“One certainly wonders,” said Cæsar, “if Saint Peter’s is not one of the buildings in the worst taste that exist in the world.”
They got out in front of the steps.
“Your friend is probably well up on archeological matters?” asked Cæsar.
“Who? Don Justo? Not in the least.”
Cæsar began to laugh, went up the steps ahead of the others, lifted the leather curtain, and they all three went into Saint Peter’s. THERE IS NO PERFORMANCE
Cæsar began his explanations with the plan of the church. The Canon passed his hand over all the stones and kept saying:
“This is marble too,” and adding, “How expensive!”
“Do you like this, Don Calixto?” Cæsar asked.
“What a question, man!”
“Well, it is obviously very rich and very sumptuous, but it must give a fanatic coming here from far away the same feeling a person gets when he has a cold and asks for a hot drink and is given a glass of iced orgeat.”