get it. He removed into the
house of that great man, who had long treated him with much kindness.

* * * * *

"So you too," said the little priest some time after to the melancholy
Antonio, "have given yourself up to this ill-starred school, to this
pernicious man who will ensnare your soul to its destruction."

"Why are you angry," answered Antonio courteously, "my pious friend?
May not religion and knowledge shake hands in amity, as they do in
this admirable teacher? in him whom the whole world admires, whom
princes esteem and cherish, whom our holy father himself means to
raise to a spiritual dignity. Why are you incenst against him who
comes forward to meet you and all mankind with his love? Did you know
how his doctrine comforts me, how he lifts up my soul and guides it
heavenward, how in his mouth piety and religion find the words and
images of inspiration, which bear his scholars as with the wings of
the spirit into the regions above the earth, you would not think and
speak thus harshly of him. Learn to know him more nearly; seek his
intercourse; and you will soon be moved by penitence and love to
abjure your dislike and your over-hasty judgement against him."

"Love him!" cried the priest: "no, never! Keep yourself safe, young
man, from his clutches and those of his servant with hell's stamp upon
him, who cannot gull any one with the same fair seeming as his
master."

"True," rejoined Antonio, "little Beresynth is a queer figure, and a
hideous one too. I wonder myself that our noble Pietro can endure to
have him perpetually at his side, wherever he is and whatever he is
doing. But ought a hump or any other such ugly mark to render us cruel
toward a poor wretch whom nature has neglected?"

"Fine words! grand phrases!" exclaimed the priest impatiently: "such
are the very sentiments to make conjurors and quacks thrive apace.
See, there comes the abomination! I cannot even bear to look upon him,
much less to have any dealings with him. A creature whom the Lord has
markt in this wise, is knowable enough; and let everybody in whom all
human feeling is not yet quencht, get out of his way."

Beresynth, who had caught the last words, came up to them with divers
ungainly jumps.

"My very reverend sir," he exclaimed, "do you then yourself happen to
be of such mightily exquisite beauty, that you have a right to judge
thus intolerantly? My master from his youth up has been a majestic a