Secret Societies Of The Middle Ages.—Iii.

illustrated by inscriptions , and adorned by statuary . Before this huge monument , for nine days , funeral rites are performed , closed by a funeral oration . The body of the last pope , has a uniform resting place in St . Peter ' s . A plain sarcophagus , of marbled stucco , will be there seen , though hardly noticed , by the tiweller , oA'er a door beside the choir , on Avhich is simply painted the title of the latest pontiff . On

the death of his successor it is broken down at the top , the coffin is removed to the under-church , and that of the UCAV claimant for repose is substituted for it . This change takes place late in the evening , and is considered private . " In the afternoon of the last day of the novendiali as they are called , the cardinals assemble in a church near the Quirinal palace ,

and walk thence in procession , accompanied by their conckwisti * a secretary , a chaplain , aud a servant or tAvo , to the gate of that royal residence , in Avhich one will remain as master . Of course the hill is croAvded . by persons lining the avenue kept open for the procession . Cardinals never before seen by them , or not for many years , pass before them ; eager eyes scan and measure fcliemand try to conjecture

, , from fancied omens in eye , or figure , or -expression , who will be shortly the sovereign of their fair city . They all enter equal over the threshold of that gate ; perhaps to-mon-OAv one will sit enthroned , one Avill be sovereign , and the others his subjects . This is a singular and a deeply interesting moment , a scene not easily forgotten . The

conclave , as the assembled body of cardinals are called only Avhen " locked up together" for the election of a pope ( lvhen assembled for other purposes , they are called a consistory ) , used formerly to take place in the Vatican , but has been subsequently held in the Quirinal Palace . This noble building , knoivn equally by the name of Monte Cavallo , consists of a large quadrangle , round Avhich run the papa apartments . From this stretches outthe length of a whole streetan

, , immense Aving , divided in its tAvo upper floors into a great number of small but complete suites of apartments , occupied permanently or occasionally by persons attached to the court . During conclave these are allotted , literally so , to the cardinals , each of Avhom lives apart with his attendants . His food is brought daily from his own houseand is overhauled and delivered to him in the

, shape of " broken victuals , " by the Avatckful guardians of the turns and lattices , through Avhich alone anything , eA'en conversation , can penetrate into the seclusion of that retreat . For a few hours the first evening the doors are left open , and the nobility , the diplomatic body , and in fact all presentable persons may roam from cell to cell , payinoa brief compliment to its occupantperhaps speaking the same good

, Avishes to fifty Avhich they knoiv can only be accomplished in one . After that , all is closed ; a Avicket is left open for any cardinal to enter Avho has not yet arrived ; but every aperture is jealously guarded by faithful janitors , judges , and prelates , of various tribunals , who re-^ HTUr ? : ^