The Monsignor became confused. "His informant is not even a Catholic, and he has, therefore, no right to command her."
"So it is a woman," said the Baron, and the young ecclesiastic dropped his head.
"It is a woman and a non-Catholic, and she visited the Holy Father at the Vatican yesterday morning; is that so?"
"I do not assert it, sir, and I do not deny it."
The Baron did not speak for a moment, but he looked steadily over his eye-glasses at the flushed young face before him. Then he said in a quiet tone:
"Monsignor, the relations of the Pope and the Government are delicate, and if anything occurred to carry the disagreement further it might result in a serious fratricidal struggle."
The Monsignor was trying to regain his self-possession, and he remained silent.
"But whatever those relations, it cannot be the wish of the Holy Father to cover with his mantle the upsetters of order who are cutting at the roots of the Church as well as the State."
"Therefore I am here now, sir, thus early and thus openly," said the Monsignor.
"Monsignor," said the Baron, "if anything should occur to—for example—the person of the King, it cannot be the wish of his Holiness that anybody—myself, for instance—should be in a position to say to Parliament and to the Governments of Europe, 'The Pope knew everything beforehand, and therefore, not having revealed the particulars of the plot, the venerable Father of the Vatican is an accomplice of murderers.'"