d when at last he began to get well, it was perfectly evident
that there could be no talk of his going to Morocco. Always submissive,
Francis accepted this as the will of the Lord and returned to Italy. The
reason why he was led back to the Portiuncula at that particular time
seemed to him quite plain afterwards; for, when he got there, he found a
number of learned and noble men waiting to offer themselves to him.

Exactly what Francis did after this is not quite clear. Probably he
preached round about the North of Italy, and visited the various
branches of the work, instructing novices, and establishing fresh
centres. At the beginning of the next year we find him attending a
conference in Rome, respecting the recovery of the Holy Land. While
here, he met Dominic for the first time. Dominic was the founder of
another kind of Friar Order. He conceived a great admiration for
Francis, and tried very hard to get him to consent to amalgamate the
two. This Francis never would consent to do, and the two always
remained distinct.

[Sidenote: _Ugolin's Visit._]

The decision of the conference was that the Pope himself should lead a
crusade into the Holy Land. He left Rome in May, and passed through the
valley of Assisi, where Francis was presiding over a general Chapter. At
Perugia he was taken ill with fever. One of his near relatives, Cardinal
Ugolino, accompanied him. This man had heard a great deal about Francis
from Cardinal Paul, who had just died, and he thought that now would be
a good chance to see for himself. Accordingly, followed by his
magnificent suite, he travelled back to Assisi. All he saw filled him
with wonder; it bore to him the mark of true holiness. What struck him
most was the poverty of it the brethren. He had no idea they carried it
so far. He went through the roughly constructed cells, saw the beds made
of straw, more like the lairs of wild animals, and he could not restrain
his tears.

"Alas!" he cried to those who were with him, "what will become of us
who need so many superfluities in our lives!"

Ugolino did not stop there. He felt impelled to offer himself to fill
the place of Cardinal Paul as Protector of the Order.

"I offer myself to you," he said to Francis; "if you wish it, I will
be your helper, counsellor, and support!"

Francis first of all thanked God, and then he answered, "It is with
all my heart I salute you, the father and Protector of our religion. I
wish all my brothers to yo