light than that of the Church and her Holy Cause; but my dear
Friend, a man is often a better Jesuit by not being so according to
rule. It is not necessary to hide your feelings before me."

"My brother will be useful to me," answered the young Priest shortly.
Then he drew from his pocket and handed to Pigavetta a number of
papers. "Here are the reports as to the state of the Church in the
Stift; here, what I could learn without exciting comment concerning the
religious relations of the families of my pupils. Here are the
astronomical calculations, so far as I, owing to the scanty means at my
disposal, could add them together from the tables."

"Let us sit down, my dear Master," said Pigavetta, throwing himself
back in a chair, and drawing the Priest towards him with offensive
familiarity. "You are not satisfied with your position?" asked he
confidentially.

"All delays and evasions have availed nothing," replied the other in a
low tone. "Yesterday I was again bound and have moreover to subscribe
by oath that I would render my teaching more in accordance with the
fundamental doctrines of the Augsburg Confession and the Catechism of
the Kurfuerst. You know that I cannot do this, therefore help me to quit
this position."

"You are not bound to fulfil this promise, since you never intended
carrying it out when you gave it."

"But the black gown of the heretics chokes me."

"Now, my dear young friend, I am for my part ready to rid you at once
of this Nessus robe if you prove yourself disposed for other duties."
The pale young man raised his large black eyes and fixed them
attentively on his superior. "They are looking out for a tutor for the
young Counts Palatine," continued the older man, "and as you are an
excellent teacher I shall recommend you for the post, but the young
Princes could help us but little if you do not obtain influence over
the new Kurfuerstin and even over the old Count. I am told that she
affects the Kabbalah and astrological studies. This may be the reason
why the thick-headed Count growls and opposes so violently the noble
science of astrology, by means of which many a court chaplain has made
a fool of his Sovereign during his lifetime. Do you know anything of
this science?"

"I can decipher the _rota vitae et mortis_" said Paul Laurenzano sadly,
"draw a horoscope, calculate the appearances, and the rest I can easily
learn, if you only provide me with the necessary books and
instruments."