VATICAN CITY. There was uproar in the Holy See that evening. Shouts reverberated around the inquisitional hall, cries of panic and alarm from all who had flooded into the chamber to listen and make their fears known about what was occurring in Rome. Cardinal Berberino was at the head of the outburst, laying out the facts like charges. “I do wish you would calm down, Cardinal Berberino!” said Cardinal Secretary of State Casado, shaking his head, trying to give the appearance of stability and control. “Calm down?” the thick-set Cardinal retorted, the wide neck of his collar stained yellow with sweat. “There are wolves running wild in the streets of Rome, Casado!” “And we have Inquisitors dealing with them,” Casado tried to reason with him. “Are you hearing me correctly, Secretary of State? There are wolves, in Rome! There has never been such a thing before! Are we to think we have lost control of the city?” “Far from it,” Casado assured him. “And what of Sister Malpighi!”
