Usberti walked towards him across the room. He raised his hand in a gesture that silenced Ferraro’s frantic stream of apologies and excuses. ‘Giuseppe, Giuseppe–you do not need to explain,’ he said with a smile, putting his arm around the younger man’s shoulders. ‘We are all human. We all make mistakes. God forgives.’
Ferraro was amazed. This wasn’t the reception he’d expected. The archbishop led him over to a moonlit window. ‘What a glorious night,’ he murmured. ‘Do you not think so, my friend?’
‘…Yes, Archbishop, it is beautiful.’
‘Does it not make one feel so happy to be alive?’
‘It does, Archbishop.’
‘It is a privilege to live on God’s earth.’
They stood looking out of the window at the inky-black night sky. The stars were out in their millions, the moon was crystal-sharp and the Milky Way galaxy arched glittering and pearly over the Roman hills.
After a few minutes, Ferraro asked, ‘Archbishop, may I have your permission to leave now?’
Usberti patted him on the shoulder. ‘Of course. But before you go, I would like to introduce you to a good friend of mine.’
‘I am honoured, Archbishop.’
‘I called you here so that you could meet him. His name is Franco Bozza.’
Ferraro almost collapsed with shock at the words. ‘Bozza! The Inquisitor?’ Suddenly his heart was thudding at the base of his throat, his mouth was dry and he felt sick.
‘I see you have heard of my friend before,’ Usberti said. ‘He is going to take care of you now.’
‘What? But Archbishop, I…’ Ferraro fell on his knees. ‘I implore you…’
‘He awaits you downstairs,’ Usberti replied, pressing a buzzer on his desk. As Ferraro was dragged away screaming by the two men who had brought him, the archbishop crossed himself and muttered a prayer in Latin for the man’s soul. ‘In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, ego te absolve…‘
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