But with all his patient,
sometimes passionate prayer, earnest meditations, and constant study
of the Gospels, the Cardinal himself was more or less heavy-
hearted,--and his Master's phrase--"My soul is exceeding sorrowful
even unto death!" was one which he often breathed in the solitude
and extremity of his own position. The news of the disappearance of
Claude Cazeau had materially added to his difficulties--and now he
had been commanded, with a certain peremptoriness in the summons, to
wait upon the Sovereign Pontiff in a private audience, bringing with
him the boy who could, or would give no further account of himself
than that of a world's waif and stray. Prepared for this visit and
arrayed in all the splendour befitting his rank in the Church, the
gentle old man looked paler and more fragile than ever, and the
vague trouble he felt at the express injunction laid upon him
concerning Manuel, showed itself in the deep furrows of anxiety
marked upon his brow, and the pain in his thoughtful eyes. Prince
Pietro's own man-servant had assisted him to dress for the impending
ceremonial, and just as the last folds of his regal attire were
being set in place a knock was heard at the door of his apartment,
and Prince Pietro himself entered.
Pages:
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625