“Pray, who is the paragon?”
“A priest, Madame, a German priest, who perhaps would not refuse the Bishopric of Durango. The hope of that rich see would insure his devotion. His name is Fischer. He is a clerical, he is an imperialist, he is resourceful. Our Jacqueline will have much to do to outwit him. This corpulent padre, Madame, would wheedle the sulky pope himself into a good humor with us. If I might venture so far as to present him before––”
“Oh, I suppose so,” said Charlotte wearily.
PART SECOND
THE ROSE THAT WAS A THORN
IN THE LAND OF ROSES
“The rugged battle of fate, where strength is born.”
–Emerson.
273CHAPTER I
Meagre Shanks
“... and should a man full of talk be justified?”