And who can tell?
If God be with you, He will save you even in spite of all!" This speech formed part of the Cardinal's usual tactics; for one of his principles was never to drive people to extremes by sending them away hopeless.

What good, indeed, would it do to tell this one that the condemnation of his book was a foregone conclusion, and that his only prudent course would be to disavow it?
Only a savage like Boccanera breathed anger upon fiery souls and plunged them into rebellion.

"You must hope, hope!" repeated Sanguinetti with a smile, as if implying a multitude of fortunate things which he could not plainly express.
Thereupon Pierre, who was deeply touched, felt born anew.

He even forgot the conversation he had surprised, the Cardinal's keen ambition and covert rage with his redoubtable rival.

Besides, might not intelligence take the place of heart among the powerful?
If this man should some day become pope, and had understood him, might he not prove the pope who was awaited, the pope who would accept the task of reorganising the Church of the United States of Europe, and making it the spiritual sovereign of the world?
So he thanked him with emotion, bowed, and left him to his dream, standing before that widely open window whence Rome appeared to him, glittering like a jewel, even indeed as the tiara of gold and gems, in the splendour of the autumn sun.
It was nearly one o'clock when Pierre and Count Prada were at last able to sit down to _dejeuner_ in the little restaurant where they had agreed to meet.