Поющие в терновнике

           Afterhehadwatchedtheyoungpriestandhisappointedwatchdoggofromtheroom,FatherRalphgotupfromhisdeskandwalkedthroughtoaninnerchamber.ArchbishopClunyDarkwassittinginhiscustomarychair,andatrightanglestohimanothermaninpurplesashandskullcapsatquietly.TheArchbishopwasabigman,withashockofbeautifulwhitehairandintenselyblueeyes;hewasavitalsortoffellow,withakeensenseofhumorandagreatloveofthetable.Hisvisitorwasquitetheantithesis;smallandthin,afewsparsestrandsofblackhairaroundhisskullcapandbeneaththemanangular,asceticface,asallowskinwithaheavybeardshadow,andlargedarkeyes.Inagehemighthavebeenanywherebetweenthirtyandfifty,butinactualfacthewasthirty-nine,threeyearsolderthanFatherRalphdeBricassart.

           "Sitdown,Father,haveacupoftea,"saidtheArchbishopheartily."Iwasbeginningtothinkwe’dhavetosendforafreshpot.Didyoudismisstheyoungmanwithasuitableadmonitiontomendhisconduct?"

           "Yes,YourGrace,"saidFatherRalphbriefly,andseatedhimselfinthethirdchairaroundtheteatable,loadedwithwafer-thincucumbersandwiches,pinkandwhiteicedfairycakes,hotbutteredsconeswithcrystaldishesofjamandwhippedcream,asilverteaserviceandAynsleychinacupswashedwithadelicatecoatingofgoldleaf.

           "Suchincidentsareregrettable,mydearArchbishop,butevenwewhoareordainedthepriestsofOurDearLordareweak,all-too-humancreatures.