As the doors of the audience-chamber closed on the two, Pigavetta clapt his companion on the shoulder, and the foxy smile came once more to his lips. "You did that well, my young friend," said he.
"Did I?" answered Felix, "I little thought about that."
"That is the very blessing attending a good disposition, it anticipates of itself, what the advantage of the Holy Church demands. Observe closely the rule of crossing everywhere the path of the heretics. I have already told you, that nothing must be allowed to take root here. Who wins, who loses, is in itself a matter of indifference to us, so long as none remain fast in the saddle. To-morrow," added he, "there will be long drawn faces in the Church Council, when they receive Erastus' answer, for the learned pedant is not sparing of his pepper and salt. I knew at once that my worthy Olevianus would swallow the bait, when I spoke to him of the splendid opportunity of putting a stop to those abominations. The Court-preacher Boquin will pitch into him finely, and Zuleger the President will say: 'Now we have it.'"
The triumphant Jesuit was about to leave the ante-chamber, when he heard Erastus' voice behind him: "Dr. Pigavetta, His Highness wishes to give you other commands for Speyer." Pigavetta hastened back to the room, whilst Erastus descended the staircase towards the court together with Felix.
"You have rendered to-day an important service to all friends of divine art, to the memory of my gracious master; as well as to myself, young Master, and as thanks I will give you a piece of advice."
"And that is?"
"You are in bad company. How came you to know this so-called surgeon?"
The Artist hesitated for a moment, but double-dealing was not his forte. "I made the acquaintance of the doctor in the College at Venice. He procured an entry into the College of the Sapientia for my brother, and the invitation to Colins, which has brought me here, was also owing to his intervention. I owe him thanks, as you see."
"We have experienced in the University but few proofs of his honesty, and he likes to stick his finger in every pie. That this gentleman is connected with the Society of Jesus, is something new to me. The brothers of Ignatius do not usually indulge in such grandiloquence, as does this remarkable statesman. Were you also brought up in the Collegium?"
"The Laurenzanos are of noble race, but poor. So after the death of our parents the family were talked over into trusting my brother to the care of the Society. I followed him to Venice, where I worked in the atelier of Master Jacopo Sansovino, and the Rector gave me the permission to attend certain lectures which were useful to me. I shall never forget with what care the College instructed me in mathematics, languages, and philosophy, requiring no other return but that I should paint pictures for the Chapel. Nowhere have I seen greater sacrifice, greater diligence in getting out of the pupils, anything that might be in them."