I would not speak evil, if I could help it, of any of Christ's Vicars; but this at least I may say--that Pope Innocent reformed a number of things that sorely needed it.

He would have no nepotism at the Papal Court; men stood or fell by their own merits: so I knew very well that my estates in France, even if they had been ten times as great, would serve me nothing at all.

He was very humble too--( he asked pardon, it was said, even of his own servants if he troubled them)--so I knew that no swashbuckling air on my part would do me anything but harm--( and, indeed, that was all laid aside, willy nilly, so soon as I came in)--since, like all humble men he esteemed the pride, even of kings, at exactly its proper worth, which is nothing at all.

He was, too, a man of great spirituality, so I knew that my having come to St.Paul's as a novice and now wishing to leave it again, would scarcely exalt me in his eyes.

I felt then a very poor creature indeed as I sat there and listened to him.
"This, then, is Master Roger Mallock," he said to my Lord Abbot, "of whom your Lordship spoke to me." "This is he, Holy Father," said my Lord.
"He has been a novice for two years then; and his superiors are not sure of his vocation ?" "Yes, Holy Father." The Pope looked again at me then, and I dropped my eyes.
"And you yourself, my son ?" he asked.
"Holy Father," I said, "I am sure that at present I have no vocation.
What God may give me in the future I do not know.