Chapter VIII
We had remained in intimacy until it was almost aperitif time.
For my soul it was not going to be a simple travel adventure. When I returned to the hotel with Norma, I began to realize that.
I had already showered at her place and I had changed quickly`at the Plaza; but even so we had arrived at Lines’s place half an hour late, last: "That's okay," she had whispered to me just before we went in, seeing me look at my watch, "you're the guest of honor."
Perhaps it was not so okay for our host and as soon as the waiter, a mulatto in his sixties with a fragile appearance, had introduced us he had let slip a smiling "Oh, at last!" but had immediately corrected himself: "We were all impatient to meet you in person, Mr. Velli!" and, after shaking my hand, turning to those present
