Is it likely?"
"Yes, Luca, I think it is likely."
With those words he waved his hand pleasantly to his brother, and
went out.
CHAPTER III.
From the studio Father Rocco went straight to his own rooms, hard
by the church to which he was attached. Opening a cabinet in his
study, he took from one of its drawers a handful of small silver
money, consulted for a minute or so a slate on which several
names and addresses were written, provided himself with a
portable inkhorn and some strips of paper, and again went out.
He directed his steps to the poorest part of the neighborhood;
and entering some very wretched houses, was greeted by the
inhabitants with great respect and affection. The women,
especially, kissed his hands with more reverence than they would
have shown to the highest crowned head in Europe. In return, he
talked to them as easily and unconstrainedly as if they were his
equals; sat down cheerfully on dirty bedsides and rickety
benches; and distributed his little gifts of money with the air
of a man who was paying debts rather than bestowing charity.
Where he encountered cases of illness, he pulled out his inkhorn
and slips of paper, and wrote simple prescriptions to be made up
from the medicine-chest of a neighboring convent, which served
the same merciful purpose then that is answered by dispensaries
in our days. When he had exhausted his money, and had got through
his visits, he was escorted out of the poor quarter by a perfect
train of enthusiastic followers.
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