"Eminency, at the time when the Conclave first was immured, We hardly can have been in Your mind. It is improbable that you could have thought of Us then in this connection. At what point did We come into your calculations?" "I ought perhaps to say that Your name had been brought before me some weeks before the demise of Holiness's predecessor." "That would be in connection with the matter of which we treated in London." "Yes." "Precisely in what way was Our name brought before Your Eminency?" "It was brought before me in a letter from Edward Lancaster--a perfectly frantic letter accusing himself of all sorts of crimes. Your Holiness perhaps is aware what a queer person he is, rather inclined to be scrupulous, and most impulsive." "Yes, We know him. We Ourself would have said 'unscrupulous': Your Eminency uses the word 'scrupulous' in the Catholic sense, whereas We prefer frank English." "I mean that he is given to tormenting himself about fancied sins----" "And We mean that as a rule, he does nothing of the kind: but, like a good many others, is singularly successful in lulling his conscience. At least, for fifteen years he contrived to do so in this case. However, he now has made amends; and there is nothing more to be said. Let us continue. You received a self-accusing letter from Edward Lancaster. And then?" "Not one letter, Holiness: a dozen at least. The injustice, of which You had been the victim, was on his nerves. He wrote me several letters; and came to see me several times. He is, as you know, a person of some importance and a great benefactor to the Church; and so I was obliged to take the matter up. I promised to investigate the case myself." "Yes. And you did." "I instituted an inquisitorial process among some of the persons who had had to do with Your Holiness; and I am bound to say that their replies gave me grounds for thought." "Why?" "They differed materially as to the details of Your history; and yet their opinion of You seemed to be fairly unanimous." "It was not a desirable opinion." "No, Holiness." "It would not be. We never were able to arrange to be loved. To be disagreeable was a sort of habit of Ours. But is Your Eminency able, from memory, to give Us an idea of these differences in regard to facts? Opinions do not matter." The cardinal pondered for a minute. "Yes, Holiness, I can give you three examples from Oxford. Fr. Benedict Bart said that he had met You twice personally: but that he had heard much of You from his friends, priests as well as laymen. He stated that all that could be done for You had been done; and that You were--ha--Your Holiness will pardon me--a very incapable and ungrateful person." The Pope gave the little leaden weight of His pallium a swing: and beamed with delight. The cardinal went on. "Fr. Perkins who received You into the Church said 'I'm afraid he's a genius, poor fellow!'" "What rank blasphemy!" "Blasphemy, Holiness?"