Storia do Mogor 338.8.7

338.8.7

However, out of fear of an interdict, which without fail would fall on him in case of disobedience, he obeyed. Demanding an order from his Excellency, as he was bound to do in a case as rare as it was peculiar, the priest went about eight o'clock at night to the house of the married couple. With him went two witnesses, one a Tonquinese, the other an Armenian, men expressly selected by his Excellency. Having closed the doors, he robed himself in a surplice and a black stole, then married them over again. At this point the reader may agree to weigh in silence and ponder over the mysterious surroundings of this second marriage. Although to me it seems this would be discreet and wise, yet there cannot fail to be those (including all the common people) who will ask: 'Why marry persons that were already married, and well married? Why at night and not in the day? Why clandestinely and not in the face of the congregation? Why in a house instead of in a consecrated edifice? Why Armenians and Tonquinese, who do not know the language of the contracting parties, instead of French or Portuguese, understanding it? Why, finally, in a black stole and not a white one?' Mysterium vobis dico ['Behold, I show you a mystery' (1 Cor. xv. 51)].