He leaned back in His chair for the moment after this little out-burst. The sense of His enormous responsibility was upon Him. In an indefinite shadowy sort of way, it had been in His mind to utter some such allocution to the cardinals by way of explaining to them His Own conception of His task: but He had intended to make it more of a deliberate formal pronouncement. The instant when the words had passed His lips, however, He perceived that in one sentence He had said all. He also perceived that the gaiety of the beginning, and the solemnity of the conclusion, sufficed to give His utterance distinction. He said no more. There was no doubt but that He had created an impression: an impression which differed, it is true, according to the temper of the impressed--but still He had created an impression. Those Eminencies, who were more formal than vital, assumed that professional abstraction of demeanour which marks a conference of clergy while one of their number is "talking shop." Those two or three, who were devout enthusiasts, blessed themselves and exhibited the white cornea beneath the iris of their eyes. The majority, (who combined the qualities of the dignified fine-gentleman-of-the-old-school, with those of the scholar, the teacher, and the practical Christian) beamed instant approbation. Their verdict was that the utterance was very correct and proper. Nothing could be more true. The assemblage split-up into groups; and separate conversations were begun. The Pope sat, still and grave. Orezzo gracefully pleaded his age and the hour of night: kissed the Apostle's knee; and retired. Hadrian beckoned the Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria Nuova; and addressed him in a confidential manner. "We understand that the expenses of Our household pass through the hands of the Major-domo. Are they paid from some fund particularly allotted to the purpose?" "Yes, Most Holy Lord; from----" "The details are unimportant. And the expenses of the paparchy in general?" "There are numerous funds, Most Holy Lord, which are administered by numerous departments under my supervision." "And those funds---- Some suffice; and some do not suffice. They vary, no doubt?" "Most Holy Lord, they vary." "Is there any particular fund over which We have exclusive control?" "The whole revenue, Most Holy Lord, is subject to Your pleasure: but Peter's Pence belong to the pontiff-regnant personally. They are His private property--salary--honorarium, I should say." "In eight days, Your Eminency will be good enough to let Us know the annual average of that income, say for the last twenty years." "It shall be done, Most Holy Lord." "Meanwhile, what money is at Our disposal at this moment?" "There has been accumulated a large reserve, the exact amount of which is known only to the bankers. It is Yours, Most Holy Lord." "What approximately is the sum?" "In round numbers, Most Holy Lord, it cannot be less than five millions." "Lire?" "Pounds sterling, Most Holy Lord."