less conscious of
cramped limbs and hunger, "Fra Domenico is not going to enter the fire.
It is Fra Girolamo who offers himself after all. We shall see him move
presently, and if he comes out of the flames we shall have a fine view
of him!"

But Fra Girolamo did not move, except with the ordinary action
accompanying speech. The speech was bold and firm, perhaps somewhat
ironically remonstrant, like that of Elijah to the priests of Baal,
demanding the cessation of these trivial delays. But speech is the most
irritating kind of argument for those who are out of hearing, cramped in
the limbs, and empty in the stomach. And what need was there for
speech? If the miracle did not begin, it could be no one's fault but
Fra Girolamo's, who might put an end to all difficulties by offering
himself now the fire was ready, as he had been forward enough to do when
there was no fuel in sight.

More movement to and fro, more discussion; and the afternoon seemed to
be slipping away all the faster because the clouds had gathered, and
changed the light on everything, and sent a chill through the
spectators, hungry in mind and body.

_Now_ it was the crucifix which Fra Domenico wanted to carry into the
fire and must not be allowed to profane in that manner. After some
little resistance Savonarola gave way to this objection, and thus had
the advantage of making one more concession; but he immediately placed
in Fra Domenico's hands the vessel containing the consecrated Host. The
idea that the presence of the sacred Mystery might in the worst
extremity avert the ordinary effects of fire hovered in his mind as a
possibility; but the issue on which he counted was of a more positive
kind. In taking up the Host he said quietly, as if he were only doing
what had been presupposed from the first--

"Since they are not willing that you should enter with the crucifix, my
brother, enter simply with the Sacrament."

New horror in the Franciscans; new firmness in Savonarola. "It was
impious presumption to carry the Sacrament into the fire: if it were
burned the scandal would be great in the minds of the weak and
ignorant."

"Not at all: even if it were burned, the Accidents only would be
consumed, the Substance would remain." Here was a question that might
be argued till set of sun and remain as elastic as ever; and no one
could propose settling it by proceeding to the trial, since it was
essentially a preliminary question. It was only