The Daughter of an Empress

Cardinal Francesco Albani, meantime, hastened through the streets

with the sprightliness of youth. He noticed neither the respectful

salutations and knee-bendings of those he passed, nor their visible

shuddering and alarm when under the cardinal's hat they recognized the

fierce and inhuman Francesco Albani.

He stopped before the palace of Cardinal Juan Angelo Braschi. The

equipage of the new cardinal was drawn up before his door.

"Ah," gleefully remarked Albani, "he is therefore yet at home, and I

shall meet with him!"

Hastily entering the palace, and pushing past the servant who would have

preceded him, he entered the cardinal's cabinet unannounced.

"Be not troubled, your eminence," said Albani, with a smile, "I will

not detain you long. I know your habits, and know that Signora Malveda

usually expects you at this hour, because Cardinal Rezzonico is not then

with her! But I have something important to say to you. You know I am a

man who, without forms and circumlocutions, always comes directly to the

point. I do so now. You desire to be the successor of Ganganelli?"

Braschi turned pale, and timidly cast down his eyes.

"Why are you shocked?" cried Albani. "Every cardinal hopes and wishes to

become the father of Christendom--that is natural; I should also wish it

for myself, but I know that that cannot be. I have permitted these lord

cardinals who, in the conclave, invoke the Holy Spirit, to look too much

into my cards. I was not so prudent as you, Braschi, and therefore you

are much the more likely to become God's vicegerent! Would you not like

to be pope, if Ganganelli should happen to die? And how high would you

hold my voice--how much would it be worth to you?"

"More than all I possess, infinitely more!" said the shrewd Braschi.

"Were I sure of your voice, I might then have a definite hope of

becoming pope; for your voice carries many others with it. How, then,

can you expect me to estimate what is inestimable?"

"Would you give me twenty thousand?" asked Albani.

"Threefold that sum if I possessed it, but I have nothing! I am a very

poor cardinal, as you well know. My whole property consists of six

thousand scudi, and that trifling sum I dare not offer you."

"Borrow, then, of Signora Malveda!" said Albani. "Cardinal Rezzonico is

rich and liberal. Let us speak directly to the point. You would be pope,

and I am willing to forward your views. How much will you pay?"

"If Signora Malveda will lend me four thousand scudi, I should then have

ten thousand to offer you!"

"Well, so be it. Ten thousand scudi will do, if you will add to it a

trifling favor."

"Name it," said Braschi.

"You know that Ganganelli opposes the crowning of our famous

improvisatrice, Corilla, in the capitol. This is an injustice which

Ganganelli's successor will have to repair. Will you do it?"