_CARDINAL SPADA_
“I have arranged two interesting conferences for you,” said Kennedy, a
few days later.
“My dear man!”
“Yes; one with Cardinal Spada, the other with the Abbé Tardieu. I have
spoken to them both about you.”
“Splendid! What kind of people are they?”
“Cardinal Spada is a very intelligent man and a very amiable one. At
heart he is a Liberal and fond of the French. As to the Abbé Tardieu, he
is a very influential priest at the church of San Luigi.”
After lunch they went direct to a solitary street in the old part of
Rome. At the door of the big, sad palace where Cardinal Spada lived, a
porter with a cocked hat, a grey greatcoat, and a staff with a silver
knob, was watching the few passers-by.
They went in by the broad entry-way, as far as a dark colonnaded court,
paved with big flags which had grass between them.
In the middle of the court a fountain shot up a little way and fell into
a stone basin covered with moss.
Kennedy and Cæsar mounted the wide monumental stairway; on the first
floor a handsome glassed-in gallery ran around the court. The whole
house had an air of solemnity and sadness. They entered the Cardinal’s
office, which was a large, sad, severe room.
Monsignor Spada was a vigorous man, despite his age. He looked frank
and intelligent, but one guessed that there was a hidden bitterness and
desolation in him. He wore a black cassock with red edges and buttons.
Kennedy went close and was about to kneel to the Cardinal, but he
prevented him.
Cæsar explained his ideas to the Cardinal with modesty. He felt that
this man was worthy of all his respect.
Monsignor Spada listened attentively, and then said that he understood
nothing about financial matters, but that on principle he was in favour
of having the administration of all the Church’s property kept entirely
at home, as in the time of Pius IX. Leo XIII had preferred to replace
this paternal method by a trained bureaucracy, but the Church had not
gained anything by it, and they had lost credit through unfortunate
negotiations, buying land and taking mortgages.
Cæsar realized that it was useless to attempt to convince a man of
the intelligence and austerity of the Cardinal, and he listened to him
respectfully.
Monsignor Spada conversed amiably, he escorted them as far as the door,
and shook hands when they said good-bye.