'I lean on Holy Church. She will sustain me.'
'Against Me?'
The Cardinal staggered against the wall, trembling so that he could hardly stand. The Archbishop cried, also trembling:
'What ails your Eminence? Cardinal, what is wrong?'
His Eminence replied, as if he all at once were short of breath:
'The rock--on which--the Church is founded--slips beneath my feet!'
The Archbishop surveyed him with frightened eyes.
CHAPTER XXIII
[AND THE CHILD]
The noise in the street had continued without ceasing. It grew louder. A sound arose as of many voices shrieking. While it still filled the air the lame man and the charcoal-burner descended from an upper room. They spoke of the tumult.