THE THREE CITIES



ROME



BY

EMILE ZOLA



TRANSLATED BY ERNEST A. VIZETELLY



PART V



XIV

THAT evening, when Pierre emerged from the Borgo in front of the Vatican,
a sonorous stroke rang out from the clock amidst the deep silence of the
dark and sleepy district. It was only half-past eight, and being in
advance the young priest resolved to wait some twenty minutes in order to
reach the doors of the papal apartments precisely at nine, the hour fixed
for his audience.