Stuart Woods 6 Stone Barrington Novels Read Free Page B

Eduardo glanced toward the French doors and stood up.
    Stone and Dino stood with him. A tall, thin man with wavy salt-and-pepper hair was approaching. He wore a black blazer with gold buttons, gray silk trousers, and a striped shirt, open at the neck, where an ascot had been tied.
    â€œCarmen,” Eduardo said, “may I present my son-in-law, Dino Bacchetti.”
    To Stone’s astonishment, Dino bowed his head and kissed the heavy ring on the man’s right hand.
    â€œAnd this is my son-in-law-to-be, Stone Barrington.”
    The man extended his hand, and Stone shook it. “Your Eminence,” he said, “how do you do?”
    â€œQuite well, thank you, Stone.” Bellini held onto Stone’s hand and stared into his face. “He has good eyes, Eduardo,” he said to Bianchi.
    Stone was surprised that the cardinal spoke with an American accent.
    â€œMy son,” Bellini said to Stone, “it is my understanding that you are not a Roman Catholic.”
    â€œI am a believer, Your Eminence,” Stone said, “but not a registered one.”
    Bellini laughed and waved them to their seats. He accepted a fruit juice from the servant, then reached into an inside pocket and took out a thick, white envelope sealed with red wax, and handed it to Eduardo. “Here is the necessary dispensation,” he said. “The Holy Father sends his greetings and his blessing.”
    â€œThank you, Carmen,” Eduardo said, accepting the envelope.
    If Stone understood this transaction correctly, he now had papal approval to marry Dolce. He was embarrassed that the necessity had never occurred to him. “Your Eminence, I am surprised that your accent is American. Did you attend university there?”
    â€œYes, and preparatory school and elementary school before that. I was born and raised in Brooklyn. Eduardo and I used to steal fruit together, before the Jesuits got hold of me.” He said something to Eduardo in what seemed to Stone flawless Italian, raising a chuckle. He turned back to Stone. “I understand that you are engaged in the practice of law.”
    â€œThat’s correct.”
    â€œIf I may torture the scriptures a little, it is probably easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a lawyer to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
    â€œI tread as narrow a path as my feet will follow,” Stone replied.
    Bellini smiled. “I should hate to oppose this young man in court,” he said to Eduardo.
    â€œAre you a lawyer, as well?” Stone asked.
    â€œI was trained as such at Harvard,” Bellini replied, “and my work requires me still to employ those skills from time to time—after which I immediately visit my confessor. I should hate to die with the practice of law on my soul.”
    â€œI understand you also dabble in banking.”
    â€œYes, but there is nothing so pure as money, used properly. I am required to ask you, Stone, if you have ever been married.”
    â€œNo, Your Eminence; I’ve come close, but I’ve never been in serious trouble.”
    â€œAnd do you willingly consent to your wife’s devout practice of her religion?”
    â€œWillingly, Your Eminence. To deny Dolce anything could be dangerous to my health.”
    Bellini seemed to try not to laugh, but Dino couldn’t help himself.
    The women arrived, and they all moved to a table set in the center of the garden, where they feasted on antipasti, a pasta with lobster sauce, and a glittering white wine, served from frosted pitchers. During most of lunch, Eduardo and the cardinal conversed seriously in Italian.
    When they got up from the table, Stone sidled over to Dino. “What were Eduardo and Bellini talking about at lunch?” he asked.
    â€œNot you, pal,” Dino said. “They were doing business.” He glanced at his father-in-law to be sure he would not be overheard. “Eduardo still doesn’t know how much