vernment is by no means bankrupt--quite the contrary. Until
the breaking out of the Franco-Sardinian revolution, its finances were
as well managed and flourishing as those of any state in Europe. I will
convince you of this in a moment." He went to the bookcase and handed
the assessor a newspaper. "These statistics will convince you of the
correctness of my assertion."

"As the documents to prove these statements are wanting, I have great
reason to doubt their correctness," said Hamm. "Paper will not refuse
ink, and in the present case the pen was evidently driven by a friendly
hand."

"Why do you draw this conclusion?"

"From the contradictions between this account of the papal finances and
that given by all independent editors."

"Permit me to call that editor not 'an independent,' but a 'friend of
the church.' The enemies of the church will not praise a church which
they hate. The papal government is the most calumniated government on
earth; and calumny and falsehood perform wonders in our times. The
Italian situation furnishes at present a most striking illustration.
The king of Piedmont has been raised to the rulership of Italy by the
unanimous voice of the people--so say the papers. But the revolution in
the greater part of Italy at the present time proves that the unanimous
voice of the people was a sham, and that the Piedmontese government is
hated and despised by the majority of the Italians. It is the same in
many other things. If falsehood and calumny were not the order of the
day, falsehood and calumny would not sit crowned on the throne."

"Right!" said Richard. "It is indisputable. It is nothing but the
depravity of the times that enables the emperor to domineer over the
world."

Siegwart heard Frank's observation with pleasure. Hamm read this in the
open countenance of the proprietor, and he made a movement as though he
would like to tramp on Frank's toes.

"I admit the flourishing condition of the former Papal States," said
Hamm, with a mock smile. "I will also admit that the former subjects of
the pope, who have been impoverished by the hungry Piedmontese, desire
the milder papal government. 'There is good living under the crozier,'
says an old proverb. But what does all this amount to? Does the
beautiful past overthrow the accomplished facts of the present? The
powers have determined to put an end to papal dominion. The powers have
partly accomplished this. Can the Peter-pence change the progra