20
PARTISAN REVIEW
Monsignor Renton. Some of the old ones got funny when they stayed
too long
in
one place.
On Sunday, after the eight o'clock Mass, Father Udovic received
a call from Monsignor Renton. "I told 'em if somebody didn't own
up to the envelope, we'd open it. I guess I got carried away." But it
had worked. Monsignor Renton had just talked with the party re–
sponsible for the envelope-a Mrs. Anton- and she was on the way
over to see Father Udovic.
"A woman, huh?"
"A widow. That's about all I know about her."
"A widow, huh? Did she say what was in it?"
"I'm afraid it's not what you thought, Bruno. It's money."
Father Udovie returned to the front parlor where he had left
Mrs. Anton. "The Archbishop'll see you," he said, and sat down.
She wasn't making a good impression on him. She could've used a
shave. When she'd asked for the Archbishop, Father Udovic had re–
plied instinctively, "He's busy," but it hadn't convinced her. She
had appeared quite capable of walking out on him. He invoked the
Archbishop's name again. "Now one of the things the Archbishop'll
want to know is why you didn't show up before this."
Mrs. Anton gazed at him, then past him, as she had earlier when
he'd tried to question her. He saw her starting to get up, and thought
he was about to lose her. He hadn't heard the Archbishop enter the
room.
The Archbishop waved Mrs. Anton down, seated himself near
the doorway at some distance from them, and motioned to Father
Udovic to continue.
To the Archbishop it might sound like browbeating, but Father
Udovie meant to go on being firm with Mrs. Anton. He hadn't for–
gotten that she'd responded to Monsignor Renton's threats. "Why'd
you wait so long? You listen to the Sunday announcements, don't
you?"
If
she persisted
in
ignoring him, she could make him look bad,
of course, but he didn't look for her to do that, with the Archbishop
present.
Calmly Mrs. Anton spoke, but not to Father Udovic: "Call off
your trip?"
The Archbishop shook his head.
