"Perfectly, your eminence," he said. "I quite understand."

"It must be in my hands in ten days," said the cardinal.

"Ten days!" exclaimed Testolini; "impossible."

"What is that strange word?" said the cardinal; "it must be a vulgarism
of New Italy, that 'impossible.' I do not like it and I will thank you
not to use it again when speaking to me. In ten days, Signore."

"Yes, your eminence," said Testolini, "but it will be in the afternoon."

"In ten days," said the cardinal, very quietly.

"Yes, your eminence," said Testolini.

"He looks like Napoleon," whispered the head clerk to his neighbor.

The cardinal went limping down the shop. He had almost reached the door
when he stopped and spoke to a little man who stood behind the show-case
in which are the enamels.

"Ah, Signore!" he exclaimed, "how come on the wife and baby? I meant to
see them this afternoon, but I was diverted. I wish you to continue the
same diet for them--take this"--and he fumbled in his pocket, but drew a
blank.

"Signor Testolini," he said to the master at his heels, "I find I have
no money. Kindly loan me fifty lire. Here," he said to the little man,
and he slipped the money into his hand, "plenty of milk for the child;"