It was Dante's
"De Monarchia."
He began to read it and soon became so absorbed that when the door opened and shut he did not hear.
He was aroused from his preoccupation by Montanelli's voice behind him.
"I did not expect you to-day," said the Padre, glancing at the title of the book. "I was just going to send and ask if you could come to me this evening."
"Is it anything important?
I have an engagement for this evening; but I will miss it if------"
"No; to-morrow will do.
I want to see you because I am going away on Tuesday.
I have been sent for to Rome."
"To Rome?
For long?"
"The letter says, 'till after Easter.'
It is from the Vatican.
I would have let you know at once, but have been very busy settling up things about the seminary and making arrangements for the new Director."
"But, Padre, surely you are not giving up the seminary?"
"It will have to be so; but I shall probably come back to Pisa, for some time at least."
"But why are you giving it up?"
"Well, it is not yet officially announced; but I am offered a bishopric."
"Padre!
Where?"
"That is the point about which I have to go to Rome.
It is not yet decided whether I am to take a see in the Apennines, or to remain here as Suffragan."
"And is the new Director chosen yet?"
"Father Cardi has been nominated and arrives here to-morrow."
"Is not that rather sudden?"
"Yes; but----The decisions of the Vatican are sometimes not communicated till the last moment."
"Do you know the new Director?"
"Not personally; but he is very highly spoken of.
Monsignor Belloni, who writes, says that he is a man of great erudition."
"The seminary will miss you terribly."
"I don't know about the seminary, but I am sure you will miss me, carino; perhaps almost as much as I shall miss you."
"I shall indeed; but I am very glad, for all that."
"Are you?
I don't know that I am."
He sat down at the table with a weary look on his face; not the look of a man who is expecting high promotion.
"Are you busy this afternoon, Arthur?" he said after a moment. "If not, I wish you would stay with me for a while, as you can't come to-night.
I am a little out of sorts, I think; and I want to see as much of you as possible before leaving."
"Yes, I can stay a bit. I am due at six."
"One of your meetings?"
Arthur nodded; and Montanelli changed the subject hastily.
"I want to speak to you about yourself," he said. "You will need another confessor in my absence."
"When you come back I may go on confessing to you, may I not?"
"My dear boy, how can you ask?
Of course I am speaking only of the three or four months that I shall be away.
Will you go to one of the Fathers of Santa Caterina?"
"Very well."
They talked of other matters for a little while; then Arthur rose.
"I must go, Padre; the students will be waiting for me."
The haggard look came back to Montanelli's face.