It was Manasseh who from his elevated position, intercepted the coveted token as it fell, and he immediately turned and presented it to Princess Cagliari, amid a storm of applause from the onlookers.
The princess was a beautiful woman, but at the moment of receiving this symbol of forgiveness and blessing, her face gained such a look of radiant happiness as can only be imagined on the countenance of an angel in his flight to heaven; and to her that precious leaf meant heaven indeed.

But when she turned to thank the giver he had disappeared.
"That was really grand," admitted Gabriel Zimandy, as his friend piloted him through the surging throng to the nearest cab.

"To think of the Pope's giving his blessing to an army mustered in the cause of liberty! Such a sight was never seen before." "No," returned Manasseh; "and you must make haste to push your client's cause while he is in his present good humour, which may not last." "But, surely, you don't mean that his Holiness is in any way trifling with the people, do you ?" asked the advocate.
"I am fully convinced," replied the other, "that Pio Nono is a gentle, good-hearted, upright man, and a gracious pontiff; but I also believe that, at the very first engagement, the Austrians will give the pious Durando a most unmerciful whipping.

What direction the wind will take in Rome after that, no mortal can tell.

You will do well, however, to make the most of your time while that palm-leaf is still green.".