Поющие в терновнике

           Intheopen-airmarketsaroundEvripidouStreethelingered,fascinatedbythepeople,thehugebasketsofkalamariandfishreekinginthesun,thevegetablesandtinselslippershungsidebyside;thewomenamusedhim,theirunashamedandopencooingoverhim,alegacyofaculturebasicallyverydifferentfromhispuritanicalown.Hadtheirunabashedadmirationbeenlustful(hecouldnotthinkofabetterword)itwouldhaveembarrassedhimacutely,butheaccepteditinthespiritintended,asanaccoladeforextraordinaryphysicalbeauty.

           ThehotelwasonOmoniaSquare,veryluxuriousandexpensive.ArchbishopdiContini-Verchesewassittinginachairbyhisbalconywindows,quietlythinking;asBishopRalphcameinheturnedhishead,smiling.

           "Ingoodtime,Ralph.Iwouldliketopray."

           "Ithoughteverythingwassettled?Aretheresuddencomplications,YourGrace?"

           "Notofthatkind.IhadaletterfromCardinalMonteverditoday,expressingthewishesoftheHolyFather."

           BishopRalphfelthisshoulderstighten,acuriouspricklingoftheskinaroundhisears."Tellme."

           "Assoonasthetalksareover—andtheyareover—IamtoproceedtoRome.ThereIamtobeblessedwiththebirettaofacardinal,andcontinuemyworkinRomeunderthedirectsupervisionofHisHoliness."

           "WhereasI?"

           "YouwillbecomeArchbishopdeBricassart,andgobacktoAustraliatofillmyshoesasPapalLegate."

           Thepricklingskinaroundhisearsflushedredhot;hisheadwhirled,rocked.