"Is nothing to be exempted from this sale?" Sterling thoughtfully asked. "There will be some exemptions." The Pope turned to Cardinal della Volta. "You will reserve one silver-gilt chalice and paten for every priest in the palace: one silver-gilt pyx for every tabernacle; and one plain set of pontifical regalia which We will indicate to you. Nothing more. Hereafter, the court can use ornaments which are the private possessions of individuals." "I must say that I think the pontifical regalia deserves a better fate than conversion into bullion and gems," said Gentilotto. "Nonsense," the Pope sharply retorted. "The pontifical regalia is not sacrosanct like the Carthaginian zaïmph." The frayed edges of His nerves shewed themselves. "I concede it," the cardinal admitted. Hadrian rose. "We have summoned the Sacred Consistory for to-morrow morning, when We will issue Our decrees in this matter." Semphill no longer could contain himself. He exploded with "Of course Your Holiness has seen the _Catholic Hour_?" Hadrian thought that He particularly liked this cardinal to-day for some reason. Yes of course, His Eminency looked better during Advent. The ordinary vermilion made his chubby rubicundity appear too blue. That was the reason. "Oh, yes:" the Pontiff replied. "Well really I never read anything more abominable in my life!" "Nor did We." All the cardinalitial eyes were directed toward the Pope. He remained standing on the step of the throne; and seemed to be changing into alabaster. Semphill lashing himself to fury, continued "I should like to think that something will be done about it." "So should We." Semphill prolapsed and stared. "But surely Your Holiness will do something?" "No." "What? Not answer them?" "No." "One would have thought that there would be some canonical means of bringing the _Catholic Hour_ to book for aspersions against the Pope:" Sterling said. "There is the bull _Exsecrabilis_ of Pius II. But it is not the Pope Who is aspersed. It is George Arthur Rose:" imperturbably said Hadrian. "That's drawing it rather fine:" Whitehead said, looking up for the first time. "Fine enough:" Carvale put in, with appreciation of the distinction. "Excommunicate the editor, printer, and publisher, by name, I say!" ejaculated Semphill. Sterling went on, "One finds it difficult to understand what can have persuaded the _Catholic Hour_ to insert----" Hadrian interrupted, "Just ask yourself this. Is it likely that an Erse periodical,--and, when We say an Erse periodical, We mean a clerical periodical, (for, according to McCarthy, the Erse clergy hold the Catholic press in the hollow of their hand,)--is it likely that an Erse periodical, which has the infernal cheek to dub itself the 'Organ of Catholic Opinion,' and which once called Cardinal Semphill a--what was it, Eminency?--ah yes, 'a scented masher,'--could be expected to forego an opportunity of increasing its circulation at the expense of the Vicar of Christ?"