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           ThechancetogetoutofGillanboneandperpetualobscurity,thechancetotakehisplacewithinthehierarchyofChurchadministration,theassuredgoodwillofhispeersandsuperiors.Andallwhilehewasstillyoungenoughtomakeupthegroundhehadlost.MaryCarsonhadmadeGillanbonetheepicenteroftheArchbishopPapalLegate’smapwithavengeance;thetremorswouldreachasfarastheVatican.RichthoughtheChurchwas,thirteenmillionpoundswasthirteenmillionpounds.Nottobesneezedat,evenbytheChurch.Andhiswasthesolehandwhichbroughtitintothefold,hishandacknowledgedinblueinkinMaryCarson’sownwriting.HeknewPaddywouldnevercontestthewill;sohadMaryCarson,Godrother.Oh,certainlyPaddywouldbefurious,wouldneverwanttoseehimagainorspeaktohimagain,buthischagrinwouldn’textendtolitigation.

           Wasthereadecision?Didn’thealreadyknow,hadn’theknownthemomenthereadherwillwhathewasgoingtodo?Thetearshaddried.WithhisusualgraceFatherRalphgottohisfeet,madesurehisshirtwastuckedinallthewayround,andwenttothedoor.HemustgettoGilly,pickupasoutaneandvestments.ButfirsthewantedtoseeMaryCarsonagain.

           Inspiteoftheopenwindowsthestenchhadbecomeareekingfug;nohintofabreezestirredthelimpcurtains.Withsteadytreadhecrossedtothebedandstoodlookingdown.Theflyeggswerebeginningtohatchmaggotsinallthewetpartsofherface,ballooninggasespuffedupherfatarmsandhandstogreenishblobs,herskinwasbreakingdown.