The blessing which he spoke was Latin, and Father Victor looked somewhat anxiously toward his protege till the latter answered in a diction so pure that Cicero himself would have smiled to hear it.
"Stand up!" cried Father Anthony.

"By heavens, Jean Paul, it is the purest Latin I have heard this twelvemonth." And the lad answered: "It must be pure Latin; Father Victor has taught me." Gabrielle Anthony stared, and to save him from too obvious confusion the other priest interrupted: "I have a letter for you, my son." And he passed the envelope to Pierre.

The latter examined it with interest.

"This comes from the south.

It is marked from the United States." "So far!" exclaimed the tall priest.