If anyone asks, Anthony is a staunch atheist with a litany of reasons to dislike religion in general, and its many Christian variations in particular. But there isn’t much venom in his dislike. Despite his upbringing, his atheism isn’t the result of some falling out with God, but a naming of what he never felt during a childhood memorizing psalms and watching his father preach. And Gabriel is right: he likes the aesthetics of religion—the art, music, and ritual—too much to do anything so satisfying as reject it outright.

There is something familiar, too, about going to mass on Christmas, Catholic or otherwise. Even if he hasn’t done it in years, the first half of his life saw him in a pew on Christmas eve, and certain childhood sentiments stick with a person, even a person as unsentimental as Anthony Blunt. He agrees to join Gabriel because, bafflingly, it means a lot to the young man, and because he is curious what it will be like.

Anthony smiles a little when he spots Gabriel already standing outside the church. He absently glances at his watch. “I hope I haven’t kept you waiting long?"