‘Who? The delightful Miss Molinari and the young sulking doctor?’
‘Did they seem partial to you as well?’
‘I only wanted to establish a strong rapport with them, as I do with everyone who ─ on first sight ─ arouse my curiosity and sympathy’.
‘And now these three venerate you, Irina’,
‘You talk as if you resent that; are you jealous?’
‘Don’t talk nonsense!’
Irina grinned upon noticing the unmistakeable figure of Bleda form in the rain.
‘I beg your pardon if I’ve offended you, which I didn’t mean to. In any event, don’t worry: the day after tomorrow, I’ll be leaving from Abano for a brief holiday to take the water there and your collaborators will be able to see to your orders again without further distraction’.
‘Abano Terme, you say? It’s curious you should go there, of a
