The guitars began a prelude. The blind man shifted from one fat leg to another, cast up his sightless eyes, protruded and drew in his tongue, coughed, spat—
“Cameriere!”
Hermione struck upon the table sharply. She had forgotten all about the Marchesino. She was full of the desire to escape, to get away and be out on the sea.
“Cameriere!”
She called more loudly.
A middle-aged waiter came shuffling over the floor.
“The bill, please.”
As she spoke she drank the brandy.
“Si, Signora.”
He stood beside her.