“How frightful!”
“Added to which,” said Bardolotti, “they throw discredit and suspicion on us and oblige us more than ever to make use of the greatest cunning and caution.”
“Look here! Read this!” said Protos, holding out a copy of the Croix to Fleurissoire; “it’s the day before yesterday’s paper. This short paragraph tells its own story!”
“‘We cannot too earnestly warn devout souls against certain individuals who are going about the country disguised as ecclesiastics, and in particular against a certain pseudo-canon who, under pretext of being entrusted with a secret mission, shamefully abuses the credulity of the public and actually extorts money from them for a so-called CRUSADE FOR THE DELIVERANCE OF THE POPE. The name alone sufficiently proclaims the absurdity of the business.’”
Fleurissoire felt the ground give way beneath his feet.
“Whom can one trust then? Shall I tell you in my turn, gentlemen, that it is perhaps due to this very swindler—this false canon, I mean—that I am with you to-day?”
Father Cave looked gravely at the Cardinal, then, striking his fist on the table:
“I suspected as much!” he cried.
“Everything contributed to make me fear,” continued Fleurissoire, “that the person who informed me of the affair was herself a victim of this rogue’s blandishments.”
“It would not surprise me,” said Protos.