Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. The Secretary's Report. The Cardinal was sitting alone in his library not poring over the works of the Fathers, but conning over the score of a new opera; while ever and anon he hummed a bar, and tlten refreshed his vocal pipe from a decanter of choice wine, which stood on a small table beside him. A valet announced the return of his secretary. The Cardinal intimated that he should like to see him as soon as possible. Without waiting either to take refreshment, or even to divest his apparel of the traces of the journey he had just finished, Maroncelli made his appearance. " Welcome, Maroncelli; have you got the picture ?" " I have, your Eminence." " Thrice welcome ! my incomparable secretary, you are an universal genius, as skilful in executing a negotiation as wise in devising the plan;?as cunning in judging a picture as learned in composing a sermon." (The wine and music had elevated his Eminence's spirits.) " But at what price were you forced to purchase the gem." " I gave a hundred crowns," said the secretary, who did not seem inspired with his patron's spirits. " A hundred crowns!?what, let it go for a hundred crowns !?the pious excellent old addleheads! I suppose a square yard of painted canvas was to them a square yard of painted canvas under all circumstances, no matter whether done by Raphael, or the village sign- painter. Good lack ! good lack! I wonder whether they can tell a rose from an onion ? And where, my son, would you advise me to hang this admirable production ?' " In the centre of the hottest fire in your palace," emphatically replied the secretary. " Maroncelli!" said the Cardinal, looking aghast, " do I hear you aright ? No man loves a jest?that is, a seasonable jest on a proper subject?better than myself; but I do ...