The Argosy — page 298: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Al freak of fortune. 281 woods in the direction of the house, what, ef a truth, could be no other than Pius, Dominus noster, himself ! What became of the farmacista and his banner ; what became of the Arciprete ; I know not. I only know that Zuccone, waking up to the occasion, seized, in a wild, inconsistent Italian frenzy, upon a broom, and began sweeping the dusty brick-floor of the great vestibule, so that the whole house was filled with a cloud of dust. ‘There was a sudden tumult, for all had at once become aware of the fact that the august cortége was not only advancing towards the town, but was making a divergence directly to the villa. Whilst Zuccone swept, and whilst dust rose up everywhere in clouds, I rushed into the garden. Snatching at every green leaf and twig, and every remaining autumn flower, I rushed back again and flung them broad-cast over floor aud furniture, and then woke up to the fact that I was in my morning cap and dressing-gown, that the pontifical officers of the household, the pontifical medico, and no less than five cardinals on horseback, each attended by his own servant, were in the courtyard, heralding in the great coach with its four horses: Holy Father sitting smiling within the coach, and attendants on horseback behind. I could not take it allin at a glance. But one thing I saw plain enough in the midst of it all: my miserable donkey, with Fritz on his back—impatient to be once more eating his green grass at home—now pushing his way, spite of all the poor lad’s efforts to hold him back, at the head of the august procession. ~ | The next thing I saw was Zuccone, who had flung away his broom, and in his hurry pushed me aside also, kneeling at the open carriage door, from which his Holiness was alighting, in his pure white dress, assisted by the Bishop of Tusculum. The next moment, with mar- vellous presence of mind, assuming that all this honour was out of respect to himself and his house, Zuccone, seizing me by the wrist, drew me forward and presented me as the Signora Giulia. Holy Father, who was in the best of humours, smiled at this, and, holding out his hand to me to be kissed, said, “‘ Conosco bene Signora Giulia” (I know the Signora Giulia very well): whilst Monsignor Oliver whis- pered in my ear: “ You see that the wishes of a pious daughter are not disregarded.” His Holiness ascended the steps to the house, and entered the ves- tibule. As his tastes are simple ; and he has always had, even in his saddest experiences, a keen sense of humour; he smiled as he looked round and perceived the hurried show of decorative order which sought to veil the general disorder; the dust not yet laid. He fairly laughed out when he saw the troubled countenance of my-p oor Fritz, who was now at my side, and graciously sought to reassure him by a little joke about Balaam and his ass. It was now intimated to Zuccone that his Holiness, according to COnniiclooolks (SO)