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There was Padre Fontanarosa too. Did you never hear of him? He was a good friend to the poor; and all Rome loved him. He was a Jesuit; but somehow there were some Jesuits who didn’t like him. Papa Braschi[1] was very fond of him, and used to make him come every day and tell him all that went on in Rome, for he was very good to the people, and that way the Pope heard what the people wanted; and many things that were wrong got set right when Padre Fontanarosa explained to the Pope the real state of the case.
One day Padre Fontanarosa said to the Pope, ‘People say I have been talking too freely, and call it telling tales; but I have only obeyed the wishes of Your Holiness. If I have done wrong send me away.’ But Papa Braschi answered, ‘You have done me good service. Fear nothing.’
The next day after that Padre Fontanarosa did not come to the Vatican, or the next, or the next.
Then Papa Braschi called for his carriage, and said, ‘Drive to the Gesù!’ Arrived at the Gesù, he said, ‘I want Padre Fontanarosa; where is he?’
They answered, ‘In his cell.’
But he had been confined in his cell on bread and water for chattering.
‘Then let him be brought out of his cell; for I want him!’ answered Papa Braschi.
That time he took Padre Fontanarosa away in his carriage, and no one durst say anything to him any more.