For a moment Francesco stared speechless at the Pontiff. Clement had read the very depths of his soul.
"When I entered the monastic life," he said at last, "it was stipulated that at the expiration of a certain period the burden should be lightened."
"Conditions?" replied Clement, with a slight contraction of the brows. "The Church demands unconditional surrender! Are you so very anxious to be relieved of the garb which befits the servant of God?"
"There are various ways to serve the Church," Francesco replied in a hard voice.
Clement bent serious brows upon him.
"We must subdue the mind for the sake of the mind! The boon you are about to ask might be granted—in return for some signal service to the Church!"
Francesco's eyelids narrowed.
"And this service,—what is it?"
He saw the Pontiff and Charles of Anjou exchange glances.
What new traffic were they about to propose to him?