which Massoni seemed to
understand; for, taking up one of the letters himself, he glanced his
eyes along the lines till he came to a particular passage, pointing out
which with his finger, he read: '"You have among the Cardinals, however,
one fully equal to this great task, the Cardinal Caraffa, a man whose
political sagacity is not surpassed in Europe, and who, by a good
fortune, rare among churchmen, possesses a mind capable of comprehending
and directing great military measures. I am informed that he served in
Spain."'

'Who writes this?' broke in the Cardinal.

'The writer is Prince Charles of Hesse.'

'A brave soldier and an honest man,' said the Cardinal, with evident
pleasure in the words.

'This is from the Viscount de Noe,' resumed Massoni, opening another
letter and reading: '"It is essentially the cause of the Church, and
demands a churchman at its head. Who, then, so fit as he who may, one
day or other, occupy the throne of St. Peter!"' Here he paused as if
having concluded.

'The expression is vague, nor has it any the least application to me,'
said Caraffa, reddening.

'Then hear what follows,' cried Massoni. '"Even if there were personal
peril, which there is not, the Cardinal Caraffa would not refuse us his
aid, nor must he remain the only man in Europe unconscious of the great
qualities which stamp him as our leader." This,' continued the priest,
with increased rapidity, 'this is from Sir Godefry Wharton, an English
Catholic noble of great wealth and influence. "From all that I can
learn it must be Caraffa, not York, to lead us in this enterprise; all
agree in representing him as a man of resolute action, gifted with every
quality of statesmanship." Troverini writes thus from Venice: "When the
day of restoration"--it is of the Church he speaks--"when the day of
restoration arrives, we shall need a man equal to the great task of
reconstructing society, without employing too ostentatiously the old
materials. I am assured that Caraffa is such a man; tell me your opinion
of him." This,' resumed Massoni, holding up a large letter in a strange,
rough, and irregular hand, 'this is from the Marquis d'Allonville,
secretary to the Count d'Artois. "We all feel that if it be our fate to
return, it must be as following in the procession of the Church. Nothing
but the faith can successfully combat this infidelity baptized in crime.
To give, therefore, the impulse of religion to any of these movements,
no matt