"You broke down badly just in the middle?"
"Well, no, indeed; there was certainly no breakdown, but the whole thing was evidently a failure."
"Let me see," I cried. "There are certain infallible indications of the success or failure of a sermon. Were there any priests present?"
"About twenty, I think," he replied. "That was the worst of it. You don't mind the people at all."
"And weren't they very enthusiastic," I asked, "when you returned to the sacristy?"
"No, indeed. Rather the contrary, which makes me think that I said something either perilous or ill-advised."
"Humph! Didn't any fellow come up to you and knock the breath out of your body by slapping you on the back?"
"No!" he replied sadly.
"Didn't any fellow say: Prospere procede, et regna?"
"No!" he said. "It was just the other way."