As we left the inn he began thus:

"Gentles all, you should hear my voice when I preach in church! It
rings loud and clear like a bell, and I never falter, for I know all
I have to say by heart. My text is always the same: 'Greed is the
root of all evils'--only you must know I speak it in Latin to my
congregation, for Latin gives a learned tone to my speech, whether
the audience understands it or not.

"Would you care to know my procedure? Here it is:

"First, I announce whence I have come, then show all my bulls, with
the seals of my liege lord the Pope attached, then my letters of
authority from cardinals and bishops and patriarchs, so that
everybody believes in me and none dare interrupt me in my holy work.

"Then I produce my long crystal tubes, packed full of rags and bones
which the ignorant are pleased to think are sacred relics. See," he
said, opening his wallet, "here is a pillow-case made of Our Lady's
veil, and here a piece of the sail from the ship in which Peter
sailed before he walked on the Sea of Galilee. I have also a fine
shoulder-blade made of brass, fashioned by a Jew. That's a very
profitable possession, I can assure you.

"When I have roused people's curiosity and awe in these ways, I begin
my speech.

"'Brethren all,' I say in my fullest voice, 'behold this bone. It has
great powers. If it be washed in the water of a well, any cow, calf,
sheep or ox that drinks of that well will be cured at once of any