'One can stand a great deal from lawful owners.' Miss Foster looked in bewilderment at Mrs.Burgoyne.That lady laughed and bent across the table.
'Let me warn you, Miss Foster, this gentleman here must be taken with a grain of salt when he talks about poor Italy--and the Italians.' 'But I thought'-- said Lucy Foster, staring at her host-- 'You thought he was writing a book on Italy?
That doesn't matter.

It's the new Italy of course that he hates--the poor King and Queen--the Government and the officials.' 'He wants the old times back ?'--said Miss Foster, wondering--'when the priests tyrannised over everybody?
when the Italians had no country--and no unity ?' She spoke slowly, at last looking her host in the face.

Her frown of nervousness had disappeared.

Manisty laughed.
'Pio Nono pulled down nothing--not a brick--or scarcely.

And it is a most excellent thing, Miss Foster, to be tyrannised over by priests.' His great eyes shone--one might even say, glared upon her.