The Turquoise Cup, and, the Desert

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Turquoise Cup, and, The Desert, by Arthur Cosslett SmithThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: The Turquoise Cup, and, The DesertAuthor: Arthur Cosslett SmithRelease Date: January 5, 2004 [eBook #10608]Language: English***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TURQUOISE CUP, AND, THE DESERT***E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Jeff Wigley, and Project Gutenberg Distributed ProofreadersThe Turquoise Cup, and, The DesertByArthur Cosslett Smith1903"KHADIJA BELIEVES IN ME"CONTENTSI The Turquoise CupII The DesertTHE TURQUOISE CUPThe Cardinal Archbishop sat on his shaded balcony, his well-kept hands clasped upon his breast, his feet stretched outso straight before him that the pigeon, perched on the rail of the balcony, might have seen fully six inches of scarlet silkstocking.The cardinal was a small man, but very neatly made. His hair was as white as spun glass. Perhaps he was sixty; perhapshe was seventy; perhaps he was fifty. His red biretta lay upon a near-by chair. His head bore no tonsure. The razor of thebarber and the scythe of Time had passed him by. There was that faint tinge upon his cheeks that comes to those who,having once had black beards, shave twice daily. His features were clearly cut. ...