g which his being was slowly, imperceptibly descending
into him. At the age of twenty he was still unsettled, but further
than even he himself realized from Rome. Who shall say that he was
not at the same time nearer to God?

On the day that he was twenty, three things of the gravest import
happened to the young Jose. His warm friend, Bernardo, died suddenly,
almost in his arms; his uncle, Rafael de Rincon, paid an unexpected
visit to the Vatican; and the lad received the startling announcement
that he would be ordained to the priesthood on the following day.

The sudden demise of the young Bernardo plunged Jose into an excess of
grief and again encompassed him with the fear and horror of death. He
shut himself up in his room, and toward the close of the day took his
writing materials and penned a passionate appeal to his mother,
begging her to absolve him from his promises, and let him go out into
the world, a free man in search of truth. But scarcely had he finished
his letter when he was summoned into the Rector's office. There it was
explained to him that, in recognition of his high scholarship, of his
penitence and loyal obedience since the Testament episode, and of the
advanced work which he was now doing in the seminary and the splendid
promise he was giving, the Holy Father had been asked to grant a
special indult, waiving the usual age requirement and permitting the
boy to be ordained with the class which was to receive the holy order
of the priesthood the following day. It was further announced that
after ordination he should spend a year in travel with the Papal
Legate, and on his return might enter the office of the Papal
Secretary of State, as an under-secretary, or office assistant. While
there, he would be called upon to teach in the seminary, and later
might be sent to the University to pursue higher studies leading to
the degree of Doctor.

Before the boy had awakened to his situation, the day of his
ordination arrived. The proud mother, learning from the secretary of
the precipitation of events, and doting on the boy whom she had never
understood; in total ignorance of the complex elements of his soul,
and little realizing that between her and her beloved son there was
now a gulf fixed which would never be bridged, saw only the happy
fruition of a life ambition. Fortunately she had been kept in
ignorance of the dubious incident of the Testament translation and its
results upon the boy; and when the