"That's drawing it rather fine:" Whitehead said, looking up for the first time.
"Fine enough:" Carvale put in, with appreciation of the distinction.
"Excommunicate the editor, printer, and publisher, by name, I say!" ejaculated Semphill.
Sterling went on, "One finds it difficult to understand what can have persuaded the Catholic Hour to insert——"
Hadrian interrupted, "Just ask yourself this. Is it likely that an Erse periodical,—and, when We say an Erse periodical, We mean a clerical periodical, (for, according to McCarthy, the Erse clergy hold the Catholic press in the hollow of their hand,)—is it likely that an Erse periodical, which has the infernal cheek to dub itself the 'Organ of Catholic Opinion,' and which once called Cardinal Semphill a—what was it, Eminency?—ah yes, 'a scented masher,'—could be expected to forego an opportunity of increasing its circulation at the expense of the Vicar of Christ?"
"Oh very good indeed!" exclaimed Semphill, with a hearty reminiscent shout of laughter.
"But, Holiness," Sterling gravely continued, "one knows that the statements are not true. One knows that the article mispresents You entirely."
"They are not wholly true; and the article entirely mispresents Us."
"One would recommend that that should be made known."
"It is known. Hundreds know it. They are not prevented from saying what they know.—If they dare." Hadrian came down from the throne. A grey shadow hardened the sharpness of the face. The brows and the eyes were drawn into parallels, the latter half-shut; and the thin lips were straight and cruel. Their Eminencies mindfully retired. Van Kristen lingered till the others were gone. "Holy Father," he said, "I guess that You're feeling it about as bad as the next man?"