of the Holy Office they suffer death by fire, and that thus the Church be purged from their spiritual uncleanness. I could extend this address to a vast length, but it would needlessly occupy time. The books in Francis d'Almeida's and his sister's handwriting will satisfy you of the character of their work, and I have brought such as I could find; the rest were concealed before their departure.
gpt
Have you any witnesses to the truth of the accusation?
human
I have none, he replied,
gpt
Dost thou object to these being produced, Francis d'Almeida?
human
No, he said, mildly.
gpt
If they are in my own or my sister's writing, they are homilies of the Church, the Vulgate as allowed to the people even here in Goa, and some extracts from the Scriptures such as are given to children.
human
Look at these, said the Archbishop.
gpt
Are these the same as thou sentest to us for approval?
human
These are the rough drafts in my own handwriting of the translations as I made them, and here and there I find a small portion of my sister's manuscript. These are the drafts from which she made the fair copies, which in her beautiful characters and ornamented with initial letters are now at Moodgul, in the keeping of one Ramana and other deacons of the mission, and have the illustrious Archbishop's imprimatur on them.
gpt
Yes, said the Prelate and the Grand Inquisitor,
human
They are here, fathers, cried a venerable old man, with long white hair streaming over his shoulders, who, with several others, now made their way into the room, and prostrated themselves on the floor.
gpt
Listen to our cry for justice! When our beloved Padré was threatened, and when the pure Señora Maria was insulted, and the Governor of Moodgul sent them away as prisoners, the books were given to us, and we hid them; but when the great Padré was going to Goa, to accuse our beloved friends, I and these with me followed him, and we arrived this morning, O holy fathers, that we may be in time yet to speak the truth before ye! Day and night we have travelled, and we have had no fear save of delay.
human
And who are ye? asked the Grand Inquisitor.
gpt
Do ye know what ye have risked in intruding here unbidden? What do ye know?
human
I know everything, replied the old man who first made his way in, speaking through the interpreter, and prostrating himself on the floor.
gpt
Let me speak! Let me speak for the love of God! There are a hundred more ready to say the same thing, and the Syud has sent me in time. Oh, my fathers, let us speak!
human
I protest against him cried Dom Diego, with a hard, shrill voice, very different to his usual tone.
gpt
I denounce this as a conspiracy.
human
We are the best judges of that, returned the Grand Inquisitor.
gpt
You, Diego di Fonseca, have already stated that you have no witnesses; and now, by a miracle as it were, one hath appeared suddenly, to whom credit may be given, a deacon of the Church. You can hear his statement and reply to it if you will. Let the Deacon Ramana be sworn and cautioned.
human
Can you read these writings? asked the Archbishop.
gpt
They are, I see, those which were confirmed by us after examination. I see my initials on every page.
human
Surely, my Prince, replied the deacon.
gpt
When the priest is absent it is my duty to read such prayers and passages of Scripture as have been marked;