"Has Your Holiness considered," said the Red Pope, "that most of the treasures are consecrated to the service of the Church?"
"Yes. We also have considered that the Church exists for the service of God in His creatures: that She does not serve either by keeping pretty and costly things shut-up in cupboards: that the Church which set these things apart by consecration, also can restore them to usefulness by desecration. Technically things consecrate can become desecrate by tapping them with intent to desecrate: We soon will descend to the treasury; and will tap all the sacred things into gems and bullion."
"That can be done;" the Cardinal-Prefect of Propaganda said. His heart pulled him one way: heredity and ecclesiastical prejudice, the other.
"There is one thing which I think it right to mention," put in della Volta: "the present officials of the treasury, and the buildings:—what will become of them?"
"The officials will continue to enjoy the stipends of their benefices. They will have other and more useful occupation than the furbishing of plate provided for them. As for the building—when the cupboards are empty they will be removed; and, the treasury being no longer there, the building will remain the sacristy."
"I should like to get a word in edgeways if I may;" said Semphill. "Doesn't Your Holiness think that the Italian Government will interfere? Isn't there some law which prevents works-of-art from going out of Italy?"
"We should like to see the Italian Government interfere with Us:" Hadrian responded with a strong and illuminating smile. "The Italian Government is neither a Fenian nor a fool."
"No, but——" the cardinal pursued.
"Your Eminency need fear no opposition from that quarter."