,
and the urgency of concluding treaties of peace and compacts of union.
His garment was soiled and torn, his person mean, his face pale, but
God gave his words unheard of power. He even converted noblemen, whose
unrestrained fury had bathed the country in blood, and many of them
were reconciled."

Professor Pepoli came under the spell of this preaching. A little
later all Bologna was electrified by hearing that he was about to give
up his professorship and become one of Francis' disciples. His friends
did all in their power to keep him. They pointed out to him how much
he loved his studies and the glory that was his. All in vain.
Professor Pepoli had already been accepted by Francis.

Three years later he died, greatly mourned by an entire monastery of
which he had been the founder.

If there were one class of men that Francis took more interest in than
another, after the lepers, it was the thieves and robbers that
abounded all over Europe. One day a number of them came begging at the
monastery. Angelo Tancredi opened the door to them and, true to his
soldierly instincts, was very wroth at their impudence.

[Sidenote: _The Robbers._]

"What!" he cried, "Robbers, evil-doers, assassins, have you no shame
for stealing the goods of others, but would you devour the goods of
the servants of God? You who are not worthy to live, and respect
neither men or God. Get you hence, and never let me see you here
again!"

The robbers departed, full of rage. Francis next appeared close on
their heels, carrying with him some bread and wine that had been given
to him. Angelo told him of the impudence of the robbers, and how he
had served them. To his surprise, Francis was much grieved at his
conduct, and reproved him for his cruelty.

"Go at once," he said, "and take this bread and wine and seek those
robbers till you have found them, and offer them this bread from me,
then ask their pardon, and pray them in my name to no longer do wrong,
but fear God."

Angelo departed, while Francis stayed at home and prayed for the
success of his undertaking. The robbers were found, and Angelo brought
them back to the monastery where they not only sought the pardon of
their sins, but became friars, and lived and died in true holiness.

One day Francis and some of the friars were passing round the foot of
a great castle. It was evident there was some festival going on
inside! The banner of the house floated over the gates, and the sound
of