“In the upper circles of Rome,” said Father B., who seemed to be, like Mr. C., an admirer of Newman, “they cultivate these amenities. The inspector may not know Monsignor Talbot’s remark to Cardinal Howard. You remember that Cardinal Manning’s life is full of allusions to those two great men; and you will not have forgotten how Manning relied on Talbot’s help, and how, when Talbot broke down in mind and body, Manning neglected him.[36] At one time both Howard and Talbot were in great favour at the Vatican; but while Talbot was well aware that he owed his position simply to the fact that he was a Talbot, the Cardinal was secretly certain that, besides his personal appearance (which at one time added lustre to the Life Guards) and his connection with ‘the blood of all the Howards,’ there was intrinsic merit. It was therefore the delight of Talbot to poke fun at his fellow countryman, and the Inner Circle greatly enjoyed these scenes. At last the climax was reached. The Pope sent for both grandees, and informed them that he had determined to send them on a special mission to Goa, in S.W. India. Full particulars were promised: meanwhile he proffered his blessing. “The two returned to their gorgeous carriage, and when it moved on, Howard lay back in his corner, meditating triumphantly that his time had come: obvious merit had at last been recognised, and the Catholic world would admit it. Goa was only a starting-point; and then--. Beneath the dome of St. Peter’s a dense crowd of the faithful cheering, a blare of trumpets, an atmosphere thick with incense, and a fifteen stone Pontiff borne on a _sedia gestatoria_--all these floated before his eyes, ears, nose; why should Nicholas Breakspear be the last Englishman to ascend the Papal throne?--and then came a chuckle by his side, and a familiar voice: “‘I say, Howard, I expect this isn’t much of a job, or they wouldn’t have sent you and me.’” “There were many stories of Talbot,” said Mr. C.; “my uncle knew Cardinal Newman well at Birmingham, and heard many, for Talbot was, of course, too nearly allied to Cardinal Manning to be a _persona grata_ to the other great ecclesiastic. I remember one story illustrating the simplicity of his character: “Talbot came over to London to preach for a special fund in some church, and there was a vast congregation to hear ‘the intimate and constant attendant’ of Pio Nono.[37] He began by informing them that he had only on the previous day received a letter from the Holy Father himself upon the very topic which had brought them together that day. He would read it to them, and he begged that they would remember that, the Pope being the vicegerent of the Almighty, they should regard it _as a voice from the unseen world_. He would now begin: ‘My dear Monsignor It is very hot here----’ What followed, the congregation never could remember, for they laughed so much that the rest was lost.”