"That is a strange remark!" he ejaculated--"Princes of the Church
there have always been since Cardinals were created; and you, being
a Cardinal and an Archbishop as well, cannot be otherwise than one
of them."

Felix Bonpre sighed.

"Still, I maintain that the term is a wrong one," he answered, "and
used in the wrong place. The Church has nothing, or should have
nothing to do with differing titles or places. The ordinary priest
who toils among his congregation day and night, scarcely resting
himself, working and praying for the spiritual welfare of others,
should to my thinking be as greatly held in honour as the bishop who
commands him and who often--so it chances--is able to do less for
our Lord than he. In things temporal, owing to the constant
injustice of man practised against his brother-man, we can seldom
attain to strict impartiality of judgment,--but in things spiritual,
there surely should be perfect equality."

"Seriously speaking, are those your views?" enquired the Archbishop,
his features expressing more and more astonishment.

"Assuredly!" responded the Cardinal gently,--"Are they not yours?
Did not the Master Himself say 'Whosoever will be chief among you,
let him be your servant'? And 'Whosoever shall exalt himself shall
be abased'? These statements are plain and true,--there is no
mistaking them."

The Archbishop was silent for a minute or so.