" Well ! What difference is there ? He is a priest,
I suppose — a creature who dresses himself up like a
pulcinella before his altar — to ''

" Softly ! " ejaculated the young man, looking round
to see whether the door was closed.
" Why softly ? " asked the other angrily, though his
annoyance did not seem to communicate itself to the
chisel he held in his hand, and which continued its
work as delicately as though its master were humming
a pastoral. " Why softly ? An apoplexy on your
softness ! The papers speak as loudly as they please
— why should I hold my tongue ? A dog-butcher of
a priest !"

" Well," answered Gianbattista in a meditative tone,
as he selected another chisel, " he has the money to
pay for what he orders. If he had not, we would not
work for him, I suppose."

'" If we had the money, you mean," retorted Marzio.
" Why the devil should he have money rather than
we 1 Why don't you answer ? Why should he wear
silk stockings — red silk stockings, the animal ? Why
should he want a silver ewer and basin to wash his
hands at his mass ? Why would not an earthen one
do as well, such as I use ? Why don't you answer ?
Eh ?"

' : Why should Prince Borghese live in a palace and



chav. i marzio's crucifix: 9'

keep scores of horses ? " inquired the young man
calmly.
