Поющие в терновнике

           "Wouldyoucareforone,Mrs.O’Neill?"

           "Thankyou,no.Idon’tsmoke."Shesmoothedherdress."You’realongwayfromhome,Mr.Hartheim.HaveyoubusinessinAustralia?"

           Hesmiled,wonderingwhatshewouldsayifsheknewthathewas,ineffect,themasterofDrogheda.Buthehadnointentionoftellingher,forhepreferredalltheDroghedapeopletothinktheirwelfarelayinthecompletelyimpersonalhandsofthegentlemanheemployedtoactashisgo-between.

           "Please,Mrs.O’Neill,mynameisRainer,"hesaid,givingitthesamepronunciationJustinedid,whilethinkingwrylythatthiswomanwouldn’tuseitspontaneouslyforsometimetocome;shewasnotonetorelaxwithstrangers."No,Idon’thaveanyofficialbusinessinAustralia,butIdohaveagoodreasonforcoming.Iwantedtoseeyou."

           "Toseeme?"sheaskedinsurprise.Asiftocoversuddenconfusion,shewentimmediatelytoasafersubject:"Mybrothersspeakofyouoften.YouwereverykindtothemwhiletheywereinRomeforDane’sordination."ShesaidDane’snamewithoutdistress,asifsheuseditfrequently."Ihopeyoucanstayafewdays,andseethem."

           "Ican,Mrs.O’Neill,"heansweredeasily.

           ForMeggietheinterviewwasprovingunexpectedlyawkward;hewasastranger,hehadannouncedthathehadcometwelvethousandmilessimplytoseeher,andapparentlyhewasinnohurrytoenlightenherastowhy.Shethoughtshewouldendinlikinghim,butshefoundhimslightlyintimidating.