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We had heard the sirens scream in the Rio della Canonica. On that side the firefighters could have done little since the heart of the fire was inside Ca 'Soranzo. As we hurriedly cleared the shore, Jackie ran to warn them that they had better disembark with us.

The boats arrived quickly and unloaded firefighters, fire hydrants and sandbags. From the rush a couple of firefighters slid across the polished marble floor and entered with a great tumble. Soon there were firefighters everywhere, at the windows, up and down the stairs, up the roof, and since the house was large and rather complex, the fire had to be put out to hunt for the lost firefighters.

Fortunately Calle del Rimedio had not been destroyed by the fire, I thought putting the brush back in the water and looking around, I would have been desperate. Especially for this room of mine.

How I loved this room of mine. Between the two beds - horizontal against the wall and with many cushions, so as to look like sofas - the seventeenth-century bookcase brought by San Michele after the first bombings, coming, like the desk, from Papa's study. On the opposite side, a sofa, two armchairs, a long low table with magazines and art books. On the side wall, between the two French doors with a small balcony that overlooked the courtyard of Ca 'Soranzo, the white majolica stove, which during the war would have proved to be of vital importance.

Because of the stoves - some wood could be found from time to time - during the winters of war the whole family had gathered in this and the next room. Then the Kechlers had arrived. After the armistice, as soon as my father learned that Frederick was wanted by the Germans as a naval officer "non collaborator" he had gone to Friuli to warn him and offer him to hide in Calle del Rimedio. And so my room had been given to Luisa...