Prologue – The Confession

"I never meant to do my husband wrong. I never meant to destroy the passion in our marriage with my naivety or childish romanticism. But I did. I swear, if God gave me a chance to try our marriage again I would, but even the Lord Almighty cannot bring back what we ourselves have done with knowledge of our sins."

"Were you unfaithful to his Lordship le Vicomte de Chagny, your husband?"

"I was in all physical ways faithful, I can be completely honest. But, my Father, I was not in all other ways a dutiful and true wife. I have sinned, Father, that I have thought of another man in my private thoughts. Sometimes I even wished this man's body to be my husband's."

"Did his Lordship le Vicomte de Chagny and yourself hold a celibate marriage, my Lady?"

"I do not disclose…"

"I asked you a question, my Lady. It would be your duty as a religious woman to answer me."

"Our bedroom was merely a place for sleep, Holy Father. We did naught but that, I can say truthfully."

"As we say only truths in this conference, my Lady, may I inquire as to the identity of the man you seek?"

"I cannot, Holy Father. I have not the right to give such information."

"My Lady, I see no reason as to why you would hide such a thing from me. After all, you yourself named it sin, and sin is quite the serious matter in my eyes and in our Lord God's."

"I may say no more than that he is an Angel."

"You love the immaterial, my Lady?"

"Oh he is quite the contrary, my Father. He is fully and wholly a man, though the world sees him as an insignificant gargoyle. I pray nightly that he will return to me."

"Even when your husband was near, my Lady?"

"Yes, Holy Father, yes. I do not deny that I truly love my husband, with every bit of my heart, though my soul and my body yearns for another. I am becoming a lifeless being without the presence of an Angel to guide me."

"Have you had contact with this Angel of yours, my Lady Vicomtesse, in the years of your marriage to his Lordship le Vicomte de Chagny?"

"None at all. Last I saw him, Holy Father, he was in despair over the mere presence of his Lordship le Vicomte de Chagny, my loving husband."

"I see. Is that all, my Lady?"

"Holy Father, may I ask that you pray for my Angel this evening before you retire? He is, and has always been, in desperate need of one to pray for him."

"Why of course, my Lady Vicomtesse, though I must ask you to complete a simple task for me."

"What is the nature of such a task, Holy Father?"

"The Lord Almighty would will it that you not think of your Angel any longer, my Lady, after tonight when I pray for his well-being. It will only bring you suffering and bad health. That is all I ask, my Lady, all I ask, and I will pray nightly for yourself as well. You are looking rather pale."

"My thanks to you, Holy Father."

"You may depart, my Lady Vicomtesse. I expect to see you at Mass on Sunday."

"Lord God willing, my Father. Lord God willing."