The Daughter of an Empress

With a free and noble demeanor, Braschi now approached the pope, who

remained standing at some distance awaiting him, with a calm and proud

self-possession. Braschi dropped upon one knee, and pressing the hem of

the pope's garment in his lips, said: "Pardon me, most holy father, that I have ventured to seek you here.

But my lively gratitude would not be longer restrained. It impelled me

toward you with the wings of the wind. I must be the first to fall at

your feet to stammer out to you my inexpressible thanks."

Proudly nodding his head the pope motioned him to rise.

"It is well," said he, "and you have lent your gratitude an abundance of

words. It is true you were only treasurer, and I have permitted you

to take a great step in making you a cardinal. But remember, my lord

cardinal, that I have promoted you only because I wished to take from

you the office of treasurer, as I need a man for that post whose honesty

no one could call in question!"

Thus speaking he passed on with a ceremonious salutation, leaving

the new cardinal rooted to the earth with terror, his beautiful brow

distorted with rage.

"He shall expiate that," muttered Braschi, gnashing his teeth, as the

pope slowly pursued his way. "By the Eternal, the proud Franciscan shall

expiate that! Ah, the day will come when he will fully remember these

words!"

Meantime, Ganganelli wandered calmly on, followed by his faithful

Lorenzo, with a smile of joy at this dismissal and humiliation of the

proud and handsome Cardinal Braschi.

The pope suddenly stopped, and turning to Lorenzo said: "What a strange thought has passed through my head! I have made this

miserable coxcomb Braschi a cardinal because he was not honest enough

for a treasurer, but in doing so I have paved the way for him to the

papal throne! Would it not be strange, Lorenzo, if I have thus myself

provided my successor? His dishonesty and intriguing disposition has

made him a cardinal. Why can it not also make him a pope? The world is

indeed so strange!"(*) (*) Juan Angelo Braschi, whom Pope Clement XIV. made a

cardinal, was in fact Ganganelli's successor, and took

possession of the papal chair as Pius VI. He was chosen

after a very stormy conclave and indeed the different

parties voted for him on the ground that he belonged to no

party, and because they thought he was so very much occupied

with his own beauty that he would think of nothing else,

and, while occupied with the care of his face, would leave

the cares of state to others.

"What dreams those are," murmured Lorenzo, shrugging his shoulders; "the

idea that a Braschi could be the successor of the noble Ganganelli!"

Many cardinals and princes of the Church, many noblemen and foreign

ambassadors, were assembled in the pope's audience-room, and as

Ganganelli entered, they all received him with joyful acclamations,

and humbly fell upon their knees before the head of the church, the

vicegerent of God, who, with solemn majesty, bestowed upon them his

blessing, and then condescendingly conversed with them. That was a

ceremony to which the pope was obliged to subject himself once a week,

and which he reckoned as not one of the least of the troubles attendant

upon his exalted position. Hence he was well pleased when this hour

was over, and he at length was relieved of the presence of all these

eulogistic and flattering gentlemen.