Revelations indeed. In her lengthy introduction, Massaro reminded her audience that O’Brien is only the third Scottish cardinal since the Reformation (an historical event that appears to hold some significance).
O’Brien eventually got to his feet. “Thanks very much, Helen. I’ll hire you to write my obituary.”
But rumours of his demise are greatly exaggerated, although that could have been rapidly promoted had he fallen victim to temptation. O’Brien confessed that his hotel room was the grandest he had stayed in so far, and the bed by far the largest.
Lest anyone should forget, he emphasised: “I’m a bachelor. I sleep in a small bed. This one had three sets of pillows on it. I don’t know what kind of perversion the hotel thought I might get up to.”
Heaven only knows.
Want to keep reading for free?
Register with Tes and you can read five free articles every month, plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.
