Why, the Vatican raves and scolds--and all the while, as the Prefect of Police told me only the other day, there is a whole code of signals ready between the police headquarters and a certain window of the Vatican; so that directly they want help against the populace they can call us in.

And after that function the other day--where I saw you, Mademoiselle'-- he bowed to Lucy--'one of the first things the Vatican did was to send their thanks to the Government for having protected and policed them so well.

No; Manisty is in the clouds.' He laughed good-humouredly.

'We are half acting all the time.

The Clericals must have their politics, like other people--only they call it religion.' 'But your poor starved peasants--and your corruption--and your war ?' said Lucy.
She spoke with energy, frowning a little as though something had nettled her.