"Very well, I believe, monsieur."
"No, that could not be," said the old gentleman, shaking his head. "I am sure nothing would go well without me."
"Do you, then, live in Rome?" asked Ben, curiously.
"Surely!" exclaimed the old man. "Did you not know that the Pope lived in Rome?"
"But what has that to do with you, sir?"
"A great deal. Know, my little gentleman, that I—to whom you are speaking—am the Pope."
This was said with an air of importance.
"There's no doubt about his being insane," thought Ben.
"How, then, do you happen to be here?" asked our hero, interested to see what his companion would say.