And as for Cardinal
Bonpre, he went at once to Rome with his niece, the famous painter,
Angela Sovrani,--I imagine he may have interceded with the Pope, or
tried to do so for the Abbe, but whatever happened, there they are
now, for all I know to the contrary. And we heard that the Church
was about to excommunicate, or had already excommunicated Vergniaud,
though I suppose Cardinal Bonpre had nothing to do with that?"
"Not he!" said Patoux firmly, "He would never excommunicate or do
any unkind thing to a living soul--that I am pretty sure of. He is
the very Cardinal who performed the miracle in my house that has
caused us no end of trouble,--and he is under the displeasure of the
Pope for it now, if all I hear be true."
"That is strange!" said Pierre with a laugh,--"To be under the
displeasure of the Pope for doing a good deed!"
"Truly, it seems so," agreed Patoux,--"But you must remember there
was no paying shrine concerned in it! Mark you that, my Pierre! Even
our Lady of Bon Secours, near to Rouen as she is, was not applied
to. The miracle took place in the poor habitation of an unknown
little inn-keeper,--that is myself,--and there was no solemnity at
all about it--no swinging of incense--no droning of prayers--no
lighting of candles--no anything, but just a good old man with a
crippled child on his knee, praying to the Christ whom he believed
was able to help him.
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