canvassed one night the Cardinals, speaking to each man singly as if he did so only to himself. His language was that it would be gratifying as well as proper that Cueva, who, he said, could never be elected, should have the honour of the testimony of respect involved in the vote of the particular Cardinal whom he was addressing. The vote would be a barren, but yet a pleasing distinction, he averred. By such representations, cunningly addressed singly to each Cardinal, Torres had actually got the promise of thirty-two votes out of the thirty-four in Conclave, and was inwardly chuckling over the astonishment which would follow on the opening of the ballot-box, when the trick is said to have been defeated by Cardinal Capo di Ferro accidentally asking his neighbour for whom he was about to vote, and being told for Cueva, to pay him a compliment at Torres' suggestion. Still seventeen votes had already been given in his favour before the exposure of the trick.
An interesting narrative is preserved[1] of the election of MarcelIus II. by a Conclavist of
- ↑ In a letter without signature and without address, in 3d volume of the Lettere di Principi, Venice, 1581. Moroni ascribes it to Atanagi on authority not stated.
