me savory crumbs this time,' muttered
Kelly, whose disposition to jest seemed beyond all his self-control.

'It was this very day Massoni hoped to have brought me some tidings of
the youth, said the Cardinal, rising, 'and he has not appeared. It must
be as you have said, Kelly; the grave has closed over him. There is now,
therefore, a great danger to guard against: substitution of some other
for him--not by Massoni; he is a man of probity and honour; but he may
be imposed on by others. It is a fraud which would well repay all its
trouble.'

'There is but one could detect the trick--that Luke M'Manus, the
Carthusian I have mentioned to your Eminence. He knew the boy well, and
was intrusted by the Prince to take charge of him; but he is away in
Ireland.'

'But could be fetched, if necessary,' said Caraffa, half musing, as he
moved toward the door.

Massoni did not wait to hear more, but stealthily threading his way
through the copse, he gained the garden, and retracing his steps,
returned to the convent. Ascending to his chamber by a private stair,
he gave his servant orders to say that he was indisposed, and could not
receive any one.

'So, then, your Eminence,' said he bitterly, as he sank into a chair,
'you would underplot me here. Let us see who can play his cards best.'

CHAPTER XI. AN AUDIENCE

Within less than half an hour after his arrival at home, Massini
received an order from the Cardinal to repair to the palace. It was
a verbal message, and couched in terms to make the communication seem
scarcely important.

Massoni smiled as he prepared to obey; it amused him to think, that in a
game of craft and subtlety his Eminence should dare to confront him, and
yet this was evidently his policy.

The Cardinal's carriage stood ready horsed in the courtyard as the Pere
passed through, and a certain air of impatience in the servants showed
that the time of departure had been inconveniently delayed.

'That thunder-storm will break over us before we are half way across the
Campagna,' cried one.

'We were ordered for one, and it is now past three, and though the
horses were taken from their feed to get in readiness, here we are
still.'

'And all because a Jesuit is at his devotions!'

The look of haughty rebuke Massoni turned upon them as he caught these
words, made them shrink back abashed and terrified; and none knew when
nor in what shape might come the punishment for this insolence.

'You have for