On the dark green walls hung two engravings, one a portrait of Pius IX., the other a likeness of Leo XIII.

The Cardinal himself sat in the arm-chair, holding a newspaper spread out upon his knees.
"Good-day, Don Paolo," he said, in a pleasant, but not very musical voice.
His Eminence was a man about sixty years of age, hale and strong in appearance, but below the middle height and somewhat inclining to stoutness.

His face was round, and the complexion very clear, which, with his small and bright brown eyes, gave him a look of cheerful vitality.

Short white hair fringed his head where it was not covered by the small scarlet skull-cap.

He wore a purple cassock with scarlet buttons and a scarlet silk mantle, which fell in graceful folds over one arm of the chair.
"Good-day, Eminence," answered Don Paolo, touching the great ruby ring with his lips.