human
If I get well, it will be a miracle, said Sor Tommaso, feebly.
gpt
I must think of my soul.
human
By all means, answered the Scotchman.
gpt
It can do your soul no harm, and contemplation rests the body.
human
You Protestants have not human sentiment, observed the Italian, moving his head slowly on the pillow.
gpt
But I also think of the abbess. I was to have gone there early this morning. She will also die. We shall both die.
human
Sor Tommaso, he said,
gpt
Mercy!
human
Are you afraid that I shall kill them,
gpt
Who knows? A foreigner! And the people say that you have converse with the devil. But the common people are ignorant.
human
Very.
gpt
And as for the convent--a Protestant--for the abbess! They would rather die. Figure to yourself what sort of a scandal there would be! A Protestant in a convent, and then, in that convent, too! The abbess would much rather die in peace.
human
At all events, I will go and offer my services. If the abbess prefers to die in peace, she can answer to that effect. I will ask her what she thinks about it.
gpt
Ask her! repeated Sor Tommaso.
human
Do you imagine that you could see her? But what can you know? I tell you that last night she was muffled up in her chair, and her face covered. It needed the grace of Heaven, that I might feel her pulse! As for her tongue, God knows what it is like! I have not seen it. Not so much as the tip of it! Not even her eyes did I see. And to-day I was not to be admitted at all, because the abbess would be in bed. Imagine to yourself, with blisters and sinapisms, and a hundred things. I was only to speak with Sister Maria Addolorata, who is her niece, you know, in the anteroom of the abbess's apartment. They would not let you in. They would give you a bath of holy water through the loophole of the convent door and say, 'Go away, sinner; this is a religious house!' You know them very little.
gpt
You are talking too much, observed Dalrymple, who had listened attentively.
human
It is not good for you. Besides, since you are able to speak, it would be better if you told me who stabbed you last night, that I may go to the police, and have the person arrested, if possible.
gpt
You do not know what you are saying, answered Sor Tommaso, with sudden gravity.
human
The woman has relations--who could handle a knife better than she.