"I have no power to approve or to tolerate"--replied the scientist, coldly--"The matter is not one in which I have any right to interfere. Nor,--I think,--have YOU!--I have stated such facts as exist--that the man's brain is practically destroyed--but that owing to the strength of the life-centres he will probably exist in his present condition for a full term of years. To keep him so alive will entail considerable care and expense. He will need a male nurse--probably two--food of the best and absolutely tranquil surroundings. If the Signora, who is rich and generous, guarantees these necessities, and the girl who loves him desires to be his wife under such terrible conditions, I do not see how anyone can object to the marriage." "Then he poor devil of a man will be married without his knowledge, and probably (if he had his senses) against his will!" said Rivardi. Ardini bent his brows yet more frowningly. "Just so!" he answered--"But he has neither knowledge nor will--nor is he likely ever to have them again. These great attributes of the god in man have been taken from him. Power and Will!--Will and Power!--the two wings of the Soul!--they are gone, probably for ever. Science can do nothing to bring them back, but I will not deny the possibility of other forces which might work a remedy on this ruin of a 'master of the world' as he calls himself! Therefore I say let the love-woman try her best!" CHAPTER XXVI Don Aloysius sat in his private library,--a room little larger than a monastic cell, and at his feet knelt Morgana like a child at prayer. The rose and purple glow of the sunset fell aslant through a high oriel window of painted glass, shedding an aureole round her golden head, and intensified the fine, dark intellectual outline of the priest's features as he listened with fixed attention to the soft pure voice, vibrating with tenderness and pity as she told him of the love that sought to sacrifice itself for love's sake only. "In your Creed and in mine,"--she said--"there is no union which is real or binding save the Spiritual,--and this may be consummated in some way beyond our knowledge when once the sacred rite is said. You need no explanation from me,--you who are a member and future denizen of the Golden City,--you, who are set apart to live long after these poor human creatures have passed away with the unthinking millions of the time--and you can have no hesitation to unite them as far as they CAN be united, so that they may at least be saved from the malicious tongues of an always evil-speaking world. You once asked me to tell you of the few moments of real happiness I have known,--this will be one of the keenest joys to me if I can satisfy this loving-hearted girl and aid her to carry out her self-chosen martyrdom. And you must help me!" Gently Aloysius laid his hand on her bent head.