# II explained — Hadrian the Seventh

> Chapter companion for Hadrian the Seventh by Frederick Rolfe.

## What happens

The Conclave continues with the cardinals employing the Way of Compromise, appointing nine Cardinal-Compromissaries to elect a new pope. After multiple scrutinies and accessions, no candidate achieves the required majority, resulting in black smoke from the Vatican chimney. Private negotiations and canvassing intensify as the cardinals prepare for further votes.

## Themes in this chapter

### Power and Corruption

The cardinals engage in political maneuvering, promises, and canvassing, highlighting the worldly ambitions and compromises within the Church hierarchy.

### Religion and Hypocrisy

The contrast between the sacred ritual of electing a pope and the self-interested politicking of the cardinals underscores religious hypocrisy.

## Character check-ins

### Mariano Ragna

Disclaims personal predilection for Orezzo; becomes a key candidate with 13 votes in the first scrutiny.

### Cardinal Courtleigh

Appointed as a Compromissary; spends evening alone reading archiepiscopal correspondence and reflecting.

### Cardinal Nefski

Appointed as a Compromissary; walks with della Volta and says mattins and lauds together.

### Cardinal Gentilotto

Appointed as a Compromissary; paces galleries with Fiamma; receives 12 votes in the first scrutiny.

### Fiamma

Appointed as a Compromissary; paces with Gentilotto; receives 13 votes in the first scrutiny.

### Luigi Orezzo

Candidate with 8 votes in the first scrutiny; gains two additional votes in the second scrutiny.

### Serafino Vagellaio

Proposes the Way of Compromise; candidate with 11 votes in the first scrutiny.

### Cardinal Moccolo

Acts as Cardinal-Scrutator; draws suffrages from the chalice during the scrutiny.

## Key lines

> The cardinalitial mask is as superior (in impenetrable pachydermatosity) to that of the proverbial public-schoolboy, as is the cuticle of a crocodile to that of pulex irritans.

A cardinal's face is far more inscrutable than a schoolboy's, as a crocodile's hide is thicker than a flea's skin.

_Highlights the cardinals' practiced emotional concealment during the Conclave._

> Reading helps thought: it is as a strong arm supporting feeble steps: it is as the pinions upon which thought can fly: or it is inspiration.

Reading aids thinking, supporting weak ideas and allowing them to soar like wings.

_Reflects Cardinal Courtleigh's method of preparing for decision-making._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/chapters/ii
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/chapters