cause. Carrol, who knows the country well, says that the bare assurance
that Rome looked on the coming struggle with interest would be better
than ten thousand soldiers in their ranks. Divided, as they are, by
seas from all the world, they need the encouragement of this sympathy to
assure them of success.'

'They are brave, are they not?'

'Their courage has never been surpassed.'

'And true and faithful to each other?' 'A fidelity that cannot be
shaken.'

'Have they no jealousies or petty rivalries to divide them?'

'None--or next to none. The deadly hatred to the Saxon buries all
discords between them.'

'What want they more than this, then, to achieve independence? Surely no
army that England can spare could meet a people thus united?'

'The struggle is far from an equal one between a regular force and a
mere multitude. But let us suppose that they should conquer: who is to
say to what end the success may be directed? There are fatal examples
abroad. Is it to establish the infidelity of France men should thus
sell their lives? Is it standing here as we do now, in the city and
stronghold of the Church, that we can calmly contemplate a conflict that
may end in worse than a heresy?'

'There cannot be worse than some heresies,' broke in the Cardinal.

'Be it so; but here might be the cradle of many. The sympathy long
entertained toward France would flood the land with all her doctrines;
and this island, where the banner of faith should be unfurled, may
become a fastness of the infidel.'

'_Magna est Veritas et prevalebit?_ exclaimed the Cardinal
sententiously.

'Anything will "prevail" if you have grape and canister to enforce it.
Falsehood as well as truth only needs force to make it victorious.'

'For a while--for a short while--holy father.'

'What is human life but a short while? But to our theme. Are we to aid
these men or not? It is for our flag they are fighting now. Shall we
suffer them to transfer their allegiance?'

'The storm is about to break, your Eminence,' said the Cardinal's
major-domo, as he presented himself suddenly. 'Shall I order the
carriages back to the stables?'

'No; I am ready. I shall set out at once. You shall hear from me
to-morrow or next day, Massoni,' said he, in a low whisper; 'or, better
still, if you could come out to Albano to see me.'

The Pere bowed deeply without speaking.

'These are not matters to be disposed of in a day or an hour; we must
have time.'

The