efray immediate necessities, so that
the innkeeper might find his expenses paid. Father Antonius must have
suspected something of the kind. He returned to the room, to fetch
something that he had forgotten, and when they reached the mainroad he
quietly opened his cloth, and added Paul's gold piece to the few
farthings left therein. Paul in a rage insisted on returning to give to
the hotel-keeper what belonged to him, Antonio asked on the other hand:
"Is it better that our holy missions should suffer delay, and perhaps
hundreds of souls more be sent to hell, or that this tavern-keeper
should lose a few shillings? Let us choose the lesser evil, and by
cheating a scoundrel, it is very probable that we become more pleasing
in God's sight."

"But if he follows after us, and accuses us before the magistrate of
the next village," replied Paul angrily.

"Then we can swear that you laid a gold piece on the table to satisfy
his demands."

"But how can you deny having taken it up again."

"When I deny it, I think within my own mind to 'taken up' to add the
words 'and not put in my purse,' for as you see I wrap it up in this
piece of cloth."

"These Dominican tricks are known, and you will be required to swear
without any mental reservation."

"Even in such cases one can swear 'without unjust reservation,' for
mine would be especially just, as I am acting in God's cause."

"And do you imagine to be able to bring the heretics back to the cause
of God with such miserable casuistry?" asked the enraged Paul.

"No, my son, I am not such a fool, we shall convert the Germans, by
lighting such a fire in Germany, as will cause the angels to draw in
their toes, and melt the stars in Heaven."

"You have your own peculiar way, of caring for Germany's happiness."

The old man laughed. "Do you think I have climbed these rocks to make
Cimbrians and Teutons happy. I will once more bring back the Roman
dominion which the Emperor Constantine bequeathed to the Pope, so that
we do not, when Christ returns as Caesar, as depicted by Michael Angelo
in his Last Judgment, or as Emperor on a white horse, as the revelation
of St. John describes him, have to appear before Him and say: '_Salve
semper Auguste_, but we have lost the two Germanies.' If however you
hold to rendering people happy, go over to the Waldenses."

Paul was silent. It was impossible to take this man seriously, but it
cut him to the quick to see such a fantastic Being wearing