“No.”
“But we fought?”
“Yes. Too much.”
“How is your health?”
“Wonderful except for the ulcers and a small cardiac condition.”
“No,” the Colonel said, and his heart rose and he felt it choke him. “You only told me about the ulcers.”
“Well you know now,” the Gran Maestro said and did not finish the sentence and he smiled his best and clearest smile that came as solid as the sun rises.
“How many times?”
The Gran Maestro held up two fingers as a man might do giving odds where he had credit, and all the betting was on the nod.
“I’m ahead of you,” the Colonel said. “But let’s not be macabre. Ask Donna Renata if she wishes more of this excellent wine.”
“You did not tell me there were more,” the girl said. “You owe it to me to tell me.”
“There has been nothing since we were together last.”
“Do you think it breaks for me? If so, I would come and simply be with you and care for you.”
“It’s just a muscle,” the Colonel said. “Only it is the main muscle. It works as perfectly as a Rolex Oyster Perpetual. The trouble is you cannot send it to the Rolex representative when it goes wrong. When it stops, you just do not know the time. You’re dead.”
“Don’t please talk about it.”
“You asked me,” the Colonel said.
