"That's correct." "Why do you demand this sum of Us?" "Why? Why because we've run into all these expenses on your account. If Ye hadna have been here, neither would we have come and have had all this fuss and bother. Who's to indemnify us for that but Yersel', I'm asking Ye. I'll let Ye know we've fair ruined oursels----" The Bald She interrupted. "If I could have a private word with Your Holiness." The motive did not escape Hadrian's notice. "Daughter, your conduct and your notorious proclivities debar you from a private interview with any clergyman, except in the open confessional." "Then in the confessional." The Pope rose and beckoned her to follow. He beckoned Sir John to stop the machines and remain: the others to follow. They descended into St. Peter's. There, He turned out the English Confessor; and took his place, while the woman kneeled at the left side. Just out of earshot, the four cardinals stayed with Sant, who fumed in his inward parts. Fhat blathers was this going on under their very noses? The half-door and the window both were open: only the lateral partition divided the priest from the penitent. The grating was between their faces; and, though they were perfectly visible, they were visible apart and separate. Hadrian in a low tone recited "May the Lord be in thine heart and on thy lips"--; and put Himself to listen. Through the grating there came a whine,-- "Georgie!" "My child, there is no Georgie here, but only your Judge. Confess your sins, if you will,--only to Almighty God. Shew contrition. And, by His authority committed to me His minister, I will absolve." Then the Devil entered into her. She incoherently spluttered "I have no sins--if I had, I wouldn't tell You.--You reject me?--Oh I'll make You regret it--I'll make You suffer as I have--I'll shew you up for what You are----" She stiffened and rushed across to Jerry "Now do your worst," she said; and her face was livid. Sant gripped the lapels of his grotesque frock-coat and approached the white figure which emerged from the central compartment of the confessional. "I should like to mak' an end of this matter," he said. Hadrian led the way to the throne-room: the phonographs were set to work; and the conference was resumed. "Now," said Jerry, "I'm thinking that Your Right Reverence had better let us know definitely fhat Ye intend to do." The Pope spoke rather more slowly and with more singular mildness than before. "You demand that We should pay you forty thousand pounds in reparation for damage which, you say, We have caused." "That's so." "It is useless to point out to you that We did not ask you to waste your time in Rome----" "I should have been surprised if Ye had have." "And that We did not force you, or induce you, to neglect your business----" "Nae! Ye never thought I'd have dared to face Ye as I have." "And that We were in no wise concerned with your expulsion from the Liblab Fellowship----"