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           Isn’tthatwonderful?

           ***

           TheboatdockedinGenoaatthebeginningofApril.ArchbishopRalphlandedinanItalyburstingintofull,Mediterraneanspring,andcaughtatraintoRome.Hadherequestedithecouldhavebeenmet,chauffeuredinaVaticancartoRome,buthedreadedtofeeltheChurchclosearoundhimagain;hewantedtoputthemomentoffaslongashecould.TheEternalCity.Itwastrulythat,hethought,staringoutofthetaxiwindowsatthecampanilesanddomes,andpigeon-strewnplazas,theambitiousfountains,theRomancolumnswiththeirbasesburieddeepinthecenturies.Well,tohimtheywereallsuperfluities.WhatmatteredtohimwasthepartofRomecalledtheVatican,itssumptuouspublicrooms,itsanythingbutsumptuousprivaterooms.

           Ablack-and-cream-robedDominicanmonkledhimthroughhighmarblecorridors,amidbronzeandstonefiguresworthyofamuseum,pastgreatpaintingsinthestylesofGiotto,Raphael,Botticelli,FraAngelico.Hewasinthepublicroomsofagreatcardinal,andnodoubtthewealthyContini-Verchesefamilyhadgivenmuchtoenhancetheiraugustscion’ssurroundings.

           Inaroomofivoryandgold,richwithcolorfromtapestriesandpictures,Frenchcarpetedandfurnished,everywheretouchesofcrimson,satVittorioScarbanza,CardinaldiContini-Verchese.Thesmallsmoothhand,itsrubyringglowing,wasextendedtohiminwelcome;gladtofixhiseyesdownward,ArchbishopRalphcrossedtheroom,knelt,tookthehandtokissthering.