"A telegram for you, brother Felix," he said, "I have brought it
myself, thinking it may perhaps immediately concern your visit to
the Pope to-day."
The Cardinal, with a gentle word of thanks, opened the envelope
handed to him.
"Praise be to God!" he said simply, as he read its contents,
"Vergniaud has passed to the Higher tribunal!"
And he crossed himself reverently on brow and breast.
"Dead?" exclaimed Sovrani.
"To this world, yes!" answered Bonpre, "He died peacefully last
night. This message is from his son."
A faint ironical smile flickered over Sovrani's dark features.
"The ban of excommunication has not been declared!" he said, "It
will be a somewhat belated announcement!"
Cardinal Bonpre folded the telegram, ready to take with him to the
Vatican.
"The Church can excommunicate even the dead!" he said sorrowfully,
"If such an extreme measure is judged politic it will doubtless be
carried out!"
"Wonderful Christian charity," murmured Sovrani under his breath,
"to excommunicate a corpse! For that is all they can do. The Soul of
the man is God's affair!"
Cardinal Bonpre answered nothing, for just then the young Manuel
entered the room, in readiness to accompany his venerable protector
and friend to the Vatican, and the old man's eyes rested upon him
with a wistful, wondering trouble and anxiety which he could not
conceal.
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