"That question cannot interest him in any way," said Pier-Angelo, with a smile. "But I am overjoyed to find that you remembered my advice and that you have suddenly acquired this prudence, of which I didn't believe you to be capable. But tell me again, what did Abbé Ninfo—for it must have been he, I am sure; was he very ugly?"
"Frightful; he squints and has a flat nose."
"That's the man! What else did he ask you? your name, or your province?"
"No, no other direct question, except as to my age, and my brilliant reply to that seemed to satisfy him so entirely that he turned his back, promising me his eminence's blessing."
"And his eminence didn't give it to you? he didn't raise his hand?"
"The abbé himself told me a little later that his eminence was entirely deprived of the use of his limbs."
"What! that man spoke to you again? that fiend of hell came back to you?"
As he spoke, Pier-Angelo scratched the back of his neck, the only spot on his head where his restless hand could find any hair. It was a sign with him of great perturbation of spirit.
IV
MYSTERIES
When Michel had told the story of his adventure to the most trivial detail, and Pier-Angelo had admired and applauded his hypocrisy, the young man said: