spoke of the measures he had taken, the reproofs and threats he had
distributed.

'May I live,' breathed Petronilla, with modest emphasis, 'to see a
great, a noble, a puissant Pontiff in the Apostolic Chair!'

Whereat the deacon smiled, well understanding whither the lady
looked for her ideal Pope. She went on to speak of the part Vigilius
had played in the deposition and miserable death of his predecessor
Silverius, and that, as was too well known, at the bidding of
haughty, unscrupulous women, the Empress Theodora and her friend
Antonina, wife of Belisarius. Verily, the time had come for a great
reform at the Lateran; the time had come, and perhaps the divine
instrument was not far to seek. Whereupon Petronilla murmured
ardently, and the deacon again smiled.

There was a pause. Having permitted Leander to muse a little, his
hostess turned the conversation to the troublous topic of her
thoughts; and began by saying how her brother would esteem the
privilege of counsel and solace from one so qualified to impart
them. But alas she must make known a distressful occurrence, whereby
the office of a spiritual adviser by the bedside of Maximus must
needs be complicated and made painful; and therewith Petronilla
related the events of yesterday. As he listened, the deacon knitted
his brows, but in thought rather than in affliction; and when the
speaker was silent, he still mused awhile.

'Gracious madam,' he began at length solemnly, 'you of course hold
no intercourse with this lady?'