le hour in your churches," said
Erast, "but I have remarked how the best pictures as well as the worst
are reverenced by the people as idols, and the worship of the only true
God is lessened thereby. I know the picture in San Marco well, and as
you state, no one who has seen the gentle features of the Master and
his disciples can forget them. I have seen however other pictures,
which I can just as little forget. As for instance the horrible
Sebastian, Roche and Mark in the hospital at Venice. When the Lazareth
fever broke out in consequence of the filthy management, it was not
combated by fresh air, pure water and lime, as we do it, but new lights
were lit to the three Patron Saints. If nevertheless people died, then
the Saints were insulted, spat upon, beaten, then everything was held
to be done. No one thought of practical earthly measures. That is a
consequence of mixing religion and art together. For this cause did I
move no hand, when all the pictures here were done away with, although
I felt grieved for many a work of art." The Italian perceived well the
seed of truth which lay in these words, but he was as horrified at the
heretical sentiment as if the claw of Satan had laid hold of him. He
made the sign of the cross, and remarking, that Erast smiled
contemptuously took up the discussion excitedly.

"The people ever remains the people," said he sharply. "Since they no
longer seek help from images, they do believe the more in witches and
magic in the which God's worship acquires nothing. You cannot be
ignorant of the fact that in the small Geneva, Calvin has burnt more
magicians and witches than have been burnt during our life time in the
whole of Italy. It is therefore better for the people to turn for aid
to the images of the Madonna than to Satan. In the matter of lights and
choirs you have not even the excuse of misuse, or has the organ also
tended towards idolatry?"

"We do not go to Church to see lights and hear music, but to ponder
over the sufferings of the Lord."

"Sir," said the artist in a voice trembling with excitement, "I
happened to be in Rome last Easter in the Chapel of the Pope, as on the
day previous to the death of the Saviour they recalled to our minds,
according to our form of worship, the sufferings of the Lord. The choir
gave expression to the feeling which fills the soul at the thought of
the terrible crime committed by mankind on Christ. That was no
singsong, it seemed as if a deep wai