Chapter 50

Bemelmans

Arrived in Venice - unexpectedly as every time - Bemelmans called to invite me to lunch at Danieli. I was waiting for a friend who was coming as a guest to Calle del Rimedio for the weekend, I said. Bring him too, said Bemelmans. I had to see another friend, just back from Havana, I said. Bring him too... and who was the third? Bemelmans asked. No, there was no third party: only Antonio del B. and Luigino Revedin.

I wanted to be with Luigino because I was pleased to see him again, certainly not because I hoped he would tell me something new about his friends from Havana, as Papa would take care to keep me updated. El Feo often asked about my red blood cells. El Monstruo had gone to the East province with Alvarito Caro Marquis de Villamyor and they had won a pigeon shooting contest; Don Andres had lost too much weight recently. The old cat Boisie had survived the winter brilliantly, Black Dog, out of jealousy, had eaten a letter from me. Marita's refined Frenchman had bought a beautiful boat on which he could finally dress up as a tanker. "But given how it was built, with the superstructure so old, it meant that a wind like the one we had in Escondido would have thrown it overboard. But they have fun with good weather and Marita and company, and I hope God will put it in a marina when bad weather comes."