Поющие в терновнике

           Itwillaffordmegreatamusementtowatchyoureffectonourshort,fatItalianprelates.Thebeautifulsleekcatamongtheplumpstartledpigeons."

           Rome!FatherRalphsatupinhischair.

           "Wasitverybad,myRalph?"theArchbishopwenton,smoothinghisberingedmilkyhandrhythmicallyacrossthesilkybackofhispurringAbyssiniancat.

           "Terrible,YourGrace."

           "Thesepeople,youhaveagreatfondnessforthem."

           "Yes."

           "Anddoyouloveallofthemequally,ordoyoulovesomeofthemmorethanothers?"

           ButFatherRalphwasatleastaswilyashismaster,andhehadbeenwithhimnowlongenoughtoknowhowhismindworked.Soheparriedthesmoothquestionwithdeceptivehonesty,atrickhehaddiscoveredlulledHisGrace’ssuspicionsatonce.Itneveroccurredtothatsubtle,deviousmindthatanoutwarddisplayoffranknessmightbemoremendaciousthananyevasion.

           "Idoloveallofthem,butasyousay,somemorethanothers.It’sthegirlMeggieIlovethemost.I’vealwaysfelthermyspecialresponsibility,becausethefamilyissoson-orientedtheyforgetsheexists."

           "HowoldisthisMeggie?"

           "I’mnotsureexactly.Oh,somewherearoundtwenty,Iimagine.ButImadehermotherpromisetoliftherheadoutofherledgerslongenoughtomakesurethegirlgottoafewdances,metafewyoungmen.She’sgoingtowasteherlifeawaystuckonDrogheda,whichisashame."

           Hespokenothingbutthetruth;theArchbishop’sineffablysensitivenosesniffeditoutatonce.