‘I must enter in the character of attendant to one of the Cardinals!’ I exclaimed.
‘You must enter as the servant of Cardinal Salvatierra,’ his Majesty declared.
I frowned slightly. It seemed to me that my employer, in his enthusiasm, was going a little too fast. I did not like having so much arranged for me in advance. This Cardinal Salvatierra, who was he; and in what way had he come to lend himself to the purpose of the King of Italy?
‘Does the Cardinal enjoy your Majesty’s confidence?’ I asked drily.
‘Not in the sense that you do, Monsieur V——,’ the King answered. ‘Salvatierra is one of the ornamental members of the College. He is a scholar and antiquarian, not a Churchman or politician. His collection of intaglios is said to be the finest in Rome.’
‘May I venture to ask how much his Eminence has been told?’
‘Only that I desire the election of a Pope who will be well disposed towards Italy. It has always been customary for the Sacred College to receive representations from the Catholic Powers of their views and wishes on the subject of Papal election. The only irregularity in this case is that, as the Italian kingdom is not recognised by the Papacy, I can only communicate with the College indirectly.’
“I found the Cardinal absorbed in the inspection of his newly arrived treasures.”
I listened to his Majesty with considerable inward misgiving. I was more than a little afraid of the guilt I might be incurring by entering the Conclave. At the same time I told myself that Cardinal Salvatierra had a right to introduce whom he pleased as his attendant; and if he was satisfied to take me, it was not for me to raise objections.