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Thus speaking, the pope slightly nodded an adieu to the cardinal, and

withdrew into his study, the door of which he carefully closed after

hi heard to walk the room with measured steps Then all

was still No one ventured to disturb him Hours passed Lorenzo, with

a fearful presentiment, knelt before the door He laid his ear to the

keyhole and tried to listen All was still within, nothing stirred

At length he ventured to call the pope's name--at first low and

tremulously, then louder and more anxiously, and as no ansas

received, he at last ventured to open the door

At his writing-table sat the pope; his face deadly pale, with staring

eyes and great drops of perspiration on his forehead Iht hand, which held a pen, resting on a parche of wax, so stiff, so n of the cross upon his brow Then, noiselessly

advancing, he tianelli shuddered, and a slight tre breath, and, casting a dull glance at his faithful

friend, said: "Lorenzo, let my coffin be ordered, and pray for ned ned

the decree abolishing the order of the Jesuits! I must therefore

die, Lorenzo It is all over and past with our shady place and our

recreations Myaround ned my death-sentence!"