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Chapter 11
”
TheCardinal-Archbishopstraighteneduphisgaunt,bonyframe.
“Wehaveworkedforthem;wehavemadethem,thesematerialinterestsoftheforeigners,”thelastoftheCorbelansutteredinadeep,denunciatorytone.
“Andwithoutthemyouarenothing,”criedthedoctorfromthedistance.“Theywillnotletyou.”
“Letthembeware,then,lestthepeople,preventedfromtheiraspirations,shouldriseandclaimtheirshareofthewealthandtheirshareofthepower,”thepopularCardinal-ArchbishopofSulacodeclared,significantly,menacingly.
Asilenceensued,duringwhichhisEminencestared,frowningattheground,andAntonia,gracefulandrigidinherchair,breathedcalmlyinthestrengthofherconvictions.Thentheconversationtookasocialturn,touchingonthevisitoftheGouldstoEurope.TheCardinal-Archbishop,wheninRome,hadsufferedfromneuralgiaintheheadallthetime.Itwastheclimate—thebadair.
Whenuncleandniecehadgoneaway,withtheservantsagainfallingontheirknees,andtheoldporter,whohadknownHenryGould,almosttotallyblindandimpotentnow,creepinguptokisshisEminence’sextendedhand,Dr.Monygham,lookingafterthem,pronouncedtheoneword—
“Incorrigible!”
Mrs.Gould,withalookupwards,droppedwearilyonherlapherwhitehandsflashingwiththegoldandstonesofmanyrings.
“Conspiring.Yes!”saidthedoctor.
