"Yes," replied Lady Nora.
"Then," said the cardinal, "you need not send it. I will come in my barca. Electricity and the Church are not friendly. We have only just become reconciled to steam."
Lady Nora laughed. "Good-by," she said, "until to-morrow," and again she made her courtesy.
"Until to-morrow," said the cardinal; and he watched them down the aisle.
"Tommaso," he said to the sacristan, "give me the turquoise cup."
Tommaso handed it to him, silent but wondering.
"Now lock the door," said the cardinal, "and give me the key."
Tommaso complied. The cardinal put the cup under his robe and started down the aisle.
"Tommaso," he said, "you are now closed for the annual cleaning. You understand, do you not?"
"Perfectly, your eminence," replied Tommaso, and then he added—"When a stranger gives me two hundred and fifty lire it is time to lock my door."