cated to S. Silvestro), he would be told what to do.
The saints and the quivering clouds rose and disappeared. The emperor
woke for the third time, called Captain Mucioalbano, told him his dream
and sent him to fetch Silvestro. It was all carried out with extreme
reverence and the applause was enthusiastic.

The second act passed before the hermit's grotto on Monte Sirach. Enter
Captain Mucioalbano with two comic Saracen soldiers. They have searched
all the mountain and this is the only grotto they have found; they hope
it will prove to be the right one, for they are tired and hungry.

"Come out, come out, come out," exclaims Captain Mucioalbano.

"You are a pagan," says a voice within.

"Yes, I know," shouts the captain, "but never mind that. Come out, I
want to speak to you."

Enter, from the grotto, Silvestro who declares he will have no dealings
with Turks.

"That has nothing to do with it," says the captain. "I come from
Constantine, Emperor of the World,"--and he tells him about the twelve
years' illness, the constant irritation and the mysterious vision.

Silvestro bows his head, crosses himself, and says--

"I understand."

"Then do not keep his Majesty waiting," says the captain. "Come at once
and cure him."

Silvestro agrees to come, but not till he has celebrated Mass, at which
he invites them to be present. They laugh at the idea--Saracens at Mass,
indeed!--and when they see that he is serious they laugh more; it is, in
fact, such a good joke that in a spirit of What next? they accept his
invitation, intending to jeer. First, however, they want something to
eat. Silvestro has nothing for them; besides, one does not eat before
Mass.

"But we are hungry," they say. "You don't fast all the year; what do you
eat?"

Silvestro, like so many hermits, lives on roots, but he has not yet sown
the seed--he will sow it now. The soldiers object, they are not going to
wait four months for their dinner. Silvestro did not mean that they
should: the seed will grow during Mass and they shall eat the roots
afterwards. They are more amused than ever, but consent to wait.
Silvestro sows his seed in two places and they all go off to Mass.

An angel descends with ballet-girl feet, performs an elegant dance and
blesses the seed, which by a simple stage trick immediately grows up in
two flower-pots. The angel dances again and disappears.

Silvestro returns from Mass with the captain, who is deep in th