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EnglishI think for the last time this seasonon Thursday
evening next。 Shall I call here and take you to the church？〃
If I had followed my inclinations； I should have refused。 I feel
no sort of interest in RomayneI might even say I feel a
downright antipathy toward him。 But I have no wish to appear
insensible to the banker's kindness； and my reception at St。
Germain depends greatly on the attention I show to Mrs。
Eyrecourt's request。 So it was arranged that I should hear the
great preacherwith a mental reservation on my part； which
contemplated my departure from the church before the end of his
sermon。
But； before I see him； I feel assured of one thingespecially
after what the banker has told me。 Stella's view of his character
is the right one。 The man who has deserted her has no heart to be
touched by wife or child。 They are separated forever。
March 3。I have just seen the landlord of the hotel； he can help
me to answer one of Mrs。 Eyrecourt's questions。 A nephew of his
holds some employment at the Jesuit headquarters here； adjoining
their famous church _Il Gesu_。 I have requested the young man to
ascertain if Father Benwell is still in Romewithout mentioning
me。 It would be no small trial to my self…control if we met in
the street。
March 4。Good news this time for Mrs。 Eyrecourt； as far as it
goes。 Father Benwell has long since left Rome； and has returned
to his regular duties in England。 If he exercises any further
influence over Romayne； it must be done by letter。
March 5。I have returned from Romayne's sermon。 This double
renegadehas he not deserted his religion and his wife？has
failed to convince my reason。 But he has so completely upset my
nerves that I ordered a bottle of champagne （to the great
amusement of my friend the banker） the moment we got back to the
hotel。
We drove through the scantily lighted streets of Rome to a small
church in the neighborhood of the Piazza Navona。 To a more
imaginative man than myself； the scene when we entered the
building would have been too impressive to be described in
wordsthough it might perhaps have been painted。 The one light
in the place glimmered mysteriously from a great wax candle；
burning in front of a drapery of black cloth； and illuminating
dimly a sculptured representation； in white marble； of the
crucified Christ； wrought to the size of life。 In front of this
ghastly emblem a platform projected； also covered with black
cloth。 We could penetrate no further than to the space just
inside the door of the church。 Everywhere else the building was
filled with standing； sitting and kneeling figures； shadowy and
mysterious； fading away in far corners into impenetrable gloom。
The only sounds were the low； wailing notes of the organ；
accompanied at intervals by the muffled thump of fanatic
worshipers penitentially beating their breasts。 On a sudden the
organ ceased； the self…inflicted blows of the penitents were
heard no more。 In the breathless silence that followed； a man
robed in black mounted the black platform； and faced the
congregation。 His hair had become prematurely gray； his face was
of the ghastly paleness of the great crucifix at his side。 The
light of the candle； falling on him as he slowly turned his head；
cast shadows into the hollows of his cheeks； and glittered in his
gleaming eyes。 In tones low and trembling at first； he stated the
subject of his address。 A week since； two noteworthy persons had
died in Rome on the same day。 One of them was a woman of
exemplary piety； whose funeral obsequies had been celebrated in
that church。 The other was a criminal charged with homicide under
provocation； who had died in prison； refusing the services of the
priestimpenitent to the last。 The sermon followed the spirit of
the absolved woman to its eternal reward in heaven； and described
the meeting with dear ones who had gone before； in terms so
devout and so touching that the women near us； and even some of
the men； burst into tears。 Far different was the effect produced
when the preacher； filled with the same overpowering sincerity of
belief which had inspired his description of the joys of heaven；
traced the downward progress of the lost man； from his impenitent
death…bed to his doom in hell。 The dreadful superstition of
everlasting torment became doubly dreadful in the priest's
fervent words。 He described the retributive voices of the mother
and the brother of the murdered man ringing incessantly in the
ears of the homicide。 〃I； who speak to you； hear the voices；〃 he
cried。 〃Assassin！ assassin！ where are you？ I see himI see the
assassin hurled into his place in the sleepless ranks of the
damnedI see him； dripping with the flames that burn forever；
writhing under the torments that are without respite and without
end。〃 The climax of this terrible effort of imagination was
reached when he fell on his knees and prayed with sobs and cries
of entreatyprayed； pointing to the crucifix at his sidethat
he and all who heard him might die the death of penitent sinners；
absolved in the divinely atoning name of Christ。 The hysterical
shrieks of women rang through the church。 I could endure it no
longer。 I hurried into the street； and breathed again freely；
when I looked up at the cloudless beauty of the night sky； bright
with the peaceful radiance of the stars。
And this man was Romayne！ I had last met with him among his
delightful works of art； an enthusiast in literature； the
hospitable master of a house filled with comforts and luxuries to
its remotest corner。 And now I had seen what Rome had made of
him。
〃Yes；〃 said my companion； 〃the Ancient Church not only finds out
the men who can best serve it； but develops qualities in those
men of which they have been themselves unconscious。 The advance
which Roman Catholic Christianity has been； and is still； making
has its intelligible reason。 Thanks to the great Reformation； the
papal scandals of past centuries have been atoned for by the
exemplary lives of servants of the Church； in high places and low
places alike。 If a new Luther arose among us； where would he now
find abuses sufficiently wicked and widely spread to shock the
sense of decency in Christendom？ He would find them nowhereand
he would probably return to the respectable shelter of the Roman
sheepfold。〃
I listened； without making any remark。 To tell the truth； I was
thinking of Stella。
March 6。I have been to Civita Vecchia； to give a little
farewell entertainment to