"You are a finished artist.
I will shortly bring you some forms, you will write out letters of
safe-conduct for all our agents." He then with apparent indifference
folded up the note and put it with his other papers. But the other said
mistrustfully: "Give me back that sheet, I do not know what you may
want to do with it."

"I think you are becoming childish," cried Pigavetta impatiently,
"since when has it become the custom of the society for the novices to
watch over the initiated." And he took the folded paper from his pocket
and threw it out of the open window. "What sort of French scholar are
you?" added he quickly. "The Countess Brederode, or Her Highness the
Princess Amelia as she likes to be called, is very particular on that
point."

"She will be contented with me," said Paul, "but now dismiss me, it is
late. As you ordered me to conceal our interviews, I told the ladies of
the Stift, that I was about to attend a meeting of the clergy, in the
Hirsch, where I nearly die of ennui, therefore all the less do I dare
stay out till midnight, lest my reputation should suffer in the eyes of
these pious women."

Pigavetta gave him his hand. "I hope you will soon dwell in yonder
castle, and the pretty Princess will have no objection to your then
stopping somewhat later." The Priest blushed anew and hastily left.
Through the open window could be heard the hurried footsteps of the
young man for whom the fresh evening breeze was not sufficient to cool
his fevered brow. Pigavetta's long foxy head was thrust out to watch
him. "'One cannot angle without bait,' said the Holy Ignatius, and he
was the only man who ever impressed me. Of what use hearing the
confessions of this good youth, if I could not work upon his weak
point. He seems however as if he would shortly break away, so it will
be right to lay a new chain on him." After a while he added: "Leaving
all higher considerations aside, it would be no bad spectacle, if I
were to let this black panther loose on the white kitten in yonder
castle. This would bring about some excitement in this tedious home of
heretics, where we have five months of winter and seven months of
rain." Carefully taking from his pocket a creased piece of paper, he
laid another sheet over it, and began cautiously to smooth it out. When
he had finished this piece of work, he added: "Exposed a few times to
the night-air and this masterpiece of our good Magister will be quite
smooth, and then, friend