THE FOOL ERRANT - World eBook Library - World Public Library

some of which are no doubt open to you. Only scandal can ensue these kind of practices."
I was highly indignant, as who would not have been? "Upon my word, sir," I exclaimed, "if a sinner may not proclaim, his
repentance so near the throne of pardon, nor a faithful believer record his sincerity within this shadow of the truth—-"
"Such excesses as you use," he stopped me, "savour of private conscience following its own bent. The Church is distrustful of
such excursions. That crucifix which you carry, for instance—-"
I clasped it with fervour. "Ah, it is my passport!"
"Sovereigns and rulers of States," said the officer, "will require more particulars, and so, for that matter, will the police of
Bologna. This is useless for any such purpose, and your pretence only adds urgency to my desire of you. I don't wish to be
severe with you. I ask you in a friendly and reasonable way to give me the crucifix."
"Never," said I. "Without it I am lost to Tuscany."
"With it," replied the officer, "you are lost to the world for some time. This indecent profession of opinion—What! a wooden
cross as big as a dagger! Give it to me at once, and follow me to the tribunal of the police."
I confess that I grew cold before such irrational tyranny. "You are going the way to work, sir," I said, "to make me an atheist. I
shall yield only to force."
Vain protest! "Have it as you will," said the officer, and signed to the sbirri, who came forward at once, cleaving the crowd with
their drawn swords. "This young man is illuminated," said the officer; "take him to the tribunal, and look into his papers." I saw
that submission was my only course, and took it. The police led me away.
A much more severe scrutiny of my miserable passport than had taken place at Ferrara followed upon this. Nothing but the
"assured manner" of Issachar was allowed to stand up for me. My nose was fatally straight, my hair fatally out of curl. I was
asked was I a Jew? and had I dared to pretend it, I know not to what extremes they might not have proceeded. But I had
never learned to lie; I admitted at once that I had bought the passport. Instant action was taken upon this. My crucifix was
burnt, the passport confiscated. I was given six hours in which to leave Bologna, and did not take three. I departed in a
towering rage, which perhaps did me good, and devoured the leagues between the city and the mountains at a pace which I am
sure did me credit. The lengthening shadows of these engulfed and sobered me. Late at night I reached a village at the foot of
the mountains, whose name I don't know, and sought out the only inn the place boasted—if any place could have been assured
enough to boast of so miserable a shelter. By this time I had walked off my fury and a great part of my piety. I shall only add of
Bologna, which I have never revisited, that, if it is the duty of a city of the Church to freeze the faith out of the heart of a son of
the Church, then that haughty seat may boast of having fulfilled it.
My inn was full of French and Savoyard soldiers, recruiting, it was evident, for their cause or their pockets. War was said to be
threatening between the Holy See and the Grand Duchy: these were the Pope's allies, roaring, drinking, carding, wenching, and
impressing all travellers who could not pay their way out. Saturnian revels! The landlord was playing Bacchus, much against his
will; the landlady and a tattered maid were Venus and Hebe by turns; for my own part, shunning to be Ganymede, I slunk into
an outhouse and shared its privacy with some scared fowls and a drover of the Garfagnana, who, taking me at first for a crimp,
ran at me gibbering with a knife. I pacified him, luckily, before it was too late, and crouched with him until daylight, expecting
discovery at every outcry. Not until then did the house seem asleep. But about cockcrow there was a silence as of the dead,
and that time was judged favourable by my companion-in-hiding to get clear away. Knife in mouth he crept out of cover and
went tiptoe by the house. The poor fellow was crimped at the corner by some wakeful sentry and tied up to fight the Grand
Duke. So I stayed with the fowls until the maid came in for a victim, which was to supply the lieutenant's breakfast.
Here was my chance. "Madam," says I, and the girl gave a little shriek. Being desperate, I put an arm round her waist and
covered her mouth with my hand.
"Madam," I said courteously, "I deplore the necessity of laying violence upon you, but pray you to believe, if you can, in my
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