Of the Pope's faith she knew, if anything,
less even than Faustulus ; and of the Pope him-
self she knew nothing at all. That the Popes
had been charitable to the poor and oppressed
she had been often told, but she was not greatly
impressed. No doubt they were crafty fellows



46 FAUSTULA

who knew how to court mob-popularity; Sa-
bina would not admire gifts when Greeks
brought them; and very likely the poor whom
the Popes had befriended and petted were a
set of discontented idle slaves, or city rifF-
raif . To her own poor, even slaves, up near
Olibamma she could be kind and generous,
though never indulgent; but then she knew
them, and their poverty was under her nose.
