There was a sudden silence. Sir Roger de Launay drew a sharp breath,--his habitual languor of mind was completely dissipated, and he studied the inscrutable face of Del Fortis with deepening suspicion and disfavour. Not that there was the slightest sign of wrath or dismay on the priest’s well-disciplined countenance;--on the contrary, a chill smile illumined it as he spoke his next words with a serious, if somewhat forced composure. “Your Majesty is, without doubt, all powerful in your own particular domain of society and politics,” he said--“But there is another Majesty higher than yours,--that of the Church, before which dread and infallible Tribunal even kings are brought to naught----” “Monsignor Del Fortis,” interrupted the King, “We have not met this morning, I presume, to indulge in a religious polemic! My power is, as you very truly suggest, merely temporal--yours is spiritual. Yours should be the strongest! Go your way now to your Vicar-General with the straight answer I have given you,--but if by your ‘spiritual’ power you can persuade the people who now hate your Society, to love it,--to demand it,--to beg that you may be permitted to found a colony among them,--why, in that case, come to me again, and I will grant you the land. I am not prejudiced one way or the other, but I will not hand over any of my subjects to the influence of priestcraft, so long as they desire me to defend them from it.” Del Fortis still smiled. “Pardon me, Sir, but we of the Society of Jesus are your subjects also, and we judge you to be a Christian and Catholic monarch----” “As I am, most assuredly!” replied the King--“Christian and Catholic are words which, if I understand their meaning, please me well! ‘Christian’ expresses a believer in and follower of Christ,--‘Catholic’ means universal, by which, I take it, is intended wide, universal love and tolerance without sect, party, or prejudice. In this sense the Church is not Catholic--it is merely the Roman sect. Nor are you truly my subjects, since you have only one ruler, the Supreme Pontiff,--with whom I am somewhat at variance. But, as I have said, we are not here to indulge in argument. You came to proffer a request; I have given you the only answer I conceive fitting with my duty;--the matter is concluded.” Del Fortis hesitated a moment,--then bowed low to the ground;--anon, lifting himself, raised one hand with an invocative gesture of profound solemnity. “I commend your Majesty to the mercy of God, that He may in His wisdom, guard your life and soften your heart towards the ministers of His Holy Religion, and bring you into the ways of righteousness and peace! For the rest, I will report your Majesty’s decision to the Vicar-General.” “Do so!”--rejoined the King--“And assure him that the decision is unalterable,--unless the inhabitants of the place concerned desire to have it revoked.” Again Del Fortis bowed. “I humbly take my leave of your Majesty!”