Part 5 (1/2)
”Oh truly, will it be so?”
”Beyond all doubt! Devotion is never measured in terms of gross magnitude! Were it so, a brute beast of the wild would exert more notice in the halls of Heaven than some tiny babe being blessed with the sacrament of baptism!”
”As always, you place all our little problems in proper perspective!”
Lady Desdea could no longer contain herself. She crossed the chamber and bent to murmur into Queen Sollace's ear: ”I must have private words with Your Majesty, at once.”
Sollace, absorbed in the drawings, made an absent-minded gesture. ”Patience, if you please! These are discussions of serious moment!” She touched her finger to a place on the drawing. ”Despite all, if we could add an atrium here, with the toil rooms to either side, rather than across the transept, then the s.p.a.ce would serve for a pair of lesser apses, each with its shrine.”
”My dear queen, we could follow this plan were we to shorten the nave by the requisite amount.”
Queen Sollace made a petulant sound. ”But I do not care to do this! In fact, I would wish to add another five yards to its length, and also augment the curve here, at the back of the apse! We would gain scope for a truly splendid reredos!”
”The concept is undeniably excellent,” declared Father Umphred. ”Still, it must be remembered that the foundations are already laid and in place. They control the present dimensions.”
”Cannot they be extended by just a bit?”
Father Umphred gave his head a sad shake. ”We are limited, sadly enough, by a paucity of funds! Were there an unstinting amplitude, anything might be possible.”
”Always, always the same dreary tale!” gloomed Queen Sollace. ”Are these masons and laborers and stonecutters so greedy for gold that they will not work for the glory of the church?”
”It has always been thus, dear lady! Nevertheless I pray each day that His Majesty, in the fullness of his generosity, will grant us our sufficiency.”
Queen Sollace made a glum sound. ”The splendour of the basilica is not His Majesty's highest priority.”
Father Umphred spoke in thoughtful tones. ”The king should remember an important fact. Once the basilica is whole, the financial tide reverses. Folk will come from near and far to wors.h.i.+p and sing songs of praise and bestow gifts, of gold and silver! By this means they hope to gain the grat.i.tude of a joyful Heaven.”
”Such gifts will bring joy to me as well, if we may thereby adorn our church with proper richness.”
”To this end we must provide goodly relics,” said Father Umphred wisely. ”Nothing loosens the purse strings like a fine relic! The king should know this! Pilgrims will enhance the general prosperity, and, by inevitable flux, the royal exchequer as well! All considered, relics are very good things.”
”Oh yes, we must have relics!” cried Queen Sollace. ”Where will they be obtained?”
Father Umphred shrugged. ”It is not so easy, since many of the best have been pre-empted. However, if one is a.s.siduous, relics may still be had: by gift, by purchase, by capture from the infidels or sometimes by discovery in unexpected places. Certainly it is not too early to start our search.”
”We must discuss this matter in full detail,” said Queen Sollace, and then, somewhat sharply: ”Ottile, you are in a state of obvious discomfiture! What is the matter?”
”I am confused and baffled,” said Lady Desdea. ”That is quite true.”
”Tell us, then, what has occurred, and we will puzzle it out together.”
”I can only impart this matter to you in private.”
Queen Sollace made a pettish face. ”Just so, if you truly feel that such precautions are necessary.” She turned to the Ladies Bortude and Parthenope. ”It seems that for once we must indulge Lady Desdea in her whim. You may attend me later. Ermelgart, I will ring the bell when I am ready for you.”
Lady Bortrude and Lady Parthenope, each with nose haughtily high, departed the parlour, along with the maid Ermelgart. Father Umphred paused, but was not urged to remain and so also departed.
Without further delay Lady Desdea told of the events which had caused her so much distress. ”It was time for the Princess Madouc's diction exercises, which are most necessary; she slurs and lilts like a hoyden of the docks. As I walked across the service yard on my way to the lesson, I was struck on the neck by a piece of rotten fruit, hurled from above with both accuracy and force. I am sorry to say that I instantly suspected the princess, who is sometimes p.r.o.ne to mischief. However, when I looked up, I found His Majesty watching me with a most curious expression. If I were an imaginative woman and the person were other than His Majesty, who of course has the best of reasons for all his deeds, I would describe the expression as a leer of triumph, or, perhaps more accurately, vindictive glee!”
”Amazing!” said Queen Sollace. ”How can it be? I am as astonished as you; His Majesty is not one to perform silly pranks.”