“We begin,” he boomed, after much preliminary throat-scraping, “by Your Serene Highness’s permission—if the Herr Attorney-Oath-Commissioner will snuff the candles I shall be able to see better!—we begin with Deputations from the various Trades-bands and Companies of Handi-craftsmen carrying banners.... Follow....”
The gross man expanded his chest, and rolled out:
“The Charity-Children of both sexes, the boys carrying green branches, the girls bouquets of flowers. Succeed....
“Confraternities of Sodalists, male and female, headed by Persons on Horseback in Roman and Silesian costumes, representing St. Lawrence with his gridiron and St. Hyacinth with his ax.
“A triumphal Car, with a Tableau of St. Helena in Roman Imperial Habit, instructing St. Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem, where to Dig for the Relic of the True Cross....
“The Four Mendicant Orders of Religious of both sexes, with tapers.
“The Boys of the Dominican Orphanage bearing tapers.
“The Girls of the Carmelite School strewing flowers.
“The Image of Our Lady of the Assumption, attended by Sisters of the Order of the Immaculate Heart.”
Dunoisse started in his chair. A burning heat raced through him, and yet he shivered, oppressed by a deadly sickness of the soul.