Manuel smiled up at him--that rare and beautiful smile
which was like sunshine in darkness--but the Cardinal's sad
expression did not alter.
"The Abbe Vergniaud is no more," he said gently, as the boy drew
near, "His sins and sufferings are ended!"
"And his joys have begun!" answered Manuel, "For he set his life
right with the world before he left it!"
"Child, you talk as a very wise man might!" said Prince Sovrani, his
rugged brows smoothing into a kindly smile. "But the unfortunate
Abbe is not likely to be judged in that way. It will be said of him
that he scandalized the world before he left it!"
"When truth is made scandal, and right is made wrong," said Manuel,
"It will surely be a God-forgotten world!"
"WILL be? I think it is already!" said Prince Pietro. "It is said
that the patience of the Almighty is unwearied,--but I do not feel
sure of that in my own mind. Science teaches us that many a world
has been destroyed before now,--and sometimes I feel as if our turn
were soon coming!"
Here the man-servant having completely finished arranging the
Cardinal's attire, made respectful obeisance and left the room, and
the Cardinal himself proceeded into the adjoining salon, where he
found his niece Angela waiting to see him.
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