“There would soon be nothing but equality to eat—­fried, roast and boiled.  I have heard that there are socialists even here in Rome.  I cannot imagine what they want.”

“They want to divide the wealth of the country among themselves,” answered Don Paolo.  “What strange ideas men have!”

“To divide the wealth of the country they have only to subtract a paper currency from an inflated national debt.  There would be more unrighteousness than mammon left after such a proceeding.  It reminds me of a story I heard last year.  A deputation of socialists waited upon a high personage in Vienna.  Who knows what for?  But they went.  They told him that it was his duty to divide his wealth amongst the inhabitants of the city.  And he said they were quite right.  ‘Look here,’ said he, ’I possess about seven hundred thousand florins.  It chances that Vienna has about seven hundred thousand inhabitants.  Here, you have each one florin.  It is your share.  Good-morning.’  You see he was quite just.  So, perhaps, if your brother had his way, and destroyed everything, and divided the proceeds equally, he would have less afterwards than he had before.  What do you think?”

“It is quite true, Eminence.  But I am afraid he will never understand that.  He has very unchangeable opinions.”

“They will change all the more suddenly when he is tired of them.  Those ideas are morbid, like the ravings of a man in a fever.  When the fever has worn itself out, there comes a great sense of lassitude, and a desire for peace.”

“Provided it ever really does wear itself out,” said Don Paolo, sadly.

“Eh! it will, some day.  With such political ideas, I suppose your brother is an atheist, is he not?”

“I hope he believes in something,” replied the priest evasively.

“And yet he makes a good living by manufacturing vessels for the service of the Church,” continued the Cardinal, with a smile.  “Why did you never tell me about your brother’s peculiar views, Don Paolo?”

“Why should I trouble you with such matters?  I am sorry I have said so much, for no one can understand exactly what Marzio is, who does not know him.  It is an injury to him to let your Eminence know that he is a freethinker.  And yet he is not a bad man, I believe.  He has no vices that I know of, except a sharp tongue.  He is sober and works hard.  That is much in these days.  Though he is mistaken, he will doubtless come to his senses, as you say.  I do not hate him; I would not injure him.”

“Why do you think it can harm him to let me about him?  Do you think that I, or others, would not employ him if we knew all about him?”

“It would seem natural that your Eminence should hesitate to do so.”

“Let us see, Don Paolo.  There are some bad priests in the world, I suppose; are there not?”

“It is to be feared—­”

“Yes, there are.  There are bad priests in all forms of religion.  Yet they say mass.  Of course, very often the people know that they are bad.  Do you think that the mass is less efficacious for the salvation of those who attend it, provided that they themselves pray with the same earnestness?”