One of the two men with him had a face which looked as if it had been

carved by a sword or an adze, good and honest but blunt and rugged; and

the other had a long, narrow head, like the head of a hen--a lanky

person with a certain mixture of arrogance and servility in his

expression.

The company rose from their places in the Loggia, and there were

greetings and introductions.

"Sir Evelyn Wise, gentlemen, the new British Ambassador--General Morra,

our Minister of War; Commendatore Angelelli, our Chief of Police. A

thousand apologies, ladies! A Minister of the Interior is one of the

human atoms that live from minute to minute and are always at the mercy

of events. You must excuse the Commendatore, gentlemen; he has urgent

duties outside."

The Prime Minister spoke with the lucidity and emphasis of a man

accustomed to command, and when Angelelli had bowed all round he crossed

with him to the door.

"If there is any suspicion of commotion, arrest the ringleaders at once.

Let there be no trifling with disorder, by whomsoever begun. The first

to offend must be the first to be arrested, whether he wears cap or

cassock."

"Good, your Excellency," and the Chief of Police went out.

"Commotion! Disorder! Madonna mia!" cried the little Princess.

"Calm yourselves, ladies. It's nothing! Only it came to the knowledge of

the Government that the Pope's procession this morning might be made the

excuse for a disorderly demonstration, and of course order must not be

disturbed even under the pretext of liberty and religion."

"So that was the public business which deprived us of your society?"

said the Princess.

"And left my womanless house the duty of receiving you in my absence,"

said the Baron.

The Baron bowed his guests to their seats, stood with his back to a wide

ingle, and began to sketch the Pope's career.

"His father was a Roman banker--lived in this house, indeed--and the

young Leone was brought up in the Jesuit schools and became a member of

the Noble Guard: handsome, accomplished, fond of society and social

admiration, a man of the world. This was a cause of disappointment to

his father, who has intended him for a great career in the Church. They

had their differences, and finally a mission was found for him and he

lived a year abroad. The death of the old banker brought him back to

Rome, and then, to the astonishment of society, he renounced the world

and took holy orders. Why he gave up his life of gallantry did not

appear...."




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