"It is Our sincere hope that Our endeavour to feed Christ's flock may be acceptable."
"I have many Catholics in my empire; and I may say that their virtues merit my fullest approbation."
The Pope again inclined His head.
"I understand that Your Holiness has never been in Germany?"
"No. Our life hitherto has been an unimportant one. We are almost ignorant of the world and of men, except perhaps from the view-point of the outside observer and student."
"My sainted mother used to quote an English proverb which says that Onlookers see most of the game."
"All English proverbs, which are positive, have their correspondent negative—'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'—'Out of sight out of mind.'—Your Majesty's proverb is contradicted by 'Only the toad under the harrow has counted the spikes.' We mean that We have learned much of what is done, but very little of the details of the doing."
"Ah, that of course comes by heredity or by practice——"
"Or by occession."
"I fear that I do not quite follow."