Philammon, in
his most sanctimonious tone.

'Well, what of that? I don't speak evil of dignities, when I complain of
the men who fill them badly, do I?'

'I never heard that interpretation of the text before.'

'Very likely not. That's no reason why it should not be true and
orthodox. You will soon hear a good many more things, which are true
enough--though whether they are orthodox or not, the court cooks must
settle. Of course, I am a disappointed, irreverent old grumbler.
Of course, and of course, too, young men must needs buy their own
experience, instead of taking old folks' at a gift. There--use your own
eyes, and judge for yourself. There you may see what sort of saints are
bred by this plan of managing the Catholic Church. There comes one of
them. Now! I say no more!'

As he spoke, two tall negroes came up to them, and set down before
the steps of a large church which they were passing an object new to
Philammon--a sedan-chair, the poles of which were inlaid with ivory and
silver, and the upper part enclosed in rose-coloured silk curtains.

'What is inside that cage?' asked he of the old priest, as the negroes
stood wiping the perspiration from their foreheads, and a smart
slave-girl stepped forward, with a parasol and slippers in her hand, and
reverently lifted the lower edge of the curtain.

'A saint, I tell you!'

An embroidered shoe, with a large gold cross on the instep, was put
forth delicately from beneath the curtain, and the kneeling maid put on
the slipper over it.

'There!'whispered the old grumbler. 'Not enough, you see, to use
Christian men as beasts of burden--Abbot Isidore used to say--ay, and
told Iron, the pleader, to his face, that he could not conceive how a
man who loved Christ, and knew the grace which has made all men free,
could keep a slave.'

'Nor can I,' said Philammon.

'But we think otherwise, you see, in Alexandria here. We can't even walk
up the steps of God's temple without an additional protection to our
delicate feet.'

'I had thought it was written, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for
the place where thou standest is holy ground."'

'Ah! there are a good many more things written which we do not find
it convenient to recollect.--Look! There is one of the pillars of the
church-the richest and most pious lady in Alexandria.'

And forth stepped a figure, at which Philammon's eyes opened wider than
they had done even at the sight of Pelagia. Whatever thoughts