Поющие в терновнике

           TheChurchhadplacesforambitiousmen,asdidallgreatandself-perpetuatinginstitutions.RumorhaditthatFatherRalphhadcheatedtheseClearyshepurportedtolovesomuchoutoftheirrightfulinheritance.Ifindeedhehad,hewaswellworthhangingonto.AndhowthosewonderfulblueeyeshadblazedwhenhementionedRome!Perhapsitwastimehetriedanothergambit.Hepokedforwardaconversationalpawnlazily,buthiseyesunderhoodedlidswereverykeen.

           "IhadnewsfromtheVaticanwhileyouwereaway,Ralph,"hesaid,shiftingthecatslightly."MySheba,youareselfish;youmakemylegsnumb."

           "Oh?"FatherRalphwassinkingdowninhischair,andhiseyeswerehavingahardtimestayingopen.

           "Yes,youmaygotobed,butnotbeforeyouhaveheardmynews.AlittlewhileagoIsentapersonalandprivatecommunicationtotheHolyFather,andananswercamebacktodayfrommyfriendCardinalMonteverdi—IwonderifheisadescendantoftheRenaissancemusician?WhydoIneverremembertoaskhimwhenIseehim?Oh,Sheba,mustyouinsistupondigginginyourclawswhenyouarehappy?"

           "I’mlistening,YourGrace,Ihaven’tfallenasleepyet,"saidFatherRalph,smiling."Nowonderyoulikecatssomuch.You’reoneyourself,playingwithyourpreyforyourownamusement."Hesnappedhisfingers."Here,Sheba,leavehimandcometome!Heisunkind"