Page 62

our hidden revenge remains. Speaking of Harry's, I invited Federico and Luisa to breakfast, who are among the few who are not surprised that we could be friends. And thinking you would like it, your friend Marino too, whom I met on the street."

My mother had already left and I assumed she had gone to Aunt Clotilde. Yes, they were waiting for you, they told me on the phone. It would come at any moment. Better to go to her, I told Papa. It was easier for me to persuade her by talking to her face to face.

On the way I explained to him that the palace where Aunt Clotilde lived was called Capello because it belonged to the beautiful Bianca, who had fled to go to Florence, where she would marry the Grand Duke Francesco I de 'Medici. I also explained to him that at ninety-three Aunt Clotilde read without glasses and still made beautiful embroidery, never caught a cold and ate pasta-and-beans in the evening, then slept soundly.

Aunt Clotilde was actually my great-aunt, sister of my grandmother Elina, of the sweet Noemi nicknamed by d'Annunzio "Graziana di Soavia," of the beautiful Yole who had inspired the character of Jeanne Dessalle from Piccolo Mondo Moderna in Fogazzaro.

Having lost her only child, who died on a burning ship in World War I and was left a widow, Aunt Clotilde lived in a Spartan way to be able to use all her income for charitable purposes and, despite her age, continued to occupy herself, as president, of the War Widows and Orphans Association she founded in memory of her son Zaneto.

"Aunt Clo is a woman of great courage," I said as we passed Campo Santa Maria Formosa and entered Calle Lunga. And I thought back to that night, to San Michele. 

Awakened by loud cries, I looked out of the window and stood enchantedly watching the large, silent lights that slowly descended from the sky to illuminate a fairytale...