the daughter of an empress-第38部分

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ight　out　their　own　quarrels　with　each　other；　let　us　give　them　leave　to　do　so；　and　if　they　give　each　other　bloody　heads；　very　well；　we　will　bind　them　up；　that　is　all！〃

〃You　take　the　affair　with　your　usual　practical　indifference；〃　said　the　duke　with　bitterness；　〃and　I　can　only　regret　being　compelled　to　look　at　it　in　a　different　light。　The　question　here　is　not　of　a　difficulty　between　our　servants；　but　of　an　insult　which　Spain　has　received　from　France　in　the　face　of　all　Rome。　Yes；　all　Rome　has　witnessed　this　insult；　and　these　miserable　Romans　have　even　dared　to　dishonor　us　with　irony　and　satire；　and　to　mock　and　deride　Spain；　while　they　overload　you　with　their　praises！〃

〃The　good　Romans；　as　you　know；　are　like　children。　This　contest　of　our　cooks　has　delighted　them；　and　they　shouted　a　/viva/　to　the　conqueror。　But　I　beg　you　not　to　forget　that　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　victories　of　my　cook。〃

〃But　I　have　something　to　do　with　the　defeats　of　mine！　Whoever　insults　my　servants　insults　me；　and　whoever　insults　me；　insults　the　kingdom　I　representinsults　Spain！　It　is　therefore　in　the　name　of　Spain　that　I　demand　satisfaction。　Spain　has　a　right　to　this　fish！　I　demand　my　right；　I　demand　the　surrender　of　the　fish！〃

〃If　you　take　this　matter　in　earnest；〃　said　the　cardinal；　〃then　am　I　sorry　to　be　compelled　also　to　be　serious！　If　Spain　can　find　offence　in　the　fact　that　France　has　bought　a　fish　which　is　too　dear　for　the　Spanish　cook；　I　cannot　see　how　I　can　here　make　satisfaction；　as　we　cannot　be　taxed　with　any　fault。〃

〃You　refuse　me　the　fish；　then？〃　exclaimed　the　duke；　bursting　with　rage。

〃As　you　say　that　all　Rome　knows　of　this　affair；　and　takes　an　interest　in　it；　I　cannot　act　otherwise。　It　must　not　have　the　appearance　that　France　feels　herself　less　great　and　powerful　than　Spain；　that　France　pusillanimously　yields　when　Spain　makes　an　unjust　demand！〃

〃That　is　to　say；　you　wish　to　break　off　all　friendly　relations　with　us？〃

〃And　can　those　relations　be　seriously　endangered　by　this　affair？〃　asked　the　cardinal　with　vivacity。　〃Is　it　possible　that　this　trifling　misunderstanding　between　two　servants　can　exercise　an　influence　upon　a　long…cherished　friendship　and　harmony　of　two　powers　whose　relations；　whether　friendly　or　otherwise；　may　uphold　or　destroy　the　peace　of　Europe？〃

〃Honor　is　the　first　law　of　the　Spaniard；〃　proudly　responded　the　duke　〃and　whoever　wounds　that　can　no　longer　be　my　friend！　France　has　attached　the　honor　of　Spain；　and　all　Rome　has　chimed　in　with　the　insulting　acclamations　of　Franceall　Rome　knows　the　story　of　this　fish！〃

〃Then　let　us　show　these　silly　Romans　that　we　both　look　upon　the　whole　affair　merely　as　a　jest。　When　you　to…morrow　laughingly　eat　of　this　fish；　the　good　Romans　will　feel　ashamed　of　themselves　and　their　childish　conduct。〃

〃You　propose　then；　to…morrow；　when　the　nobility　of　Rome；　when　all　the　diplomatists　are　assembled；　to　parade　before　them　this　fish；　which　to…day　sets　all　tongues　in　motion？〃　asked　the　duke；　turning　pale。

〃The　fish　was　bought　for　this　dinner；　and　must　be　eaten！〃　said　the　cardinal；　laughing。

〃Then　I　regret　that　I　cannot　be　present　at　this　festival！〃　cried　the　duke；　rising。　〃You　cannot　desire　that　I　should　be　a　witness　to　my　own　shame　and　your　triumph。　You　are　no　Roman　emperor；　and　I　am　no　conquered　hero　compelled　to　appear　in　your　triumphal　train！　I　recall　my　consent；　and　shall　not　appear　at　your　to…morrow's　festival！〃

