"And if I refused to exercise this mission of mercy?"
The Baron bowed gravely. "Your Holiness will not refuse," he said.
"But if I do—what then?"
"Then ... your Holiness.... I was about to say something."
"I am listening."
"The man we speak of is the bitterest enemy of the Church. Whatever his hypocrisies, he is at once an atheist and a freemason, sworn to allow no private interests or feelings, no bonds of patriotism or blood, to turn him aside from his purpose, which is to overthrow Society and the Church."
"Well?"
"He is also a bitter personal enemy of the Holy Father, and knows no object so dear as that of tearing him from his place and shaking the throne of St. Peter."
"Well, sir?"
"The police and the army of the Government are the only forces by which the Holy Father can be protected, and without them the bad elements which lurk in every community would break out, the Holy Father would be driven from Rome, and his priests assaulted in the streets."