The Cardinal's Snuff Box
Page 52"Without doubt," said the Cardinal.
"Well--? What can one do?"
The Cardinal looked grave.
"One can pray," he said.
"Emilia and I pray for his conversion night and morning."
"That is good," he approved.
"But that is surely not enough?"
"One can have Masses said."
"Monsignor Langshawe, at the castle, says a Mass for him twice
a week."
"That is good," approved the Cardinal.
"But is that enough?"
"Why doesn't Monsignor Langshawe call upon him--cultivate his
enquired.
"Oh, Monsignor Langshawe!" Beatrice sighed, with a gesture.
"He is interested in nothing but geology--he would talk to him
of nothing but moraines--he would set him thinking of nothing
but the march of glaciers."
"Hum," said the Cardinal.
"Well, then--?" questioned Beatrice.
"Well, then, Carissima, why do you not take the affair in hand
yourself?"
"But that is just the difficulty. What can I what can a mere
woman--do in such a case?"
The Cardinal looked into his amethyst, as a crystal-gazer into
deepened and quivered.
"I will lend you the works of Bellarmine in I forget how many
volumes. You can prime yourself with them, and then invite
your heretic to a course of instructions."
"Oh, I wish you would n't turn it to a joke," said Beatrice.
"Bellarmine--a joke!" exclaimed the Cardinal. "It is the first
time I have ever heard him called so. However, I will not
press the suggestion."
"But then--? Oh, please advise me seriously. What can I do?
What can a mere unlearned woman do?"
The Cardinal took snuff. He gazed into his amethyst again,
beaming at it, as if he could descry something deliciously
he looked up.
"Well," he responded slowly, "in an extremity, I should think
that a mere unlearned woman might, if she made an effort, ask
the heretic to dinner. I 'll come down and stay with you for a
day or two, and you can ask him to dinner."
"You're a perfect old darling," cried Beatrice, with rapture.
"He'll never be able to resist you."' "Oh, I 'm not undertaking to discuss theology with him," said
the Cardinal. "But one must do something in exchange for a
couple of hundred lire--so I'll come and give you my moral
support."