“That is because you are ignorant,” said the priest roughly.

Manuel raised his grave blue eyes and fixed them steadily upon him.

“That may be,” he said, “Yet I think it is nowhere written in the Gospel that Christ cared for the world’s wealth or the world’s possessions.  When they are offered to Him did he not say, ’Get thee behind me, Satan’!  The only gem he prized was the ’pearl of great price,’—­the pure and perfect human soul.”

“The Church is the manufactory of those pearls,” said the priest, with something between a grin and a sneer.

“Then the Church needs no other jewels” returned Manuel quietly, with a little gesture of his hand, “These glittering baubles you show, are out of place.”

The priest glanced him over with angry contempt.  Then he said to the Cardinal,

“Your Eminence will have trouble with that boy,” he said.  “His opinions are heretic.”

The Cardinal smiled a little.

“You think so?  Nay, there is something of truth in what he says, notwithstanding his simplicity of utterance, which is not perhaps in accordance with convention.  I confess that I share his opinions somewhat.  Certainly I esteem myself happy that in my far-off diocese there are none of the world’s precious things, but only the unprized prayers of the faithful.”

The priest said nothing in reply,—­but he was conscious of discomfort and uneasiness, and hurried through the rest of his duties with an ill-grace, annoyed, though he knew not why, by the very presence of Manuel.  The boy, however, paid no heed to his angry glances, and noted everything in his own quiet meditative way,—­a way which was a singularly winning one, graced as it was by an almost scholarly thoughtfulness united to the charm of youth.  Once, before a magnificent priest’s garment of lace, he paused, and touched the substance lightly.

“See,” he said softly, looking wistfully up in the Cardinal’s face, “See all the leaves and rosebuds worked in, this by the needle,—­and think how many human eyes have strained at it, and grown dull and blind over it!  If one could only believe that the poor eyes were comforted at all in the following of the difficult thread!—­but no,- -the sunshine must have lessened and the days grown darker and darker, till death came and gently shut up the lids of the tired orbs of earthy vision, and opened those of the soul to Light indeed!  This work speaks with a thousand tongues!  I can hear them!  Torture,- -poverty,—­pain,—­pitilessness,—­long hours,—­scant reward,—­tired fingers,—­weary hearts!—­and a priest of Christ wears this to perform Christ’s service!  Clad in a garment of human suffering, to preach mercy!  Is it not strange?”

“You think too deeply, my child,” said the Cardinal, moved by the tender pity in Manual’s voice, “Nothing is accomplished without pain in this world,—­our dear Lord Himself suffered pain.”

“True,” said Manuel, “But His pain was endured that there might be less of it for others!  He asked His children in this world to love one another for His sake—­not to grind each other down!  Not to make unnecessary hardships for each other!  But it seems as if He had asked in vain!”