Bishops of
Rome and later Popes, what happened to it when there were two or three
Popes, in the Middle Ages? And which branch retained the unbroken
succession? Of a truth, _amico_, you are very credulous!"

Jose looked at him horrified.

"And which branch now," continued the irrepressible Tito, "holds a
monopoly of the Apostolic virtue, the Anglican Church, the Greek, or
the Roman Catholic? For each claims it, and each regards its rival
claimants as rank heretics."

Jose could not but dwell long and thoughtfully on this. Then, later,
he again sought the graceless Tito. "_Amico_," he said eagerly, "why
do not these claimants of the true Apostolic virtue seek to prove
their claims, instead of, like pouting children, vainly spending
themselves in denouncing their rivals?"

"_Prove them!_" shouted Tito. "And how, _amico mio_?"

"Why," returned Jose earnestly, "by doing the works the Apostles did;
by healing the sick, and raising the dead, and--"

Tito answered with a mocking laugh. "_Perdio, amico!_ know you not
that if they submitted to such proof not one of the various
contestants could substantiate his claims?"

"Then, oh, then how could the council declare the Pope to be
infallible?"

Tito regarded his friend pityingly. "My wonder is, _amico_," he
replied seriously, "that they did not declare him _immortal_ as well.
When you read the true history of those exciting days and learn
something of the political intrigue with which the Church was then
connected, you will see certain excellent reasons why the Holy Father
should have been declared infallible. But let me ask you, _amico_, if
you have such doubts, why are you here, of all places? Surely it is
not your own life-purpose to become a priest!"

"My life-purpose," answered Jose meditatively, "is to find my soul--my
_real_ self."

Tito went away shaking his head. He could not understand such a
character as that of Jose. But, for that matter, no one ever
fathoms a fellow-being. And so we who have attempted a sketch of
the boy's mentality will not complain if its complexity prevents
us from adequately setting it forth. Rather shall we feel that we
have accomplished much if we have shown that the lad had no slight
justification for the budding seeds of religious doubt within his
mind, and for concluding that of the constitution of God men
know nothing, despite their fantastical theories and their bold
affirmations, as if He were a man in their immediate neighb