〃Reflect　and　consider　this　well！〃　said　the　cardinal；　almost　sadly。　〃If　you　fail　to　appear　to…morrow；　when　the　whole　diplomacy　are　assembled　at　my　house　for　an　official　dinner；　that　will　signify　not　only　that　the　duke　breaks　with　his　old　friend　the　cardinal；　but　also　that　Spain　wishes　to　dissolve　her　friendly　relations　with　France。〃

〃Let　is　be　so　considered！〃　said　the　duke。　〃Better　an　open　war　than　a　clandestine　defeat！　Adieu；　Sir　Cardinal！〃

And　the　duke　made　for　the　door。　But　the　cardinal　held　him　back。

〃Have　you　reflected　upon　the　consequences？〃　he　asked。　〃You　know　what　important　negotiations　at　this　moment　occupy　the　Catholic　courts。　Of　the　abolition　of　the　greatest　and　most　powerful　of　orders；　of　the　extirpation　of　the　Jesuits；　is　the　question。　The　pope　is　favorable　to　this　idea　of　the　Portuguese　minister；　Pombal；　but　he　desires　the　co…operation　of　the　other　Catholic　courts。　Austria　gives　her　consent；　as　do　Sardinia　and　all　the　other　Italian　states；　only　the　court　of　Spain　has　declared　itself　the　friend　and　defender　of　the　Jesuits；　and　for　your　sake　has　France　hitherto　remained　passive　on　this　most　important　question；　and　has　affected　not　to　hear　the　demands　of　her　subjects；　for　your　sake　has　France　stifled　her　own　convictions　and　joined　in　your　support。　Therefore；　think　well　of　what　you　are　about　to　do！　To　break　off　your　friendly　relations　with　France；　is　to　compel　France　to　take　sides　against　Spain；　and　if　the　powerful　voice　of　France　is　heard　against　the　Jesuits；　the　single　voice　of　Spain　will　be　powerless　to　uphold　them。〃

〃Well；　then；　let　them　go！〃　cried　the　duke。　〃What　care　I　for　the　Jesuits　when　the　defence　of　our　honor　is　concerned？　Sir　Cardinal；　farewell；　however　France　may　decide；　Spain　will　never　submit　to　her　arrogance！〃

The　duke　abruptly　left　the　room；　slamming　the　door　after　him。

Cardinal　Bernis　saw　his　departure　with　an　expression　of　sadness。

〃And　such　are　the　friendships　of　man；〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃the　slightest　offence　is　sufficient　to　destroy　a　friendship　of　many　years。　Well；　we　must　reconcile　ourselves　to　it；〃　he　continued　after　a　pause；　〃and；　at　all　events；　it　has　its　very　diverting　side。　For　many　months　I　have　taken　pains　to　support　Grimaldi　with　the　pope　in　his　defence　of　the　Jesuits；　and　now　that　celebrated　order　will　be　abolished　because　a　French　cook　has　bought　a　fish　that　was　too　dear　for　the　Spanish　cook！　By　what　small　influences　are　the　destinies　of　mankind　decided！

〃But　now　I　have　not　a　moment　to　lose；〃　continued　the　cardinal；　rousing　himself　from　his　troubled　thoughts。　〃Grimaldi　has　rendered　it　impossible　for　me　longer　to　oppose　the　views　of　the　Marquise　de　Pompadour；　I　must　now　give　effect　to　the　commands　of　my　feminine　sovereign；　and　announce　to　the　pope　the　assent　of　France　to　his　policy。　To　the　pope；　then；　the　letter　of　the　marquise　may　make　known　the　will　of　Louis。〃

The　cardinal　hastily　donned　his　official　costume；　and　ordered　his　carriage　for　a　visit　to　the　Vatican。



