"He would know if it had
been possible--even with the most favorable intentions toward
Rome,"--they were crowding round him and questioning with jealous
eagerness,--"even with the feeling which loyal sons should possess for
their Mother Church--to interpret that rude cross-questioning of his
Holiness, so unexpected and unexampled and contradicting his own
explicit promise--otherwise than as an examination--_an examination
which prejudiced the ancient right of Venice_?"
A scarcely perceptible smile flitted over the young secretary's handsome
face--they were so venerable and eager, so careful of shadows of
form!--and in a sudden side-light a hint of a question obtruded itself
on his consciousness, as to whether there could be a slightly farcical
aspect to such an episode between two most Catholic and Christian
governments? He saw them both fired with feelings of very human
strength, both dealing only with shadows of reality--the Sovereign
Pontiff grasping at a semblance of power in insisting that this
candidate, named by Venice to a see within her gift, to which he, the
Pope, would dare present no other, was invested by _his_ examination and
approval; and the Republic, receiving back its own appointee, confirmed
with the papal benediction, jealously aroused to unappeasable
indignation by the empty form of questioning which had preceded this
singular ceremony.
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