The Pope looked up, surprised. One or two courtiers glanced at me curiously. I had indeed done something beyond all precedent. “Why, indeed, Gualtiero, you strange fellow,” rejoined His Holiness; “this is the new Bull _Exsurge Domine_ against that firebrand Luther. I must sign it that it may be presented in full Consistory in a few days for ratification. Good heavens, man--why do you look at me thus strangely? Have you taken poison?” I fell on my knees before the Pope’s chair. I did my best to control my voice. “Hear me, your Holiness. What I ask is surprising and beyond all precedent, yet for the Pope’s own sake do I ask it. For many reasons I beg your Holiness not to assent to this Bull until I have been heard to the contrary. It was for this very boon that I begged for an audience.” A kind of jar, of mental shock, seemed passing around the chamber. The Pope looked at me in such amazement it was manifest he did not understand all that I had said. Only the hollow hard tones of Priario broke the momentary silence. “His Holiness can hardly delay the notaries longer. The bull has been drafted with the uttermost care, and delayed too much already. The Conte di Palaestro certainly cannot claim the right to intervene in a matter strictly of theology.” The voice of the Censor broke the spell upon me. I rose. With _him_ I could bandy words. “Well said, Monsignore,” I retorted, leaving Leo to recover his poise; “I intervene not in theology, but this is a matter of most mundane politics. Sorely disloyal were I to His Holiness, forgetful of all the favors showered by the Popes on the House of Palaestro, if I held my peace, when rash theologians prepare such temporal woe for the Holy See.” “Rash theologians?” interposed Priario. “Does the Conte call them ‘rash’ and deny the case one of theology when this Luther is clearly convicted of forty-one damnable theological errors, and of seducing his countrymen to beliefs worthy of Moslem infidels?” “I argue not for his opinions, pious Sir,” said I, standing haughtily, “though I have heard learned doctors commend them. I speak to His Holiness on other matters. Were Luther’s errors tenfold, still would I ask this hearing.” “Blessed San Paolo!” ejaculated the pontiff, still gazing on me, bewildered; “are you returned just to set my court by the ears? You and the Censor eye each other like wolves.” “I have nothing against Monsignori,” I responded respectfully, “but much against your Holiness’s ill-informed and precipitate councillors.” “Precipitate?” cried the Pope. “Have we not deliberated informally and in Consistory until I am weary and ill? Your German Eck, and all the Italians--all with their jangling counsels? Do you think the drying up of my German revenues is so delightful that I would draw out the matter longer? Ask a new lordship for Palaestro; a chamberlainship at court; anything in reason. But no more of this accursed friar!”