first Mass on Sunday in the cathedral." "My first Mass must be a black mass, Eminency." The cardinalitial eyebrows would go up. "It is a long-planned intention, Eminency: it is all I can do." "I quite understand, Mr. Rose. You would wish to say your first mass quietly and alone. You shall say it in the private chapel. The Bishop of Caerleon would like to be your assistant; and—ha—I shall be very glad if you will allow me to serve you." George looked from the cardinal to the bishop; and back again. After storm, this was calm and peace, with a vengeance. FOOTNOTES: [1] This onomatopoiia presents the English Catholic pronunciation of "His Eminency." [1] [2] This onomatopoiia presents the English Catholic pronunciation of "Your Eminency." [2] [Pg 62] [Pg 62] CHAPTER I What was causing the special correspondents in Rome to exude the subterfuges, with which (as a pis-aller) they are accustomed to gain their daily bread, was no such recondite matter after all. What Just as Jews are less commercial, and Jesuits less cunning, so journalists are less capable than they are supposed to be. As a matter of fact, they are quite unscientific persons, in that they go about their business in a fortuitous manner trusting to the human element called "smartness" for producing their effects. They have not yet realized the instability of all human elements. The superhuman is a sealed book to them. They mean oh so well: but they have no knowledge of first principles. They invariably commit the unpardonable error of confounding universals with particulars: because the influence of fragile or unworthy authority,
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