"
The Gadfly stretched out his hands with a sudden
gesture of passion.
"Listen!" he said; "and listen all of you,
Christians! If a man has killed his only son--his
son who loved and trusted him, who was flesh of
his flesh and bone of his bone; if he has led his son
into a death-trap with lies and deceit--is there
hope for that man in earth or heaven? I have
confessed my sin before God and man, and I have
suffered the punishment that men have laid on
me, and they have let me go; but when will God
say, 'It is enough'? What benediction will take
away His curse from my soul? What absolution
will undo this thing that I have done?"
In the dead silence that followed the people
looked at Montanelli, and saw the heaving of the
cross upon his breast.
He raised his eyes at last, and gave the benediction
with a hand that was not quite steady.
"God is merciful," he said. "Lay your burden
before His throne; for it is written: 'A
broken and contrite heart shalt thou not despise.'"
He turned away and walked through the market-place,
stopping everywhere to speak to the
people, and to take their children in his arms.
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