‘You have not been out to Vesuvius yet?’
‘No. I guess I’ll leave that to the last.’
‘Well, don’t forget to have a look at Pompeii.’ Zina gave me a quick glance. She was paying me back for my earlier obstinacy. ‘That will show you better than anything else what Vesuvio can do.’
‘I thought of taking a quick look at Pompeii on my way out to Vesuvius.’
‘Pompeii is not a place you can take a quick look at, signore.’ Zina was smiling at him. ‘The Ruggiero — that is the director — is a friend of mine.’
It was an obvious bait and the fish rose. ‘You don’t say. Maybe you could — I mean if you were to give me an introduction—’
‘I will do better than that.’ Zina turned to me. ‘Are you doing anything tomorrow afternoon?’
I shook my head.
‘Then we will all three go out to Pompeii. You have a car, Mr. Hacket? Then, shall we say three o’clock at the entrance to Pompeii?’
‘That’s very kind of you, Countess. I’ll look forward to that with great interest. In the meantime perhaps you will do me the honour of being my guest at lunch to-day?’