'I?' asked Brühl with astonishment.
'I should think no worse of you for that, if for the sake of music, of art, you wished to see how those angels look as common mortals, divested of the glitter and sparkle of the stage. Celesta sang like an angel but she is ugly as a devil. There is no danger that the King will fall in love with her.'
And Padre Guarini laughed.
'And who rules over the King?' asked he. And without waiting for an answer, he said: 'It seems that, just as in Poland, the election is coming.'
He laughed again.
'But tell me something new; besides that you have become the King's secretary.'
'I have nothing to say, except that nothing can change my heart.'
'Yes, yes, I advise you to be a good Catholic, although secretly. We can't expect from the present King much zeal for the faith. We must be satisfied with him as he is, but his successor will be different; our pious lady Josepha will not permit him to leave the path of truth. The Prince is pious, a faithful husband, a zealous Catholic. When he becomes ruler we shall be mighty. Let us be patient and we will manage the Protestants. Chi va 'piano, va sano--qui va sano, va lontano!' He repeated the word lontano several times and sighed.
'As a souvenir of this fortunate day,' added he, 'I must bless you; it will bring you good luck. Wait.'
Padre Guarini pulled out a drawer and took from it a black rosary on which were a cross and medallion.