"For the use and benefit of the Pope," said Erastus coldly.
"All our gifts are given to us to honor the Holy Church," rejoined Felix. "Besides you knew me to be a Catholic when you called me here."
"Certainly, Master Felix. We cannot permit Otto Heinrich's statues to be repaired by Ursinus' Bachelors, or the Doctors of the Sapientia, and the Heidelberg artists are so busy with politics and church questions, that soon none will understand his handicraft. Therefore must we turn to the Papists. You will be allowed to carry on the exercises of your faith in your chamber, as you please. How comes it however that your brother Paul fills a protestant pulpit, when inwardly he appears to me as Roman as yourself?"
Felix looked up in surprise at his quick-witted interlocutor. Then composing himself, said: "I have not seen my brother for two years."
Erastus shook his head: "In such a time great changes certainly often take place. I am interested in the young man, yea more, as often as I see him I have compassion on him. He is as handsome as you are, perhaps handsomer, but his expression does not exhibit happiness and contentment of mind. Can I help you, we are now neighbours. I dwell in the 'new building' as the Kurfürst often requires my medical advice. For a lame man my quarters are rather high up between Jupiter and Serapis, and I look down on the heads of all the planets and christian virtues. You have a claim upon me, in that you spared me a daily sight of seven lions' tails. I am also indebted to all Italians. I spent nine years in Bologna and Padua, and experienced much kindness at the hands of your countrymen. Visit me soon; Erastus' advice will be of use to you in this Heidelberg where everything is war and partizanship, since in twenty years the religion has been four times changed."
"Bachmann," he now called out to the old servant, who was leaning against a well-house supported by high pillars, "this gentleman is to have the two rooms near the pages' apartment. Look to it that his property is brought up from the Hirsch." With a friendly shake of the hand he left the young artist who looked after his new patron in wonderment. "Model for a Regulus," he murmured, and then followed the broad-shouldered Bachmann who preceded him jingling his bunch of keys.
CHAPTER III.
The full moon shone brightly over the Königsstuhl and shed its gentle light o'er the gables and crooked streets of the old town, as the Italian doctor left the Castle, and descended through the Bergstadt to his home in the so-called Klingenthor. A clear spring pattered cheerily to the right of the dark gate-way, and the water reflected back the silver rays of the moon. At an open bay-window of a room in a neighbouring house stood the tall figure of a young priest, who gazed sadly at the quivering play of the light and at the Church of St. Peter, whose vast nave appeared doubly massive in the moonlight, and his ear was turned towards the bustling town, from which arose a confused wild noise of drunken voices, the screaming of shrieking girls, and the ear-rending din of the various bands of music in the taverns, "What has come over thee, thou noisy raging town? Thy slain men are not slain with the sword," murmured the young Priest in the words of Isaiah. Sounds from the Neckar were mingled with those of the streets. These were caused by fifers and cornet-players on board a brilliantly lighted up ship bearing the guests of the Kurfürst to the landing-place near the bridge, and salutes fired from the "Trutzbaier" lighted up the darkness for seconds and re-echoed through the valley. "Oh! that thou wouldest come down that the mountains might flow at thy presence," sighed the pale young man. Then he heard a quick step coming from the Castle way and soon Pigavetta's voice said from beneath: "You have been obliged to wait for a long time, my dear Master, but His Lordship could to-day hardly make any end to his scruples. I am coming at once." A key was turned in the heavy lock and after a time our excellent physician entered the lofty room in the mansarde holding a brilliant lamp, and offered with all the grace of an Italian his hand to his countryman who reluctantly placed therein his long slender fingers. "I bring you good news. Master Paul," continued Pigavetta, "your brother is here and was received by the Kurfürst in the most friendly manner." The young Laurenzano quickly raised his head for a moment and the name "Felice" came like a note of joy from his thin pale lips. Then he was silent and passing his hand over his high forehead, the old expression of melancholy resignation returned to his face. "You mean," said Pigavetta in the tone of a man of the world, "that it does not become a monk to make a relation in the flesh an object of rejoicing, and the Holy Ignatius forbids them to be considered in any other light than that of the Church and her Holy Cause; but my dear Friend, a man is often a better Jesuit by not being so according to rule. It is not necessary to hide your feelings before me."
"My brother will be useful to me," answered the young Priest shortly. Then he drew from his pocket and handed to Pigavetta a number of papers. "Here are the reports as to the state of the Church in the Stift; here, what I could learn without exciting comment concerning the religious relations of the families of my pupils. Here are the astronomical calculations, so far as I, owing to the scanty means at my disposal, could add them together from the tables."
"Let us sit down, my dear Master," said Pigavetta, throwing himself back in a chair, and drawing the Priest towards him with offensive familiarity. "You are not satisfied with your position?" asked he confidentially.