The beads passed nervously through Anjou's fingers.
"These reproaches, Holy Father," he said with a sepulchral voice, "touch me very deeply. The host must be fed, and their zeal for the cause of Holy Church may lead them to mistake the cornfields of the righteous!"
The Pontiff bowed.
"Your crusades against the infidels seem to have blurred your vision, beloved son!"
"You speak of my youthful glories, Holy Father," replied Charles of Anjou with a leer. "Many years have since gone by, and they sleep with my youthful sins!"
"That must be a wide berth that enables them to find place side by side," retorted the Pontiff.
Then, with a nameless shrug, he turned to the Cardinal of Cosenza.
"Has the messenger returned from Astura?"
Instead of the Cardinal, Anjou made reply.
"Wherein would treason benefit the Frangipani? They hold their castle as fief of the Empire, and the coffers of the Church are dolefully empty."