Meanwhile Cardinal Bonpre had once more reached his own apartments,
thankful enough to be there after his difficult experience at the
Vatican. But he was neither fatigued nor depressed by what had
occurred,--on the contrary he was conscious of an extraordinary
vigour and lightness of heart, as though he had suddenly grown young
again. Changing his scarlet robes of office for his every-day
cassock, he seated himself restfully, and with a deep sigh of
relief, in his easy chair near the writing-table, and first of all
closing his eyes for a moment, while he silently prayed for guidance
to the Supreme Judge of all secret intentions, he called Manuel to
his side.
"My child," he said gently, "I want you to listen to me very
attentively. I do not think you quite understand what you have done
to-day, do you?"
Manuel raised his eyes with a clear look of confidence.
"Yes. I have spoken to the Head of the Church of Rome," he
answered,--"That is all. I have said to him, as Christ once said to
the very Peter whom he represents, 'Thou savourest not the things
that be of God, but those that be of men.'"
The Cardinal regarded him straightly.
"True! But for you, a mere child, to say to the Head of the Church
what Christ said to St.
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