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The cardinal departed, saying, "May the blessing of Heaven rest

on this house!"

That evening he asked the curate in what way it would be best to

indemnify the tailor, who could not be rich, for his hospitality.

The curate replied, that truly neither the profits of his trade,

nor his income from some little fields that the good tailor

possessed, would at this time have enabled him to be liberal to

others; but from having saved something the few years previous,

he was one of the most easy in circumstances in the district;

that he could allow himself to exercise some hospitality without

inconvenience, and that he would do it with pleasure; and that he

was confident he would be hurt if money was offered to him.

"He has probably," said the cardinal, "some demands on people who

are unable to pay."

"You may judge, my lord; the poor people pay with the overplus of

the harvest; this year there has been no overplus; on the

contrary, every one is behind in point even of necessities."