This book was not written out of malice or love of scandal. It was conceived in a spirit of impartiality, animated by the wish to draw attention to the discrepancy existing between the noble and sublime teaching of Christ and the practice of His disciples. Dr. Rappoport endeavored to show the important part played by the favorites of the Popes, those Popes who preached abstinence and contempt for women, upon the history of the Vatican and Christianity. While exposing the intrigues of the Papal Court, he did not hesitate to do justice to the Popes who were worthy Vicars of Christ. In the result, he hoped that the reader animated by a sense of justice would find no cause of offense in this book, for he meant none. Illustrated.