Pierre could picture Nani smiling at him and speaking to him, declaring that the repeated delays were a favour of Providence, which would enable him to visit Rome, study and understand things, reflect, and avoid blunders.

How delicate and how profound had been the prelate's diplomacy in thus crushing his feelings beneath his reason, appealing to his intelligence to suppress his work without any scandalous struggle as soon as his knowledge of the real Rome should have shown him how supremely ridiculous it was to dream of a new one! At that moment Pierre perceived Nani in person just coming from the throne-room, and did not feel the irritation and rancour which he had anticipated.

On the contrary he was glad when the prelate, in his turn seeing him, drew near and held out his hand.

Nani, however, did not wear his wonted smile, but looked very grave, quite grief-stricken.

"Ah! my dear son," he said, "what a frightful catastrophe! I have just left his Eminence, he is in tears.