here German youths
are trained by the Jesuits. They are very particular about faith, but
as to education they close one eye in the interest of the faith."

"Hm," remarked the Bridge Farmer, "but I wonder if the masses that such
a one reads, who's come all the way from Rome, have the same force."

"A bigger one, if anything, supposing that was possible at all," said
the Reverend, "for you mustn't forget, Bridge Farmer, that the school
in Rome is right near the Holy Father."

"Well, but I wonder if they require Greek there, too, and such like
gammon."

"Only for the sake of appearances. Nobody will flunk on that account if
he's all right in his faith, and pays his money correctly and in due
season. But here in Germany Matthew Fottner can't be ordained."

"Well, I'd like to know why not?"

"Because those scoundrelly Prussians have made a law against it."

"Well now, aren't they a bad lot?"

"Right you are; and a lot worse than you think for. Probably Fottner
would simply have to become a missionary. That ought to fill you with
joy, for that's actually more deserving than to become priest here."

"Oh, but are you quite sure of that? I wouldn't want to have all those
big expenses again and then have it turn out only a half-way business."

"It is certain and indisputable, for the messengers of the faith were
always most highly honored."

The Bridge Farmer was happy, and went home from Sintshausen with his
tail in the air.

Now everything must surely go right, and his plan would succeed.

They should make eyes in Freising when Matt Fottner got ordained in
spite of them, or actually became a missionary who converts the
Hindians, and whose masses count even more.

And the Eynhofen folks that were forever quizzing him in the tavern
about his Latin officer, they should open their eyes, too, one of these
days.

On the very next day he took the train to Munich. No joy is complete,
and the palm of victory is never to be gained with easy toil.

This was the experience of the Bridge Farmer when he communicated his
plan to the royal corporal Matthew Fottner.

The latter declared roundly that he neither wished to study nor to go
out among the Hindians.

When the old man represented to him that he would only have to study a
very little, he remarked that nothing at all was still better; and when
the Bridge Farmer asseverated by all that was holy that he would become
a saint, just like those plaster men in the church a