Поющие в терновнике

           You’dlookmagnificentincardinal’sred."

           "Nochanceofthat,I’mafraid.IfancyGillanboneisnotexactlytheepicenteroftheArchbishopPapalLegate’smap.Anditcouldbeworse.Ihaveyou,andIhaveDrogheda."

           Sheacceptedthedeliberatelyblatantflatteryinthespiritinwhichitwasintended,enjoyinghisbeauty,hisattentiveness,hisbarbedandsubtlemind;trulyhewouldmakeamagnificentcardinal.Inallherlifeshecouldnotrememberseeingabetter-lookingman,noronewhousedhisbeautyinquitethesameway.Hehadtobeawareofhowhelooked:theheightandtheperfectproportionsofhisbody,thefinearistocraticfeatures,thewayeveryphysicalelementhadbeenputtogetherwithadegreeofcareabouttheappearanceofthefinishedproductGodlavishedonfewofHiscreations.Fromthelooseblackcurlsofhisheadandthestartlingblueofhiseyestothesmall,slenderhandsandfeet,hewasperfect.Yes,hehadtobeconsciousofwhathewas.Andyettherewasanaloofnessabouthim,awayhehadofmakingherfeelhehadneverbeenenslavedbyhisbeauty,noreverwouldbe.Hewoulduseittogetwhathewantedwithoutcompunctionifitwouldhelp,butnotasthoughhewasenamoredofit;ratherasifhedeemedpeoplebeneathcontemptforbeinginfluencedbyit.Andshewouldhavegivenmuchtoknowwhatinhispastlifehadmadehimso.

           Curious,howmanypriestswerehandsomeasAdonis,hadthesexualmagnetismofDonJuan.