Consequently there was
considerable scandal and consternation when the youthful Vespaluus
appeared one day at a Court function with a rosary tucked into his
belt, and announced in reply to angry questionings that he had
decided to adopt Christianity, or at any rate to give it a trial.
If it had been any of the other nephews the king would possibly
have ordered something drastic in the way of scourging and
banishment, but in the case of the favoured Vespaluus he
determined to look on the whole thing much as a modern father
might regard the announced intention of his son to adopt the stage
as a profession. He sent accordingly for the Royal Librarian.
The royal library in those days was not a very extensive affair,
and the keeper of the king's books had a great deal of leisure on
his hands. Consequently he was in frequent demand for the
settlement of other people's affairs when these strayed beyond
normal limits and got temporarily unmanageable.
"'You must reason with Prince Vespaluus,' said the king, 'and
impress on him the error of his ways. We cannot have the heir to
the throne setting such a dangerous example.'
"'But where shall I find the necessary arguments?' asked the
Librarian.
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