ds
at the ordination retreats and those who belonged to the "Tuesday
Conferences" were intimately known to him. Who could be better fitted
to select those who were suitable for preferment? Mazarin, it is true,
objected to the Council on principle, but that was simply because he
considered that bishoprics and abbeys were useful things to keep in
reserve as bribes for his wavering adherents. Certain reforms on which
Vincent insisted were not to his mind either, although he offered no
opposition. It was not his way to act openly, and he bided his time;
the wonder was that Vincent was able to do what he did so thoroughly.

In the meantime it began to dawn upon the public that the Superior of
St. Lazare was for the moment a man of influence. It was already well
known that he was a man of immense charity, with many institutions on
his hands, several of which were in urgent need of funds. It seemed a
very simple thing to offer him a large sum of money for the poor on
condition that he would put in a good word for a brother or a nephew
who was just the man for a bishopric or anything else that might
offer.

Vincent's reception of these proposals was disconcerting. "God
forbid!" he would cry indignantly. "Better that we should all go
without the barest necessities of life."

Some would come with a recommendation from the Queen herself, which
made things doubly embarrassing; but in spite of everything Vincent
remained faithful to his first determination to choose for bishoprics
no priests save those worthy of the position by reason of their virtue
and learning.

Now, it was exceedingly unpleasant for needy noblemen to be obliged to
sue to a peasant priest in a shabby cassock for the preferment of
their relations; but it became quite intolerable when the shabby
priest refused to listen.

"You are an old lunatic," said a young man who had been refused a
benefice through Vincent's agency.

"You are quite right," was the only answer, accompanied by a
good-natured smile.

Another day a gentleman who had come to recommend his son for a
bishopric was so angry when Vincent explained that he did not see his
way to grant his request that he answered the "impertinent peasant"
with a blow. Vincent, without the slightest allusion to this
treatment, quietly escorted him downstairs and saw him into his
carriage. Insulted another day in public by a magistrate whose
interests he had refused to forward, the Superior of St. Lazare made
t