"Without doubt," said the Cardinal.
"Well--? What can one do?"
The Cardinal looked grave.
"One can pray," he said.
"Emilia and I pray for his conversion night and morning."
"That is good," he approved.
"But that is surely not enough?"
"One can have Masses said."
"Monsignor Langshawe, at the castle, says a Mass for him twice
a week."
"That is good," approved the Cardinal.
"But is that enough?"
"Why doesn't Monsignor Langshawe call upon him--cultivate his
acquaintance--talk with him--set him thinking?" the Cardinal
enquired.
"Oh, Monsignor Langshawe!" Beatrice sighed, with a gesture.
"He is interested in nothing but geology--he would talk to him
of nothing but moraines--he would set him thinking of nothing
but the march of glaciers."
"Hum," said the Cardinal.
"Well, then--?" questioned Beatrice.
"Well, then, Carissima, why do you not take the affair in hand
yourself?"
"But that is just the difficulty. What can I what can a mere
woman--do in such a case?"
The Cardinal looked into his amethyst, as a crystal-gazer into
his crystal; and the lines about his humorous old mouth
deepened and quivered.
"I will lend you the works of Bellarmine in I forget how many
volumes. You can prime yourself with them, and then invite
your heretic to a course of instructions."
"Oh, I wish you would n't turn it to a joke," said Beatrice.
"Bellarmine--a joke!" exclaimed the Cardinal. "It is the first
time I have ever heard him called so. However, I will not
press the suggestion."
"But then--? Oh, please advise me seriously. What can I do?
What can a mere unlearned woman do?"
The Cardinal took snuff. He gazed into his amethyst again,
beaming at it, as if he could descry something deliciously
comical in its depths. He gave a soft little laugh. At last
he looked up.
"Well," he responded slowly, "in an extremity, I should think
that a mere unlearned woman might, if she made an effort, ask
the heretic to dinner. I 'll come down and stay with you for a
day or two, and you can ask him to dinner."
"You're a perfect old darling," cried Beatrice, with rapture.
"He'll never be able to resist you."' "Oh, I 'm not undertaking to discuss theology with him," said
the Cardinal. "But one must do something in exchange for a
couple of hundred lire--so I'll come and give you my moral
support."