"What has he been doing ?" he asked, after a short pause.
"He has been trying to do a great deal of harm to my son and to my son's wife.

I suspect him strongly of doing harm to you." Whether Saracinesca was strictly honest in saying "you" to the Cardinal, when he meant the whole State as represented by the prime minister, is a matter not easily decided.

There is a Latin saying, to the effect that a man who is feared by many should himself fear many, and the saying is true.

The Cardinal was personally a brave man; but he knew his danger, and the memory of the murdered Rossi was fresh in his mind.

Nevertheless, he smiled blandly as he answered-- "That is rather vague, my friend.