The Monticellonian., 1915-06-17


 coanoisseuT. Unfortunately he suffer from a morbid fear that you migh recent his coming here on aceoun Of political reasons.
 The Jesuit gave a henevelen smile.
 Surely you know Us better thar that, Sieuor Ne poor priests are no so uachaFiiable But what is the nam, of year friend
 Count Gulielmo Nesearo.
 Ah, He gave pereeptibl, start, and regarded ne eurieusly for moment Do you know anything about this geaIlemSns was all h, sad
 Nothing except what he has told ne that is to say. that he formerly Bed s commission under the holy father.
 rrus. remember the name But sAs ee&us 3s entirely mistaken He is Perfectly st NesTty to come here when sxsz Ae PaesSsS#
 T gazaked the good lathe for his PszEISssoa- which did not fail 10 co=z1aicA.s 10 Xescaro the next ssu2e VAS in his house
 lie appeared somewhat surprised 4s l.
 Thank 3ou for your kind inten- ti0as. he said stifiy. but all the same do not propose to avail myself of Monsignor Perratti's permission At least will think 1t over.
 There was nothing more to be done. and did not refer to the sub ject again Monsignor Perratti was good enough to ask me, when he found me in the museum a few days after why my friend had not come with me, but l put him off with an excuse.
 Some weeks had passed, and had forgotten all about the incident, when, as l entered the museum one after noon. 1 was met by the worthy Jesuit in state of great excitement.
 An, Excellencyl' he exclaimed. as soon as he caught sight of me, I have something to tell you which will give you the greatest delight A new treas ure has just arrived; it is a collection of ancient seals. some of them most exquisitely engraved, which Cardinal Salvatierra has presented to the pope. You must positively come and see them at once
 Charmed by his intelligence, hastened to place myself at his dis posal He led me a long way into a part of the building where 1 had never before penetrated After going through innumerable rooms, all filled witffval- uable curiosities of different kinds, we arrived at last in long deserted gal lery with bare walls. to which light was admitted by means of a skylight overhead The obscurity of the gallery was further relieved by the entire end wall being made a mirror, which re- flected back the light from the roof, All down this gallery were ranged tables. supporting the cases with glass lids usually seen in museums, and in these cases were displayed sets of coins and other interesting objects.
 But my conductor would not let me pause to examine them At the far end of the gallery-whose apparent length was increased by the mirror l have deseribed-I perceived man standing in front of one of the cases, the contents of which he appeared to be setting in order
 Ut is the cardinal himselfi' ex- claimed Monsignor Perratti We are fortunate. He is just arranging the seals
 His Eminence, with whom was already acquainted, turned around to greet me as l came up, and kindly offered to show me his famous col lection. But how can l describe these things to you? They were indeed price less One in particular. an onyx en- graved with the head of Vespasian, was one of those objects for the sake of which one commits murders.
 But my dear ambassador! You terrify me! begin to fear a tragedy. "
 Tt is nothing. You do not understand the feelings of a connoisseur. Figure to yourself how it would be if you were to behold some bulldog of unex- ampled ferocity, which you despaired of ever possessing"
 smiled but said nothing. To have attempted to undeceiye him as to my passion for bulldogs would have been to forfeit his friendship for ever and, besides. he would not have believed me.
 The ambassador continued:
 T thought l should never have torn myself away from the gallery. But the cardinal, who was all goodness, prom ised to meet me there again. and to renew his lecture on these fascinating gems. At the same time Monsignor Perratti remarked:
 You ought really to bring that poor count of yours to inspect these seals. Without doubt they would in. terest him as much as they do you
 "'The Count. who is that?' inquired Salvatierra. turning to me. explained the allusion. His Eminence at once became interested
 remember Count Vescaro very we'll indeed he said in tone oi marked cordiality. He is indeed man to whom these gems ought to be shown. There is no more accomplished judge of such things in Rome. should like you to assure him that such is my opinion. and that shall feel it a particular favor if he vii honor my little collection with visit.
 T will give him your kind mes sage. Cardinal l replied Without doubt it will remove his last seruples.
 Very good; shall expect to see him here within the next few days .tI hnmad and 4nnI ,,nr I.,.,,.. f..a1i