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Marialuisa.”
    If the Contessa had thought she was smoothing things over she couldn’t have been more wrong, for this reference to her marriage and her husband, Alvise, was just the sort of thing to irk Signora Zeno and Bambina. They had hoped, actually even expected, Alvise to marry Bambina herself, his distant cousin, who was much closer to him in age than the Contessa. For a brief moment hatred seemed to gleam in the eyes of mother and daughter.
    â€œMore than a little strange for a wedding gift,” Signora Zeno said. “A practically naked woman between two men.” She added something indistinguishable because of the fading out of her voice, then: “I wonder what Alvise was thinking of? But then, he did have his lapses of judgment.”
    The Contessa colored. No one said anything for a few moments until Angelica got up.
    â€œIt’s a bit warm in here, don’t you think?” she said to no one in particular.
    â€œOh, God, here comes the swoon,” Sebastian said.
    Angelica seemed not to have heard him but Robert had. An effort at control was clearly visible along his jaw line.
    â€œDo you mind if we go out on the loggia for a breath of air, Robert? I’ll fetch my shawl.”
    When she had left, Molly said to Robert, “Your sweet fiancée is afraid I’m going to say something about her, but she’s poor in vibrations. Won’t you please tell her?”
    â€œShe should be very glad to hear it. Excuse me.”
    As he went out into the hall, he glared at Sebastian.
    â€œI hear you have a lovely palazzo near the Pantheon,” Urbino said to Signora Zeno, thinking he would make his contribution to keep the conversation going smoothly. “I met a man last year living in one of the apartments.”
    Signora Zeno seemed to subside farther into her garments. It was understood among her friends and family that no one would mention that the Zenos had been reduced to carving up their palazzo into flats and living in a few rooms on the third story.
    â€œWell, I hope he wasn’t the one who drove us here yesterday. A terrible driver.”
    â€œToday. We came today, Mamma, remember?” Bambina said. She smiled at Urbino and shook her curly head in patient understanding of the old and feeble.
    Signora Zeno, infuriated that she had no choice but to come off as either deceptive or senile, said sharply, “You’re not very far behind me, Bambina, and don’t you forget it. I had you when I was barely a child.”
    â€œOh, Mamma, you do say the silliest things.”
    Urbino, having failed with Signora Zeno, turned to Dr. Vasco, who had seated himself in a Brustolon armchair.
    â€œI understand that you know London.”
    â€œI’ve spent some time there—before and after the war,” he said in English in a thick accent. “Not recently, however.”
    From Sebastian’s corner floated the comment, “I wonder which war he means?”
    Either Dr. Vasco didn’t hear him or chose to ignore the comment.
    â€œYou loved a beautiful woman who came to the end of her days in this house,” Molly said without any preamble, as was her way.
    Signora Zeno’s wrinkled face tightened and diminished even more. Bambina gasped.
    â€œDo not talk about something you do not know about!” Dr. Vasco said, his grim face having turned grimmer.
    â€œOh, but I do! I can’t help it.” She turned to Bambina. “Your little pussy died. Dido, Queen of Carthage, was her name. She suffered a lot, but not flames, no, no, not flames like her namesake of long, long ago.”
    Bambina sat down on the nearest chair. She put a chubby hand in front of her face.
    â€œDr. Vasco is right! You don’t know what you’re talking about!” she screamed at Molly.
    Molly tossed the rest of her gin down and held her glass out to Urbino.
    â€œTo the top, dearie.” Then, peering at the Contessa through her thick spectacles,