He gripped my hand, then opened the door of the room. Another pair of the efficient-appearing retainers
were awaiting him at the threshold. They swung in before and behind him. As he walked away, I saw that
he was crossing himself vigorously.
I closed the door and went back into the room. I looked down on Peters.
If I had been religious, I too would have been doing some crossing. The expression on Peters' face had
changed. The terror and horror were gone. He still seemed to be looking both beyond me and into
himself, but it was a look of evil expectancy-so evil that involuntarily I shot a glance over my shoulder to
see what ugly thing might be creeping upon me.
There was nothing. One of Ricori's gunmen sat in the corner of the window, in the shadow, watching the
parapet of the church roof opposite; the other sat stolidly at the door.