Prince Sovrani took the letter from Bonpre’s hand and read it in silence.

“Yes—­I have heard about it already,” he said, “And if you indeed know nothing, it is strange!  But can you not remember—­is there no clue to such a report?  Were there no sick children brought to you . . . ?”

“Oh, for that,” answered the Cardinal quickly, “a little boy named Fabien Doucet, was brought to me by the children of an inn-keeper of the Hotel Poitiers where I stayed two nights, and to grant their wishes, (and also because it is my duty to do what I can for the suffering and the afflicted), I laid my hands upon him and prayed to our Lord that he might be healed.”

“Ebbene!  Our Lord has then healed him,” said Sovrani drily, “It is remarkable!—­but if the cure is truly accomplished, we shall have to admit that the Deity does sometimes pay attention to our many prayers, though for the most part they appear to fall upon a deaf, dumb, and irresponsive Silence.”

The Cardinal sat down, wearily resting his head on his hand.

“I do not like it!” he said, “It is altogether amazing to me; it seems like a snare set to catch my soul!  For I have no power to perform miracles . . .  I can only pray.”

“And why should not your prayer be answered?” asked Manuel suddenly.

They had all forgotten the boy’s presence in the room, and his voice startled them.  His young face was pale, yet tranquil—­and the deep tenderness that always dwelt in his eyes seemed deeper and softer at this moment than ever.

“Truly I do not see why,” said Prince Sovrani, bending his fierce regard full on the lad as he spoke, and beginning to wonder like the rest at his fairness and beauty, “Only as a rule, fanciuollo mio—­ prayer is mere waste of breath—­a demand without supply.”

“Is that not perhaps the fault of the person who prays?” said Manuel, “May that person not lack faith and pure intention?  May he not even be too self-absorbed to lift his soul high enough for an approach to God?  When the disciples were vexed that they could not cure a child that was afflicted, and saw that their Master healed that child at once, they asked why they were unable to do what He did.  And He told them plainly, ’Because of your unbelief.  For verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed ye shall say unto this mountain, remove from yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to you.’  And I am sure that my lord the Cardinal’s faith is greater than a grain of mustard seed!”

They were all silent.  Cardinal Bonpre turned his eyes thoughtfully on the young speaker

“You were with me, child, when the little cripple sat on my knee and held my crucifix,” he said in a low tone, “You saw—­you heard all.  What did I do?—­what did I say?”

“You held him in your arms, even as Christ took little children in His arms and blessed them,” replied Manuel, “And you prayed—­and in your prayer you said—­’King and Master of all such children, even as Thou wert a child Thyself, be pleased to heal him of his sad infirmity.  For if Thou wilt, Thou canst make this bent body straight, and these withered muscles strong,—­from death itself Thou canst ordain life, and nothing is impossible unto Thee!’”