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Chapter 8

Theywereallsobig,theseIrish-Australianpriests,theytoweredfarabovehim;hewassowearyofforeverhavingtotilthisheaduptoseetheirfaces.FatherdeBricassart’smannertohispresentmasterwasperfect:light,easy,respectfulbutman-to-man,fullofhumor.Howwouldheadjusttoworkingforafardifferentmaster?ItwascustomarytoappointtheLegatalsecretaryfromtheranksoftheItalianChurch,butFatherRalphdeBricassartheldgreatinterestfortheVatican.Notonlydidhehavethecuriousdistinctionofbeingpersonallyrich(contrarytopopularopinion,hissuperiorswerenotempoweredtotakehismoneyfromhim,andhehadnotvolunteeredtohanditover),buthehadsingle-handedlybroughtagreatfortuneintotheChurch.SotheVaticanhaddecidedthattheArchbishopPapalLegatewastotakeFatherdeBricassartashissecretary,tostudytheyoungmanandfindoutexactlywhathewaslike.

OnedaytheHolyFatherwouldhavetorewardtheAustralianChurchwithacardinal’sbiretta,butitwouldnotbeyet.ThereforeitwasuptohimtostudypriestsinFatherdeBricassart’sagegroup,andoftheseFatherdeBricassartwasclearlytheleadingcandidate.Sobeit.LetFatherdeBricassarttryhismettleagainstanItalianforawhile.Itmightbeinteresting.Butwhycouldn’tthemanhavebeenjustalittlesmaller?