Factual error: In one of his first appearances, Proulx the Architect is using a modern pen on a pad of paper when taking notes.
Factual error: In the scene right after Madeleine tells the Marquis de Sade of the Doctor's marriage to the convent girl and the Marquis is writing a farce, the ink is blue, even though blue ink was not invented until post WWI 1900s.
Answer: Because he apparently had to work the courage up to say whatever it is he wanted to say. He was conflicted in his feelings for Maddie. He's a priest and isn't supposed to 'want' her the way he does. Catholic priests take a vow of chastity and he was trying to deal with his feelings as a man and his vows as a priest.
Shannon Jackson