His Reverence never found himself in the odious dilemma of either
taking it or leaving it, for the lady was wise enough not to divulge so
ignoble a proposition.
But now, while the good priest uttered a few parting platitudes of
condolence, the other was revolving in his mind how negotiations--direct
negotiations, this time--could be opened up. He needed fifteen pounds;
well, one might be able to do a little juggling with the Club money for
that part of the business. It was necessary, above all, to devise some
means whereby the Nicaraguan Government might be induced to keep him at
his old post. Here was Torquemada. How could the fellow be turned to
account?
"The Nuncio!" he suddenly thought. A Catholic republic like Nicaragua
was sure to have a Papal Nuncio whatever that might be; and if he
became a convert to the official faith of that country, the Nuncio
would be delighted and might whisper in the ear of the President a few
words commending his act and requesting that so good a servant of the
Church should not be despoiled of his post.
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