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I went in a hurry in search of a taxi because by now I was of the mind "pull out the tooth and end the pain" and I didn't want to waste time, and when the taxi stopped in front of the Arnoldo Mondadori Editore offices I wondered what I would ever do when they told me that Signor Alberto was in a meeting; and then I decided that before leaving Milan I had to at least look Alberto Mondadori in the face and I threw myself into the door, avoiding the usher who asked me where I wanted to go, but "I'm in a hurry, I'm waiting" I said entering the main staircase and with out of the corner of my eye I saw that he was very impressed by my importance and when the stairs ended I turned into the right corridor in a hurry, I could also have turned left because I didn't have the slightest idea where I was going, but this of course I wouldn't show to the usher who could have stopped me.

In the corridor I slowed down, then stopped. And now? I stood for a few minutes in the silence and gloom of the long corridor full of doors. Finally one began to open, then closed, it began to open again, as if someone who was leaving had decided to say or do something more, before leaving. Then the door swung open with a sharp blow and I found myself face to face with a rather tall man who, looking at me somewhat amazed: "Who are you looking for?" he asked me and I was very happy to have high heels on so that I could look him straight in the eye and say with a confident air: "Alberto Mondadori" and I was happy that the corridor was a bit dark so as to give me the courage to add: "He's waiting for me."

"Oh really?" the man said. 

I was glad that, like the usher, he was impressed. Infused with new confidence: "Please tell me where I can find him: I don't have much time." 

"Tell me something, I'm curious." the man said. "How the hell did you get back here? Did the usher see you pass?"