He narrated the Lives of the
Saints, forced him to attend Mass and confess himself to one of the
Society's trusted priests and taught him, above all things, to hate the
Government because it oppressed the Pope and the poor. One day he said:
"You must now attend evening classes. I think you will do well at our
school of the Holy Cross. Your outfit is exceptional. Among other
things you have the great advantage that the first and second fingers
of both your hands are of equal length. That augurs well! God has
favoured you, for many lads have to lengthen the first one
artificially, which is apt to weaken the joints."
The Master and Director drew good salaries from the numerous pupils at
this institution. Everything useful to young boys was taught here save
only religion. Seeing that all the scholars were drawn from families
distinguished for their piety and adherence to the Pope, the Director
considered a religious training to be superfluous--his pupils learnt
these things on their mothers' knees.
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