Chapter 22

           TherewerefivepeopleintheQuirinalbarafterdinner,ahigh-classItalianfrailwhosatonastoolmakingpersistentconversationagainstthebartender’sbored:"Si...Si...Si,"alight,snobbishEgyptianwhowaslonelybutcharyofthewoman,andthetwoAmericans.

           Dickwasalwaysvividlyconsciousofhissurroundings,whileCollisClaylivedvaguely,thesharpestimpressionsdissolvinguponarecordingapparatusthathadearlyatrophied,sotheformertalkedandthelatterlistened,likeamansittinginabreeze.

           Dick,wornawaybytheeventsoftheafternoon,wastakingitoutontheinhabitantsofItaly.HelookedaroundthebarasifhehopedanItalianhadheardhimandwouldresenthiswords.

           "ThisafternoonIhadteawithmysister-in-lawattheExcelsior.Wegotthelasttableandtwomencameupandlookedaroundforatableandcouldn’tfindone.Sooneofthemcameuptousandsaid,‘Isn’tthistablereservedforthePrincessOrsini?’andIsaid:‘Therewasnosignonit,’andhesaid:‘ButIthinkit’sreservedforthePrincessOrsini.’Icouldn’tevenanswerhim."

           "What’dhedo?"

           "Heretired."Dickswitchedaroundinhischair."Idon’tlikethesepeople.TheotherdayIleftRosemaryfortwominutesinfrontofastoreandanofficerstartedwalkingupanddowninfrontofher,tippinghishat."

           "Idon’tknow,"saidCollisafteramoment."I’dratherbeherethanupinPariswithsomebodypickingyourpocketeveryminute."