CHAPTER IV.
The Proposal--The Scotch Novel--Latitude--Miracles--Pestilent Heretics--Old Fraser--Wonderful Texts--No Armenian.
The man in black having helped himself to some more of his favourite beverage, and tasted it, I thus addressed him: "The evening is getting rather advanced, and I can see that this lady," pointing to Belle, "is anxious for her tea, which she prefers to take cosily and comfortably with me in the dingle: the place, it is true, is as free to you as to ourselves, nevertheless, as we are located here by necessity, whilst you merely come as a visitor, I must take the liberty of telling you that we shall be glad to be alone, as soon as you have said what you have to say, and have finished the glass of refreshment at present in your hand.

I think you said some time ago that one of your motives for coming hither was to induce me to enlist under the banner of Rome.

I wish to know whether that was really the case ?" "Decidedly so," said the man in black; "I come here principally in the hope of enlisting you in our regiment, in which I have no doubt you could do us excellent service." "Would you enlist my companion as well ?" I demanded.
"We should be only too proud to have her among us, whether she comes with you or alone," said the man in black, with a polite bow to Belle.
"Before we give you an answer," I replied, "I would fain know more about you; perhaps you will declare your name ?" "That I will never do," said the man in black; "no one in England knows it but myself, and I will not declare it, even in a dingle; as for the rest, _Sono un Prete Cattolico Appostolico_--that is all that many a one of us can say for himself, and it assuredly means a great deal." "We will now proceed to business," said I.

"You must be aware that we English are generally considered a self-interested people." "And with considerable justice," said the man in black, drinking.

"Well, you are a person of acute perception, and I will presently make it evident to you that it would be to your interest to join with us.