' asked Fra Luke softly.

'Yes; that's my name.'

The Fra looked at the beaming face and the bright blue eyes, soft in
their expression as a girl's, and the dimpled cheek, over which a slight
flush was mantling, and wondered to himself could this be the wild,
reckless youth they called him?--had they not been calumniating that
fine and simple nature? So deeply was the Fra impressed with this
sentiment that he forgot to continue the interrogatory, and stood gazing
with admiration on him.

'Well, said the boy, smiling good-humouredly, 'what is your business
with me, for it is nigh bed-time, and I must be going?'

'It was _your_ voice I heard in the solo a few minutes ago,' cried the
Fra eagerly; 'I know it was. It was _you_ who sang the

'Virgo virginum praeclara, Mihi jam non sis amara?'

'Yes, yes,' said the youth, reddening. 'But what of that? You never came
here to-night to ask me this question.'

'True enough,' said the Fra, sighing painfully--less, indeed at the
rebuke than the hot-tempered tone of the boy as he spoke it. 'I came
here to-night to fetch you along with me, to see one who was a friend of
your family long, long ago; he has heard of you here, and wishes to see
and speak with you. He is a person of great rank and high station, so
that you will show him every deference, and demean yourself toward
him respectfully and modestly; for he means you well, Gerald; he will
befriend you.'

'But what need have I of his friendship or his good offices?' said the
youth, growing deadly pale as he spoke. 'Look at this serge gown--see
this cap--they can tell you what I am destined for. I shall be a
priest one of these days, Fra; and what has a priest to do with ties of
affection or friendship?'

'Oh! for the blessed Joseph's sake,' whispered the Fra, 'be careful
what you say. These are terrible words to speak--and to speak them here,
too,' added he, as he threw his eyes over the walls of the room.

'Is this man a cardinal?'

'No,' said the Fra; 'he is a layman, and a count.'

'Better that; had he been a cardinal, I 'd not have gone. Whenever the
old cardinal, Caraffa, comes here, I'm sure to have a week's punishment;
and I hate the whole red-stockinged race----'

'There, there--let us away at once,' whispered the Fra. 'Such discourse
as this will bring misfortune upon us both.'

'Have you the superior's permission for my going out with you?' asked
Gerald.

'Yes; I have his leave till eleven o'clock--we