it happened to contain. As I was thus engaged I heard some one
enter an adjoining room and ask for Monsignor; after which I saw
the sacristan make a low bow to the visitor, and then another
bow as the visitor took his leave. I ventured to remind the good
man of my own business also; whereupon, with an expression of,
if anything, increased dryness, he again asked me to wait. Soon
a third visitor arrived who, like myself, had come on business
(he was an Austrian of some sort); and as soon as ever he had
stated his errand he was conducted upstairs! This made me very
angry. I rose, approached the sacristan, and told him that,
since Monsignor was receiving callers, his lordship might just
as well finish off my affair as well. Upon this the sacristan
shrunk back in astonishment. It simply passed his understanding
that any insignificant Russian should dare to compare himself
with other visitors of Monsignor's! In a tone of the utmost
effrontery, as though he were delighted to have a chance of
insulting me, he looked me up and down, and then said: "Do you
suppose that Monsignor is going to put aside his coffee for YOU?"
But I only cried the louder: "Let me tell you that I am
going to SPIT into that coffee! Yes, and if you do not get me my
passport visaed this very minute, I shall take it to Monsignor
myself."

"What? While he is engaged with a Cardinal? screeched the
sacristan, again shrinking back in horror. Then, rushing to the
door, he spread out his arms as though he would rather die than
let me enter.

Thereupon I declared that I was a heretic and a barbarian--"Je
suis heretique et barbare," I said, "and that these archbishops