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Mainenter murmuringly and reluctantly into this war against this Protestant king； although they wear the beads in their pockets； and the scapular over their shoulders。 Even if Frederick the Second is now overcome by his enemies； in the public opinion he is the conqueror； and the whole world sympathizes with him。 But public opinion is his only ally； and the sympathy of the people is his only source of revenue； outside of the subsidy from England； which will soon be exhausted。 Frederick； therefore； must look after other allies； other friends； who will render him assistance； in so far as not to unsheathe the sword against him； and to prepare some difficulties for his adversaries； and occupy a portion of their attention。 Such friends the king hopes to find in Italy； and to attain this object； I would ask counsel and help of your worship。〃
〃And in how far is it thought that I can be useful in this matter？〃 said the prior； thoughtfully。
〃Your worship has a second brother； who is minister of the King of Sardinia； and it is well known he is the king's especial confidant and favorite。〃
〃And my noble brother； Giovanni； merits fully the favor of his king！〃 said the prior； heartily。 〃He is the most faithful； the most exalted servant of his master！〃
〃In all his great and good characteristics； he resembles his brother； the Prior of San Giovanni； and I hope； in this also； that he is the friend of the King of Prussia！〃 said the stranger。
〃But I fear neither the friendship of my brother Giovanni nor my own can be useful to the King of Prussia。 I am a poor and powerless monk； suspected and watched。 My offence is； that I have not； like the fanatical priests of the Church； wished for the destruction and death of the great Frederick。 My brother is the minister of a king； whose land is neither rich enough in gold to pay subsidies； nor in men to place an army in the field。〃
〃Well； then； we must take occasion to increase the territory of the King of Sardinia！〃 said Baron Cocceji。 〃We must give him so large a realm； that he will be a dangerous neighbor to France and Austria。 This is the plan and the intention of my king。 Upon these points turn the proposals I will make in Turin； for the furtherance of which； I pray your assistance。 The King of Sardinia has well… grounded claim to Milan； to Mantua； and to Bologna； by the treaty of Aix…la…Chapelle； why not make himself King of Lombardy？ Unhappy Italy is like unhappy Germanytorn to pieces。 In place of obeying one master； they must submit to the yoke of many。 The dwellers in Italy； instead of being Italians； call themselves Milanese； Venetians； Sardinians； Tuscans； Romans； Neapolitans； and I know not what。 All this weakens the national pride； and takes from the people the joyful consciousness of their greatness。 Italy must be one in herself； in order to be once more great and powerful。 Let the King of Sardinia take possession of Upper Italy； and he will； with his rightful inheritance； and as King of Lombardy； be a powerful prince… …feared by his enemies； and welcomed by his allies。〃
〃And do you think that Naples would look quietly on and witness this rapid growth of Sardinia？〃 said the prior； laughing。
〃We will give to Naples an opportunity at the same time to enlarge her borders the young King of Naples has energy； he has proved it。 When his father； Don Carlos； was called by right of succession to the Spanish throne； he had himself declared King of Naples； not regarding the right of the Duke of Parma； to whom； according to the treaty of Aix…la…Chapelle； the Neapolitan throne rightly belonged。 King Ferdinand is already a usurper！ Let him go on； even as successfully in the same pathhe has taken Napleslet him take Tuscany and the States of the Church； and； as King of Lower Italy； he will be as powerful as the King of Sardinia。 In order that both may obtain possession of these lands uninterrupted and uninjured； will the King of Prussia so completely occupy the attention of Austria and France in Germany and Flanders as to make it impossible for them to interfere with Naples and Sardinia？〃 ＇Footnote： Preuss； 〃History of Frederick the Great。〃＇
〃By Heaven！ a great and bold idea； altogether in harmony with the energetic spirit of Frederick；〃 cried the prior。 〃If the two Italian kings resemble the great Frederick； they will adopt this plan with enthusiasm。〃
He had risen； and stepped hastily backward and forward； now and then murmuring a few disconnected words； he then drew near the table and stood earnestly regarding the maps。
Cocceji did not dare to interrupt him by word or sound； he watched him； however； closely。 At last； however； the inward struggle seemed to be over； he stood quietly before the baron； and； fixing his dark； earnest eyes with a thoughtful expression upon him； he said； softly： 〃You have confided to me a great and dangerous enterprise。 If I did my duty as the unconditional subject of the Pope； and as a priest of the holy Church； of which Frederick is the bitter antagonist； I should arrest you here； as a dangerous negotiator and enemy； and above all； I should give speedy notice of this conspiracy； which not only threatens Clement as head of the Church； but as sovereign of the States of the Church。 Butwhat would you have？I was not born a priest； and my heart and my spirit have never been able to accommodate themselves fully to the discipline of my order。 I have always remained； I fear；〃 said he； with a graceful smile； 〃the true brother of the free…thinking Abbe Bastiani； and it appears to me； it lies in our blood to love and pay homage to the great and intellectual King of Prussia。 I will； therefore； listen to and follow the voice of my blood and of my heart； and forget a little that I am a priest of the only church in which salvation can be found。 As far as it lies in my power； I will promote your object。 I will give you letters to Turin； not only to my brother Giovanni； but to Father Tomaseo； the king's confessor。 He is my most faithful friend； and sympathizes fully with me。 If you can win him and my brother Giovanni； you have won the king； and he will lend a willing ear to your proposals。 Your plans are bold； but my brother and Father Tomaseo are daring； undaunted men； the progress of Italy and the greatness of their king lies nearest their hearts。 They are both influenced by my judgment； and when you hand them my letters； you will at least be a most welcome guest。〃
He gave the baron his hand； and listened with a kindly smile to the enthusiastic thanks of the over…happy soldier； whose first diplomatic mission seemed to promise so favorably。
〃Be； however； always prudent and discreet； signor；〃 said the prior； laughing。 〃Play your role as merchant； do not lay it aside for one moment while in Turin。 Leave Venice as quickly as possible； no doubt the brother guardian； who was sent from Rome as a spy； who watches not only all my actions； but my words and thoughts； has remarked our long interview； and is already suspicious。 As he has a fine nose； he may soon discover a part of your secret！ Do not return to the cloister。 During the day I will send you the promised letters by a faithful brother。 As soon as you receive them； be off！ My best wishes and my prayers accompany you。 Without doubt； you are； like your great king； a heretic。 I cannot； therefore commend you to Mary Mother； and the saints； but I will pray to God to watch over you。〃
The prior stopped suddenly and listened！ Loud cries of wild alarm forced themselves upon his ear； the sounds appeared to come from directly under his feet； and waxed louder and fiercer every moment。
〃It is in the dining…room；〃 said the prior； 〃follow me； sir； I beg you； we may need your helpsome one is murdering my monks！〃 They hastened from the room with flying feet； they passed through the long corridors and down the steps； the cries and roars and howls and curses became ever clearer。
〃I was not mistaken；〃 said the prior； 〃this comes from the refectory。〃 He rushed to the door and threw it hastily open； then stood； as if chained to the threshold； and stared with horror at the mad spectacle before him。
There were no murderous strangers there playing wild havoc amongst his monks： but the worthy fathers themselves were making the fie