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butaservantofhisHoliness.Formypart,Iwouldhaveactedfarotherwise,notonlyforyourownmerits,greatastheyare,butalsoforthemeritsoftheDuke,yourbrother.'
Hisunctionwasmostdevout.HeclaspedhishandtohisheartandlookeduptoHeavensoearnestlythatthepupilsofhiseyesdisappearedbeneaththelids,andonecouldonlyseethewhites.Inthisattitudehewasanimpressivepictureofmorality.
'Ibeseechyou,madam,bravelytobearyourevilfortunes.Dowenotknowthatfortuneisuncertain?IfthecityhasbeentakenfromyouitisthewillofGod,andasaChristianyoumust,withresignation,submityourselftoHisdecrees.RememberthatthewaysoftheAlmightyareinscrutable.Thesoulofthesinnerispurifiedbysuffering.Wemustallpassthroughthefire.Perhapsthesemisfortuneswillbethemeansofsavingyoursoulalive.AndnowthatthiscityhasreturnedtothefoldoftheMaster—forisnottheHolyFathertheVicarofChrist—beassuredthatthelossyouhavesufferedwillbemadegoodtoyouintheloveofhisHoliness,andthateventuallyyouwillreceivetherewardofthesinnerwhohasrepented,andsitamongsttheelectsinginghymnsofpraisetothegloryoftheMasterofallthings.'
Hepausedtotakebreath.IsawCaterina'sfingersconvulsivelycloseroundthearmofherchairshewasrestrainingherselfwithdifficulty.
'Butthegreatestgriefofallisthelossofyourhusband,Girolamo.Ah,howbeautifulisthegriefofawidow!ButitwasthewillofGod.Andwhathashetocomplainofn
