’"It is a new thing,” they replied; “people will be frightened.  It may have consequences.  At least put it off till March.”

’"But they will be as much frightened in March,” he replied.

’"If it must be done,” they said, “as a kindness to His Holiness and to us put it off till February.”

’There is, however, one sort of oppression which even we should find it difficult to tolerate.

’A Monsignore has a young friend without money, but an excellent Catholic and an excellent politician, a fervid believer in the Immaculate Conception and in the excellence of the Papal Government.  He wishes to reward such admirable opinions:  but the Pope has little to give.  Monsignore looks out for some young heiress, sends for her father, describes his pious and loyal protege, and proposes marriage.  Her father objects—­says that his daughter cannot afford to marry a poor man, or that she does not wish to marry at all—­or that he or she has some other preference.

’Monsignore insists.  He assures the father that what he is proposing is most favourable to the salvation of his daughter, that he suggests it principally for the benefit of her soul, and that the father’s objections are inspired by the Evil One.  The father breaks off the conversation and goes home.  He finds that his daughter has disappeared.  He returns furious to Monsignore, is received with the utmost politeness and is informed that his daughter is perfectly safe under the protection of a cardinal who himself did her the honour of fetching her in his gilded coach.  “You have only,” the Monsignore says, “to be reasonable, and she shall be returned to you.”

’The father flies to the cardinal.

’The same politeness and the same answer.

’"Do not oppose,” he is told, “the will of the Pope, who, in this matter, seeks only your daughter’s happiness here and hereafter.  She is now with me.  If you will give up your sinful obstinacy she shall be restored to you to-day.  If not, it will be our duty to place her in a convent, where she will be taken the utmost care of, but she will not leave it except to marry the person whom His Holiness thinks most fitted to promote the welfare of her soul.”

’I have known several cases in which this attempt has been made.  With such timid slaves as the Roman nobility it always succeeds.’

[Footnote 1:  The Jewish child who was taken away from his parents and converted.—­ED.]

Thursday, August 15.—­This is the fete of St. Louis—­the great fete of Tocqueville.  Madame de Tocqueville and Madame de Beaumont spent much of the morning in church.