25Via Indipendenza, where Claudia lived, was a crossroad to Via Vittorio Emanuele. Coming out of the Varesino emporium, at the exact intersection of these two streets, I meet the person I never thought to meet: Claudia. At that very instant she was about to enter the very busy Via Vittorio Emanuele. Seeing her, and doing what I did, it was a matter of a moment: I was immediately in front of her and with my person I prevented her from continuing; everything, of course, with a certain affection. So we found each other, after a long time, facing each other. Taken by surprise, Claudia was astonished and amazed, but her lips already began to pose to a happy smile. In fixing her with the tenderness of the past, I told her:
"Vergin Mary, to whom you devoutly addressed yourself, listened to your
