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fGodbeuponyou!' Caterinabowedandcrossedherself.Hewentuptoherandtookherhandinhis. 'Madam,ithasalwaysbeenmyhopethatIshouldsomedaymeettheladywhosefamehasreachedmeasthemosttalented,mostbeautiful,andmostvirtuousofhertime.ButIdidnotthinkthatthedayofourmeetingwouldbeoneofsuchbitternessandwoe!' Heexpressedhimselfinmeasuredtones,graveandslow,andveryfittotheoccasion. 'Ah,lady,youdonotknowthegriefIfeltwhenIwasmadeacquaintedwithyourterribleloss.IknewyourdearhusbandinRome,andIalwaysfeltforhimamostprofoundaffectionandesteem.' 'Youareverykind!'shesaid. 'Icanunderstandthatyoushouldbeoverwhelmedwithgrief,andItrustyoudonotthinkmyvisitimportunate.IhavecometoofferyousuchconsolationasisinmypowerforisitnotthemostblessedworkthatourDivineMasterhasimposeduponus,tocomforttheafflicted?' 'IwasundertheimpressionthatyouhadcometotakeoverthecityonbehalfofthePope.' 'Ah,lady,IseethatyouareangrywithmefortakingthecityfromyoubutdonotthinkIdoitofmyself.Ah,noIamaslave,IambutaservantofhisHoliness.Formypart,Iwouldhaveactedfarotherwise,notonlyforyourownmerits,greatastheyare,butalsoforthemeritsoftheDuke,yourbrother.' Hisunctionwasmostdevout.HeclaspedhishandtohisheartandlookeduptoHeavensoearnestlythatthepupilsofhiseyesdisappearedbeneaththelids,andonecouldonlyseethewhites.Inthisattitudehewasanimpressivepictureofmorality. 'Ibeseechyou,madam,bravelytobearyourevilfortunes.Dowenotknowthatfortuneisuncertain?IfthecityhasbeentakenfromyouitisthewillofGod,andasaChristianyoumust,withresignation,submityourselftoHisdecrees.RememberthatthewaysoftheAlmightyareinscrutable.Thesoulofthesinnerispurifiedbysuffering.Wemustallp