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Here the mistress of the house entered the room with her husband:

perceiving their guests engaged in conversation, they

respectfully retired to a distant part of the apartment. The

cardinal bowed to them courteously, and continued the

conversation with Lucy and her mother. He mixed with the

consolation he offered many enquiries, hoping to find from their

answers some way of rendering them still farther services after

their sufferings.

"It is a pity all the clergy were not like your lordship, and

then they would take the part of the poor, and not help to bring

them into difficulty for the sake of drawing themselves out of

it," said Agnes, encouraged by the familiar and affable manner of

Frederick, and vexed that Don Abbondio, after having sacrificed

others to his own selfishness, should dare to forbid her making

the least complaint to one so much above him, when by so

fortunate a chance the occasion presented itself.

"Say all that you think," said the cardinal; "speak freely."