Nobody can say exactly how many millions the Patrimony of St.Peter lost when Rome was changed into a gambling-hell, but if some prelates only admit ten, others go as far as thirty.

The probability is that the loss was about fifteen millions.** * The allusion is evidently to the famous Union Generale, on which the Pope bestowed his apostolic benediction, and with which M.Zola deals at length in his novel _Money_.

Certainly a very brilliant idea was embodied in the Union Generale, that of establishing a great international Catholic bank which would destroy the Jewish financial autocracy throughout Europe, and provide both the papacy and the Legitimist cause in several countries with the sinews of war.

But in the battle which ensued the great Jew financial houses proved the stronger, and the disaster which overtook the Catholic speculators was a terrible one .-- Trans.
** That is 600,000 pounds.
Whilst Narcisse was giving this account he and Pierre had despatched their cutlets and tomatoes, and the waiter was now serving them some fried chicken.

"At the present time," said Narcisse by way of conclusion, "the gap has been filled up; I told you of the large sums yielded by the Peter's Pence Fund, the amount of which is only known by the Pope, who alone fixes its employment.