L'Estrange blundered out some stupid compliment about her having in recompense abundant admiration from the other sex, and she laughed, and said, “Perhaps so. Indeed, I believe I am rather a favorite; but with clever men--not with the fools. You 'll see that _they_ avoid me. And so,” said she, drawing a deep sigh, “you really can tell me nothing about these Bramleighs? And all this time I have been reckoning on your coming to hear everything, and to know about the will. Up to this hour, I am totally ignorant as to how I am left. Is n't that very dreadful?” “It is very distressing indeed, madam.” “The Colonel always said he 'd insert a clause or a something or other against my marrying again. Can you imagine anything so ungenerous? It's unchristian, actually unchristian--isn't it?” A slight gesture seemed to say that he agreed with her; but she was for once determined to be answered more definitely, and she said, “I'm sure, as a clergyman, you can say if there's anything in the Bible against my having another husband?” “I 'm certain there is not, madam.” “How nice it is in the Church of Rome that when there 's anything you want to do, and it's not quite right to do it, you can have a dispensation--that is, the Pope can make it perfectly moral and proper, and legal besides. Protestantism is so narrow--terribly narrow. As the dear Monsignore Balbi said to me the other night, it is a long 'Act of Parliament against sin.' Was n't that neat? They are so clever!” “I am so new to Italy, madam, that I have no acquaintance with these gentlemen.”