The Dermott news., 1915-06-17

extremes of dignity and urbanit i, When 1t pleased him he could be tC most fascinating of companions. r. other moments his frown struck H.. death.
 T advanced trembling. and knelt respectfully before his holiness. who was surrounded by a gorgeous suite. As soon as he had received my formal homage. and had inquired after the health of the French president, the pope dismissed everybody except Sal vaterra. He then commanded me to rise. and addressed me:
 "l have sent for your Excellency, he said. not in your capacity as Am bassador of France. but in that of a son of the Church. 1 have been in- formed that you were an acquaintance of a certain man called Count Guliel- mo Vescaro. and I have believed 1t possible that you may be uneasy Tn your mind with regard to his fate. Am I right in this?
 "I bowed, and darted look at Sal vatierra. But his Eminence remained without any sign of consciousness. The Holy Father proceeded: "l have, therefore, determined to give you certain information which, as a loyal Catholic, you will know how to respect To begin with. have you been told that the man Vescaro was formerly an officer in my serviceY
 T bowed once more.
 Do you know how he came to quit my service. and to be in receipt of q pension from the king of Sardin- ia. who styles himself king of Italy!
 I do not. your Holiness. Tt is that which l desire to tell you. You are familiar with the cir cumstances under which the king ob- tained possession of the city of Rome. which has belonged to the Holy Sec | for 300 years The moment the gar l rison of your brave countrymen was withdrawn in consequence of the mis- fortunes of the year 1870 the brigands employed by Victor Emmanuel marched against my territories. In the exercise of my rights as sov- ereign. resolved to resist them. and 1 ordered my troops to defend the gates Of Rome. Nescaro was that one of my officers iu whom l placed the greatest confidence. and assigned to him the most important post. the Porta del popolo Under him was a lieutenant. by name Andrea Chigt, n cadet of one of the most illustrious Roman families.
 These two officers. with theii' men. were on duty when the advance guard Of the enemy appeared in front ot the gate. Chigi demanded the word to fire. Nescaro refused to give 1t and at once proposed to hoist the white flag in token Of surrender Enraged at this eoWardiee. Gh6si turned 10 the men 10 invite them 10 fire. when Yes caro. drawing his sword, ran the bravo young man through the heart Tho next moment the white hag was hoistod the Sardtntan troops entered Rome without a shot having been fired. and the dumtnlons of the Holy See were reduced to this palace
 Directly afterwards it was dis covered that Nescaro's conduct was uremcdttated He had accepted hribe from the Sardinian government to betray my capital into their hands
 There was solemn silence for few moments Then the pope spoke again:
 We have lost Rome. but within these walls the pope is still soy- ereign. Immediately after the events have referred to. l constituted a tribunal to judge Vescaro. and he was summoned 10 take his trial He re- fused to come, and from the nature of his offense could not require the usurping government 10 hand him over 10 me The process was therefore ad- journed. till such time as Vescaro should place himself within the iuris- diction of the court.
 This occurred the other day. He entered my territory of his own ac' cord. and was duly arrested, certain precautions being taken to avoid pro- voking scandal, and 10 give the Sar. dinian government no excuse to inter fere. NesCaro was at once brought to trial. an advocate was assigned to him. such of the witnesses as are sull living were produced. and he was pro- nounced guilty of treason. murder, and desertion on the field The crime was secular one. and the sentence was executed. after Vescaro had made full confession and admitted the jus tice of his doom.
 Is there anything =, these pro- ceedings which you can complain of as irregular?
 Nothing. your Holiness.
 His manner all at once changed. He addressed Cardinal Salyatierra:
 Cardinal. we have had enough of punishments now let us speak of re- wards What does a man deserve who. when he finds himself in pos session of the most dreadful proofs against prince of the Church. instead of bruiting his suspicious abroad. goes to the man he Is obliged to suspect,
 Ia.