Поющие в терновнике

           WhenIdidsoIfounditcontainedafreshwill."

           "Marymadeanewwill?Withoutme?"

           "Itwouldappearso.Ithinkitwassomethingshehadbeenmullingforalongtime,butastowhyshechosetobesosecretiveaboutit,Idon’tknow."

           "Doyouhaveitwithyounow,Father?"

           "Yes."Thepriestreachedinsidehisshirtandhandedoverthesheetsofpaper,foldedsmall.

           Thelawyerhadnocompunctionaboutreadingthemonthespot.Whenhefinishedhelookedup,andtherewasagreatdealinhiseyesFatherRalphwouldrathernothaveseen.Admiration,anger,acertaincontempt.

           "Well,Father,congratulations!Yougotthelotafterall."Hecouldsayit,notbeingaCatholic.

           "Believeme,Harry,itcameasabiggersurprisetomethanitdoestoyou."

           "Thisistheonlycopy?"

           "AsfarasIknow,yes."

           "Andshegaveittoyouaslateaslastnight?"

           "Yes."

           "Thenwhydidn’tyoudestroyit,makesurepooroldPaddygotwhat’srightfullyhis?TheChurchhasnorighttoMaryCarson’spossessionsatall."

           Thepriest’sfineeyeswerebland."Ah,butthatwouldn’thavebeenfitting,Harry,woulditnow?ItwasMary’sproperty,todisposeofinanymannershewished."

           "IshalladvisePaddytocontest."

           "Ithinkyoushould."

           Andonthatnotetheyparted.BythetimeeveryonearrivedinthemorningtoseeMaryCarsonburied,thewholeofGillanboneandallpointsofthecompassarounditwouldknowwherethemoneywasgoing.Thediewascast,therecouldbenoturningback.