He went on the midnighttrain to Rome: first
class.
What you need is the Church inpower
again.
Certainly, certainly, he said, giving the five
francs.
Well, I said, if theres any occasion for humility,
I do.
Yes, I think this coldness is going almost too
far.
It was human, and more likea university than
anything.
He was glad to bepeeling the cold orange which was
dessert. But during Mass they, of course, just sang theirresponses. You dont mind my
wearing your grand coat?
We looked at the ancient cell away under the
monastery, where all thesanctity started. Splendid, sunny, gay Bramante Courtyard of
lively stone.
Iwas tired, cold, and sick among the books and
illuminations. It is the hard, static,unhoping souls that persist in the old
life.
And he wrote from an expensivehotel in Anzio, on
the sea near Rome.
Formerly, he said, if you went up to the monastery
you got a glassof wine and a plate of maccaroni. Further down was anotherman,
perhaps the father of one of the boy students.
So we went in and bought one of the little bowls of
Volterra marble. Then I came out of the black overcoat and we went to bed. Why,
thats the very time to spend money, whenyouve got none. Thewoman is just taking all
and giving nothing, and feeling sanctifiedabout it. But it appears the money had
never been paid in by the peoplethat owed it me. Rathercockily, as if he had a right
to it.
Save the fire in the kitchen, forcooking, nothing.
I realized that she was his great stunt, and that I had putmy foot in it. Yes, I
think this coldness is going almost too far.
He had a certain impatienceof me and of my
presence.
We trailed overthe Ponte Vecchio, looking at the
jewellers booths there.
And he seemed to walk close to me, very close.