At all events, Pierre thought that the Cardinal, although not a member of the Congregation of the Index, might well give him some good advice, and possibly bring his great influence to bear on his colleagues.
The young man straightway betook himself to the Palace of the Propaganda, where he knew he would find the Cardinal.

This palace, which is seen from the Piazza di Spagna, is a bare, massive corner pile between two streets.
And Pierre, hampered by his faulty Italian, quite lost himself in it, climbing to floors whence he had to descend again, and finding himself in a perfect labyrinth of stairs, passages, and halls.

At last he luckily came across the Cardinal's secretary, an amiable young priest, whom he had already seen at the Boccanera mansion.

"Why, yes," said the secretary, "I think that his Eminence will receive you.

You did well to come at this hour, for he is always here of a morning.