POPE　GANGANELLI　（CLEMENT　XIV）

Two　men　were　walking　up　and　down　in　the　garden　of　the　Quirinal；　engaged　in　a　lively　discourse。　One　of　them　was　an　old　man　of　more　than　sixty　years。　Long　white　locks　waved　about　his　forehead；　falling　like　a　halo　on　both　sides　of　his　cheeks。　An　infinite　mildness　and　clearness　looked　out　from　his　dreamy　eyes；　and　a　smile　of　infinite　kindness　played　about　his　mouth；　but　so　full　of　sorrow　and　resignation　that　it　filled　one's　heart　with　sadness　and　his　eyes　with　tears。　His　tall　herculean　form　was　bent　and　shrunken；　age　had　broken　it；　but　could　not　take　away　that　noble　and　dignified　expression　which　distinguished　that　old　man　and　involuntarily　impelled　every　one　to　reverence　and　a　sort　of　adoration。　To　his　friends　and　admirers　this　old　man　seemed　a　super…　terrestrial　being；　and　often　in　their　enthusiasm　they　called　him　their　Saviour；　the　again…visible　Son　of　God！　The　old　man　would　smile　at　this；　and　say：　〃You　are　right　in　one　respect；　I　am　indeed　a　son　of　God；　as　you　all　are；　but　when　you　compare　me　with　our　Saviour；　it　can　only　be　to　the　crucified。　I　am；　indeed；　a　crucified　person　like　Him；　and　have　suffered　many　torments。　But　I　have　also　overcome　many。〃

And；　when　so　speaking；　there　lay　in　his　face　an　almost　celestial　clearness　and　joyfulness；　which　would　impel　one　involuntarily　to　bow　down　before　him；　had　he　not　been；　as　he　was；　the　vicegerent　of　God　upon　earth；　the　Pope　Ganganelli。

The　man　who　was　now　walking　with　him　formed　a　singular　contrast　with　the　mild；　reverence…commanding　appearance　of　the　pope。　He　was　a　man　of　forty；　with　a　wild；　glowing…red　face；　whose　eyes　flashed　with　malice　and　rage；　whose　mouth　gave　evidence　of　sensuality　and　barbarity；　and　whose　form　was　more　appropriate　for　a　Vulcan　than　a　prince　of　the　Church。　And　yet　he　was　such；　as　was　manifested　by　his　dress；　by　the　great　cardinal's　hat　over　his　shoulder；　and　by　the　flashing　cross　of　brilliants　upon　his　breast。　This　cardinal　was　very　well　known；　and　whenever　his　name　was　mentioned　it　was　with　secret　curses；　with　a　sign　of　the　cross；　and　a　prayer　to　God　for　aid　in　avoiding　him；　the　terror　of　Rome；　the　Cardinal　Albani。

Sighing　and　reluctantly　had　the　pope　finally　resolved　to　have　the　cardinal　near　his　person；　that　he　might　attempt　by　mild　and　gentle　persuasion　to　soften　his　stubborn　disposition；　but　the　cardinal　had　replied　to　all　his　gentle　words　only　with　a　contemptuous　shrug　of　the　shoulders；　with　low　murmured　words；　with　a　darkly　clouded　brow。

〃It　is　in　no　one's　power　to　change　and　make　a　new　being　of　himself；〃　he　finally　said；　in　a　harsh　tone；　as　the　pope　continued　his　exhortations　and　representations。　〃You；　my　blessed　father；　cannot　convert　yourself　into　a　monster　such　as　you　describe　me；　and　I；　Cardinal　Albani；　cannot　attain　to　the　sublime　godliness　which　we　all　admire　in　your　holiness。　Every　one　must　walk　in　his　own　path；　taking　especial　care　not　to　disturb　others　in　theirs。〃

〃But　that　is　exactly　what　you　do；〃　gently　replied　Ganganelli。　〃All　the　streets　of　Rome　bear　witness　to　it。　Did　you　not　yesterday；　in　one　of　those　streets；　with　force　and　arms　rescue　a　bandit　from　the　hands　of　justice；　and　with　your　murderous　dagger　take　the　life　of　the　servant　of　the　law？〃

〃They　wanted　to　lead　one　of　my　servants　to　death；　who　had　done　nothing　more　than　obey　my　commands；〃　vehemently　responded　the　cardinal。　〃I　liberated　him　from　their　hands　as　was　natural；　and　if　some　of　the　/sbirri/　were　killed　in　the　encounter；　that　was　their　fault。　Why　did　they　not　voluntarily　give　up　their　prisoner　and　then　run　away？〃

〃And　was　it　really　your　command　that　this　bandit　fulfilled？〃　asked　the　pope；　shuddering。　〃You　know　he　killed　a　young　nobleman；　the　pride　and　hope　of　his　family；　and　was　caught　in　the　act；　which　he　did　not　attempt　to　deny？〃

〃That　young　nobleman　had　mocked　and　made　a　laughing…stock　of　me　in　a　public　company；〃　calmly　repli