“Neither can I,” said Madame de Brécé.
“To a certain extent your feelings are legitimate, Madame la Duchesse,” replied the Abbé. “But you cannot be unaware of the teaching of the Church, that the curse pronounced against the Jews was inspired by their crime, and not their race, and that therefore the attendant results cannot affect them if——”
“It is heavy,” said the Duke, lifting the ciborium from its case, and holding it out.
“I am most annoyed,” said the Duchess.
“It is very heavy!” repeated the Duke.
“And, what is more,” added the Abbé, “it is a beautiful piece of work, and possesses the refined characteristics which are, so to speak, the seal and stamp of the work of Rondonneau the younger. None but the Archbishop’s goldsmith could have displayed such judgment in the selection of a model from traditional Christian art, or have reproduced the shape and decoration with such skill and fidelity. This ciborium is a work of the highest merit, and is in the style of the thirteenth century.”
“The bowl and cover are in solid gold,” said M. de Brécé.
“According to liturgical regulations the bowl of the ciborium must be of gold, or, at any rate, of silver, gilded inside,” said the Abbé.
M. de Brécé, who was holding it upside down, remarked:
“The foot is hollow.”