He employed more gentle weapons; such brutality filled him with indignation; and his face, so pinky and carefully tended, still wore the grave expression of his revolt in presence of the tearful Cardinal and those poor lovers stricken in his stead.
Believing that Sanguinetti was still the prelate's secret candidate, Pierre was worried to know how far their moral complicity in this baleful affair might go.

So he resumed the conversation by saying: "It is asserted that his Holiness is on bad terms with his Eminence Cardinal Sanguinetti.

Of course the reigning pope cannot look on the future pope with a very kindly eye." At this, Nani for a moment became quite gay in all frankness.

"Oh," said he, "the Cardinal has quarrelled and made things up with the Vatican three or four times already.

And, in any event, the Holy Father has no motive for posthumous jealousy; he knows very well that he can give his Eminence a good greeting." Then, regretting that he had thus expressed a certainty, he added: "I am joking, his Eminence is altogether worthy of the high fortune which perhaps awaits him." Pierre knew what to think however; Sanguinetti was certainly Nani's candidate no longer.