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           Andlaidhischeekagainstthehand,knowinghecouldn’tlie,thoughhehadmeanttorightupuntilthemomenthislipstouchedthatsymbolofspiritualpower,temporalauthority.

           CardinalVittorioputhisotherhandonthebentshoulder,noddingadismissaltothemonk,thenasthedoorclosedsoftlyhishandwentfromshouldertohair,restedinitsdarkthickness,smootheditbacktenderlyfromthehalf-avertedforehead.Ithadchanged;soonitwouldbenolongerblack,butthecolorofiron.Thebentspinestiffened,theshoulderswentback,andArchbishopRalphlookeddirectlyupintohismaster’sface.

           Ah,therehadbeenachange!Themouthhaddrawnin,knewpainandwasmorevulnerable;theeyes,sobeautifulincolorandshapeandsetting,wereyetcompletelydifferentfromtheeyeshestillrememberedasifbodilytheyhadneverlefthim.CardinalVittoriohadalwayshadafancythattheeyesofJesuswereblue,andlikeRalph’s:calm,removedfromwhatHesawandthereforeabletoencompassall,understandall.Butperhapsithadbeenamistakenfancy.Howcouldonefeelforhumanityandsufferoneselfwithoutitsshowingintheeyes?

           "Come,Ralph,sitdown."

           "YourEminence,Iwishtoconfess."

           "Later,later!Firstwewilltalk,andinEnglish.Thereareearseverywherethesedays,but,thankourdearJesus,notEnglish-speakingears.Sitdown,Ralph,please.Oh,itissogoodtoseeyou!Ihavemissedyourwisecounsel,yourrationality,yourperfectbrandofcompanionship.TheyhavenotgivenmeanyoneIlikehalfsowellasyou."