pressing the hem of
the pope's garment in his lips, said:

"Pardon me, most holy father, that I have ventured to seek you here.
But my lively gratitude would not be longer restrained. It impelled me
toward you with the wings of the wind. I must be the first to fall at
your feet to stammer out to you my inexpressible thanks."

Proudly nodding his head the pope motioned him to rise.

"It is well," said he, "and you have lent your gratitude an abundance of
words. It is true you were only treasurer, and I have permitted you
to take a great step in making you a cardinal. But remember, my lord
cardinal, that I have promoted you only because I wished to take from
you the office of treasurer, as I need a man for that post whose honesty
no one could call in question!"

Thus speaking he passed on with a ceremonious salutation, leaving
the new cardinal rooted to the earth with terror, his beautiful brow
distorted with rage.

"He shall expiate that," muttered Braschi, gnashing his teeth, as the
pope slowly pursued his way. "By the Eternal, the proud Franciscan shall
expiate that! Ah, the day will come when he will fully remember these
words!"

Meantime, Ganganelli wandered calmly on, followed by his faithful
Lorenzo, with a smile of joy at this dismissal and humiliation of the
proud and handsome Cardinal Braschi.

The pope suddenly stopped, and turning to Lorenzo said:

"What a strange thought has passed through my head! I have made this
miserable coxcomb Braschi a cardinal because he was not honest enough
for a treasurer, but in doing so I have paved the way for him to the
papal throne! Would it not be strange, Lorenzo, if I have thus myself
provided my successor? His dishonesty and intriguing disposition has
made him a cardinal. Why can it not also make him a pope? The world is
indeed so strange!"(*)

(*) Juan Angelo Braschi, whom Pope Clement XIV. made a
cardinal, was in fact Ganganelli's successor, and took
possession of the papal chair as Pius VI. He was chosen
after a very stormy conclave and indeed the different
parties voted for him on the ground that he belonged to no
party, and because they thought he was so very much occupied
with his own beauty that he would think of nothing else,
and, while occupied with the care of his face, would leave
the cares of state to others.

"What dreams those are," murmured Lorenzo, shrugging his shoulders; "the
idea that a Braschi