Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 1
Buthethoughttheyweretheportraitsofthesaintsandgreatmenoftheorderwhowerelookingdownonhimsilentlyashepassed:saintIgnatiusLoyolaholdinganopenbookandpointingtothewordsADMAJOREMDEIGLORIAMinit;saintFrancisXavierpointingtohischest;LorenzoRicciwithhisberrettaonhisheadlikeoneoftheprefectsofthelines,thethreepatronsofholyyouth—saintStanislausKostka,saintAloysiusGonzago,andBlessedJohnBerchmans,allwithyoungfacesbecausetheydiedwhentheywereyoung,andFatherPeterKennysittinginachairwrappedinabigcloak.
Hecameoutonthelandingabovetheentrancehallandlookedabouthim.ThatwaswhereHamiltonRowanhadpassedandthemarksofthesoldiers’slugswerethere.Anditwastherethattheoldservantshadseentheghostinthewhitecloakofamarshal.
Anoldservantwassweepingattheendofthelanding.Heaskedhimwherewastherector’sroomandtheoldservantpointedtothedooratthefarendandlookedafterhimashewentontoitandknocked.
Therewasnoanswer.Heknockedagainmoreloudlyandhisheartjumpedwhenheheardamuffledvoicesay:
—Comein!
Heturnedthehandleandopenedthedoorandfumbledforthehandleofthegreenbaizedoorinside.Hefounditandpusheditopenandwentin.
Hesawtherectorsittingatadeskwriting.Therewasaskullonthedeskandastrangesolemnsmellintheroomliketheoldleatherofchairs.
