ed life together, eking out the
wherewithal for their costly amusements in speculations on
the Exchange. When the Nuntius returned to Rome, donned the
Cardinal's hat, and was appointed to the See of Albano as
Cardinal Agliardi, he bestowed a canonry on the boon
companion who had followed him to the eternal city. The
friendship continued unabated, and was further cemented by
the identity of their political opinions, which favored the
Triple Alliance. Gerlach became Agliardi's tout and
electioneering agent when that Cardinal set up as candidate
for the papacy on the death of Leo XIII. But as his chances
of election were slender, the pair worked together to defeat
Rampolla, who was hated and feared by Germany and Austria.
Their bitter opponent was Cardinal Richard, a witty French
prelate who labored might and main for Rampolla, and told me
some amusing stories about Agliardi. Some years ago
Gerlach's name emerged above the surface of private life in
Rome in connection with what the French term _un drame
passionel_, which led to violent scenes in public and to a
number of duels later on. That this man of violent
Pan-German sentiments should be the Pope's mentor and guide
through the labyrinth of international politics seems a
curious anachronism.

Although Cardinal della Chiesa, shortly before he became Benedict XV.,
was spoken of as the inheritor of Rampolla's Francophile leanings, it
is "now conjectured that at the Conclave this legend secured from his
not only the votes of the Teutonic Cardinals, who knew what his
sentiments really were, but also those of the French and Belgians, who
erroneously fancied that they knew," Dr. Dillon says. He does not
hesitate to believe that the Pope is "at heart a staunch friend of
Austria and a warm admirer of Germany, whom he looks upon as the
embodiment of the principle of authority and conservatism." For the
Vatican his words are more unsparing:

The Vatican, as distinguished from the Pope, was and is
systematically hostile to the Allies. Its press organs,
inspired by an astute and influential Italian ecclesiastic
named Tedeschini, by Koeppenberg, a rabid German convert,
and by the Calabrian Daffina, organized a formidable
campaign against the King's Government and their supposed
interventionist leanings. Its agents, including the priest