III

It was at ten o’clock on the following morning that the Cardinals were summoned to the Pope’s presence to hear the allocution.

Percy, from his seat among the Consultors, watched them come in, men of every nation and temperament and age—­the Italians all together, gesticulating, and flashing teeth; the Anglo-Saxons steady-faced and serious; an old French Cardinal leaning on his stick, walking with the English Benedictine.  It was one of the great plain stately rooms of which the Vatican now chiefly consisted, seated length wise like a chapel.  At the lower end, traversed by the gangway, were the seats of the Consultors; at the upper end, the dais with the papal throne.  Three or four benches with desks before them, standing out beyond the Consultors’ seats, were reserved for the arrivals of the day before —­prelates and priests who had poured into Rome from every European country on the announcement of the amazing news.

Percy had not an idea as to what would be said.  It was scarcely possible that nothing but platitudes would be uttered, yet what else could be said in view of the complete doubtfulness of the situation?  All that was known even this morning was that the Presidentship of Europe was a fact; the little silver coin he had seen witnessed to that; that there had been an outburst of persecution, repressed sternly by local authorities; and that Felsenburgh was to-day to begin his tour from capital to capital.  He was expected in Turin by the end of the week.  From every Catholic centre throughout the world had come in messages imploring guidance; it was said that apostasy was rising like a tidal wave, that persecution threatened everywhere, and that even bishops were beginning to yield.

As for the Holy Father, all was doubtful.  Those who knew, said nothing; and the only rumour that escaped was to the effect that he had spent all night in prayer at the tomb of the Apostle....

The murmur died suddenly to a rustle and a silence; there was a ripple of sinking heads along the seats as the door beside the canopy opened, and a moment later John, Pater Patrum, was on his throne.

* * * * *

At first Percy understood nothing.  He stared only, as at a picture, through the dusty sunlight that poured in through the shrouded windows, at the scarlet lines to right and left, up to the huge scarlet canopy, and the white figure that sat there.  Certainly, these southerners understood the power of effect.  It was as vivid and impressive as a vision of the Host in a jewelled monstrance.  Every accessory was gorgeous, the high room, the colour of the robes, the chains and crosses, and as the eye moved along to its climax it was met by a piece of dead white—­as if glory was exhausted and declared itself impotent to tell the supreme secret.  Scarlet and purple and gold were well enough for those who stood on the steps of the throne—­they