What can you answer, my son ?" "Holy Father," Benedetto said calmly, "the Spirit is answering for me in your heart." The Pontiff fixed his eyes on him, in great astonishment; but he was not only astonished, he was also much troubled; for it was as if Benedetto had read in his soul.

A slight flush coloured his face.
"Explain your meaning," he said.
"God has allowed me to read in your heart that you do not believe any of these accusations." At these words of Benedetto's, the Pope knit his brows slightly.
"Now Your Holiness is thinking that I arrogate to myself a miraculous clairvoyance.No.It I is something which I see in your face, which I hear in your voice; poor, common, man that I am!" "Perhaps you know who has recently visited me ?" the Pope exclaimed.
He had summoned to Rome the parish priest of Jenne, and had questioned him concerning Benedetto.

The priest, finding a Pope to his liking, a Pope who differed vastly from those two zealots who had intimidated him at Jenne, had seized the opportunity of thus easily making his peace with his own conscience, and had shown his remorse by praising and re-praising.

Benedetto knew naught of this.
"No," he answered, "I do not know." The Pontiff was silent; but his face, his hands, his whole person betrayed lively anxiety.

Presently he leaned back in his great chair, let his head sink upon his breast, stretched out his arms, and rested his hands, side by side, on the little table.