Monday, January 24, 2022

Page 97


expert in the world. The longest time I could give you would be an hour and a half."

"You're in a good mood."

"In a good mood and damn serious." He smiles and says," You've been to the Louvre."

"How do you know I've been to the Louvre?"

"Easy: you go there almost every day. Which room today?"

"The Italian one."

"Did you say hello to Miss Dora from Vignamaggio for me?" 

"Do you also find that Mona Lisa looks like my mother?" 

"Yes. With a difference: one is older than the other. Fortunately for me, you are not the daughter of the ancient one." 

I smile at him. Dear my old Papa. I love him. 

"Speaking of Leonardo, now I'll tell you what happened to me in Venice, just before I left. I can tell you about it because you know I'm not vain, right?"

"You're not vain, Black Horse. On the contrary, often too modest. It's not always good to be modest and that's why I get angry when you..." 

"Oh no, Papa" I interrupt him laughing. "Let's not fight today. It's sunny today." 

"At your orders, partner. No fight today. What do you want to drink, Daughter?"

"Grapefruit*, thank you." 

"Grapefruit for you and another gin and tonic for me, can I?" 

"Sure you can. But not another and another and another: it's morning." 

"At your orders, partner. Sempres at your orders." 

"It's not an order. Just a suggestion. For the sake of your liver. And your brain."

"I know I get stupid. Secret: I'm stupid, but not everyone has discovered it yet."

"You're stupid to talk like that. Fake modesty. Not honest."


* Adriana curiously uses the French word pamplemousse for grapefruit.

No comments:

Post a Comment