His first position, that the Vicar of Christ ought to follow the example of his master, who had neither court nor kingdom, nor where to lay his head, is upset at once by the _argumentum ad hominem_, that, according to the same rule, every believer ought to get crucified.

No escape from this dilemma presenting itself to our friend D's devout but feeble mind, X follows up the assault, by asking him, as a _deductio ad absurdum_, whether he should like to see the Pope in sandals like St Peter.

The catechumen falls into the trap at once; flares up at the idea of such degradation being inflicted on the "Master of kings and Father of the faithful;" and asks indignantly if, for a "touch of Italianita," he is to be suspected of having "washed away his baptism from his brow." Henceforth great D, after "Charles Reade's" style, becomes little d.

Logically speaking, it is all over with him.

If the Pope be the master of kings, he must by analogy have the rights of a master, liberty to instruct and power to correct.