The Cardinal felt hunger growl in his stomach, complimenting the erotic esurience that thoughts of his good,dear friend Manchester always had the power to evoke in him.

I had been too close to Vornan to worship him; I had seen his colossal esurience, his imperial self-indulgence, his gargantuan appetite for sensual pleasure of all sorts, and once one has seen a messiah coveting food and impaling legions of willing women, it is hard to feel truly reverent toward him.