Поющие в терновнике

           IfIdeclareRomeanopencity,itmeansIcannotblowupherbridgesorconvertherbuildingsintofortresses,andthatmightwellbetoGermany’seventualdisadvantage.WhatassurancesdoIhavethatRomewon’trepaymewithtreacheryifI’mkindtoher?"

           CardinalVittoriopursedhislipsandmadekissingnoisesathiscat,anelegantSiamesenowadays;hesmiledgently,andlookedattheArchbishop."Romewouldneverrepaykindnesswithtreachery,HerrGeneral.IamsurewhenyoudofindthetimetovisitthosesummeringatCastelGandolfothatyouwillreceivethesameassurances.Here,Kheng-see,mysweetheart!Ah,whatalovelygirlyouare!"Hishandspresseditdownonhisscarletlap,caressedit.

           "Anunusualanimal,YourEminence."

           "Anaristocrat,HerrGeneral.BoththeArchbishopandmyselfbearoldandvenerablenames,butbesideherlineage,oursareasnothing.Doyoulikehername?ItisChineseforsilkenflower.Apt,isitnot?"

           Theteahadarrived,wasbeingarranged;theywereallquietuntilthelaysisterlefttheroom.

           "Youwon’tregretadecisiontodeclareRomeanopencity,YourExcellency,"saidArchbishopRalphtothenewmasterofItalywithameltingsmile.HeturnedtotheCardinal,charmfallingawaylikeadroppedcloak,notneededwiththisbelovedman."YourEminence,doyouintendtobe‘mother,’orshallIdothehonors?"

           "‘Mother’?"askedGeneralKesselringblankly.

           CardinaldiContini-Vercheselaughed."Itisourlittlejoke,wecelibatemen.Whoeverpourstheteaiscalled‘mother.