The room wherein we found ourselves was one of those numberless huge, rambling apartments upon the upper floor of the Vatican. It was richly furnished in a dark heavy way, with a good “Annunciation” (I believe by Timoteo Viti) upon the wall, Persian carpets under foot, and three wide windows opening gloriously upon the wide Vatican gardens, whence--a great distance below--sounded the shouts of a bevy of young court chamberlains and court ladies at some game, mingled with the dull clicks of the masons chipping on the marble blocks for the rebuilding of S. Pietro. Forli of course had his own palace in the city, but like the other Papal vice-chancellors, preferred to keep a few rooms at the Vatican, since he wished to be in easy touch with His Holiness. Here he had arranged for us to meet him. “Draw your chair nearer, Gualtiero,” he motioned to me, “and you also, Rocca. I take it the servants are out of earshot, but stones and plaster in the Vatican tell tales. Ahem! We’ve not discussed the matter fairly yet. Since the Conte di Palaestro is so interested--” “I cry your pardon, Eccellenza,” I interposed, “I prefer the Cardinale di Rocca shall know me as the Graf von Regenstein.” Forli’s good humor was not shaken. “As you wish it,” he laughed, “let me tell Rocca, then, that you are the son of the Graf von Lichtenstein zum Regenstein (do I get your barbarous German aright?), that most valorous condottieri who did Popes Alexander Borgia and Julius such rare service, and who showed himself wise beyond his people by marrying the Contessa di Palaestro. Whereby their noble son and heir here is by title at once ‘Regenstein’ and ‘Palaestro,’--although why, being Italian born and bred, he prefers his outlandish northern name, may the Madonna tell me--he cannot tell himself!” And then with another good-natured shrug he began unrolling the papers. “So, then, we are agreed that the Archbishop of Bari should be displaced, and his benefices divided?” Rocca nodded, his thin lips curling, “He was asked on the hunt only last week by His Holiness--surest sign he is in succession for the next creation.” “The cardinals will hardly consent to that,” I suggested, “the college is over large already.” Forli shook his head. “I know the Pope. He smiles blandly and denies when you hint ‘more cardinals,’ but I understand positively he is resolved. There will be another red hat in a twelvemonth, unless Bari is ruined--or removed,” letting his voice drop. “And I,” thrust in Rocca, “have had my eyes since Easter on that benefice of his in Aragon. Mine as soon as he leaves it vacant! Haven’t I paid good gold for the reversion? And the income, six thousand florins; what a godsend in my present debts and poverty!”