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〃You see；〃 whispered Montardo to the stranger； 〃that our government is neutral。 It will not punish neither the Prussiani nor the Teresiani； only warns us not to carry our zeal too far； and reminds us that it is against the law to carry a dagger or a knife in the streets。 But now let us enter the shop； and I will introduce you to Cicernachi。〃
He took the stranger's arm； and entered the shop； where a tall； slim man met him。 His long black hair hung in wild disorder on both sides of his expressive countenance； his eyes sparkled with fire； and on his full red lip there was a proud； triumphant smile。
〃Well； Montardo；〃 said he； 〃you come undoubtedly to congratulate me on this victory over these miserable Teresiani。〃
〃Certainly； sir。〃 cried Montardo； laughingly； 〃it was a most original idea。〃
〃Do you know why I have done it？〃 said Cicernachi； 〃yesterday the Teresiani placed before their restaurants the bull of Pope Clement XI。； which has just been confirmed and renewed by Clement XIII。 It was printed on white satin； and enclosed in a beautiful gilt frame； and underneath it burnt a sacred lamp。〃
〃What are the contents of this bull？〃 said Montardo。
〃I will tell you the beginning。〃 said Cicernachi； 〃I do not recollect all。 It sounded thus： 'You have long known that Frederick； margrave of Brandenburg； in contempt for the authority of the Church； took to himself the name and insignia of king； a profane and unheard of act among Christians。 He has thus unwisely enough become one of those of whom it is said in the Bible； 'They reigned； but not through Me； they were princes； but I did not know them。' Do you conceive now why I placed the king's picture before my store？ why I burnt a lamp beneath it？ I think this glorious portrait is more deserving of a sacred lamp than the Pope's nonsensical bull。〃
〃You are right； signor；〃 said the stranger； advancing to Cicernachi and shaking hands with him。 〃Permit me to thank you in the name of my great and noble king whom you have this day defended in so original a manner from the malicious charges of his enemies。 I give you my word of honor that the king shall hear of it through me； I know it will rejoice him。〃
〃Ah； signor；〃 said Montardo； laughing； 〃you forget that you are an honest merchant who does not concern himself about politics。〃
〃I can never forget I am a Prussian；〃 said the traveller； 〃and how could I forget it？〃 continued he； laughing。 〃My whole business consists of Prussian wares。〃
〃Truly you have some very beautiful articles；〃 said Montardo。 〃You will be charmed with them； Cicernachi； it will be another opportunity to annoy the Teresiani。 Look at this merchant's fans。〃
The stranger opened several fans。 Cicernachi's eyes sparkled with delight at the sight of the painting。 〃How many have you； signor？〃 said he。
〃Twelve。〃
〃I take them all； and regret you have not more。〃
〃But Cicernachi； where has all your wisdom gone to？〃 cried Montardo。 〃You have not even asked the price； or do you； perhaps； think the stranger gives them to you for nothing？〃
〃No； no； I forgot it；〃 said Cicernachi； gazing with delight at the fans which the stranger was spreading out before him。 〃What is their price； signor？〃
The stranger was silent for a moment； and then said； in a hesitating manner： 〃I paid ten francs for each fan in Geneva。〃
〃I give twice that；〃 said Cicernachi； quickly。
The stranger started up hastily； blushing with annoyance。 〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃I take from no one a higher price than I gave。〃
〃Ah； signor； signor；〃 cried Montardo； 〃you have again forgotten that you are but a merchant。 No merchant sells his goods for what he gave for them。 Remember that。〃
〃I will make a good business with these fans；〃 said Cicernachi。 〃I give you twenty…four francs； and will ask fifty for them。 The ladies of our nobility； many of whom are Prussiani； will be delighted to annoy their opponents in so elegant a manner。 Are you content； sir？〃
〃I am satisfied；〃 said the stranger； blushing with embarrassment。
〃Is this all you have for sale？〃
〃No； I have something else；〃 said the stranger； opening another package。 〃As you are Prussiano； these neat little coins and medals； with pretty caricatures of the enemies of the king on them； will no doubt please you。〃
〃Ah； let us see them；〃 cried both Italians。 They examined with eagerness the medals upon which the enemies of Frederick were represented in various laughable situations and positions。
〃I take them all！〃 cried Cicernachi； enraptured。
The stranger laughed。 〃I cannot sell you my whole business；〃 said he； 〃I must retain something。 I will give you one of each。 You must accept them as a token of my esteem； and must not pay me for them。〃
〃Signor！〃 cried Montardo； in an imploring tone； 〃remain at my hotel as long as you please； and when I bring you your bill lay some of these coins upon it； and I shall be richly paid。〃
The stranger promised： then having received； with visible annoyance； the money for the fans； left the store with Montardo to pay his visit to the Convent Giovanni e Paolo。
CHAPTER III。
THE CLOISTER BROTHERS OF SAN GIOVANNI E PAOLO。
The Prior of San Giovanni e Paolo had just returned from the second mass celebrated in the beautiful church of his cloister； the burial… place of the great Titiano Vicelli。 With his arms folded across his back； he walked slowly and thoughtfully backward and forward； then stood before a large table at which a monk was occupied in unfolding letters and maps。
〃This； your worship；〃 said the monk； opening a new paper； 〃is an exact plan of the region around Mayen； we have just received it； and the positions of the two armies are plainly marked down。 If agreeable to your worship； I will read the bulletins aloud； and you can follow the movements of the troops upon the map。〃
The prior shook his head softly。 〃No； Brother Anselmo； do not read again the triumphant bulletins of the Austrians and Russians； they pain my ears and my heart。 Let us rather look at the map to see if the present position of the army offers any ground of hope。〃
〃I have marked it all out with pins；〃 said Father Anselmo； 〃the black pins signify the army of the allies； the white pins the army of the King of Prussia。〃
The prior bowed over the map； and his eye followed thoughtfully the lines which Father Anselmo marked out。 〃Your pins are a sad omen；〃 he said； shaking his head。 〃The black ones surround like a churchyard wall the white ones； which stand like crosses upon the solitary graves in the midst of their black enclosures。〃
〃But the white pins will break through the enclosure；〃 said Father Anselmo； confidently。 〃The great king〃 Father Anselmo stopped speaking； suddenly the door opened； and the father guardian asked if he might enter。
The prior blushed slightly； and stepped back from the table as the sharp eyes of the father guardian wandered around the room and fell at last with a sarcastic expression upon the table covered with maps and plans。
〃Welcome； Brother Theodore；〃 said the prior； with a slight nod of the head。
〃I fear that I disturb your worship in your favorite occupation；〃 said the father guardian； pointing to the maps。 〃Your worship is considering the unfortunate condition of the heretical king whom God； as it appears； will soon cast down in the dust； and crush at the feet of the triumphant Church。〃
〃We must leave results； at all events； to God；〃 said the prior； softly； 〃He has so often evidently lent his aid to the King of Prussia； that I think no one can count confidently upon Frederick's destruction now。〃
〃The Holy Father at Rome has blessed the weapons of his adversaries； consequently they must triumph；〃 cried Father Theodore； unctuously。 〃But pardon； your worship； I forgot my errand。 A stranger wishes to see the prior of the cloister； he has rare and beautiful relics to sell； which he will only show to your worship。〃
〃Our church is rich enough in relics；〃 said the prior。
〃Your worship does not attach any especial value to such things；〃 said the father guardian with a derisive smile； 〃but I must allow myself to recall to you that the Holy Father in Rome has only lately addressed a circular to all the cloisters； recommending the purchase of rare