2
‘Many a time a simple exterior is a useful weapon; but when a man who is really simple pretends to be clever he is soon found out. For another time there had been a pasquinade which so vexed the Government that the Pope declared whoever would acknowledge himself the author of it should have his life spared and five hundred scudi reward.
‘One day a simple-looking rustic came to the Vatican, and said he was come to own himself the author of the pasquinade. As such he was shown in to the Pope.
‘“So you are the author of this pasquinade, are you, good man?”
‘“Yes, Your Holiness, I wrote it,” answered the fellow.
‘“You are quite sure you wrote it?”
‘“Oh, yes, Your Holiness, quite sure.”
‘“Take him and give him the five hundred scudi,” said the Pope.
‘An acute Monsignore, who felt convinced the man could not be the author of the clever satire, could not refrain from interposing officially when he found the Pope really seemed to be taken in.