that is the best language for founding orders, they had used it in the naming of this one, which was named after a particularly notorious multi-millionaire non-taxpaying profiteer of Milan, who had, in the course of a dispute over property, accused his young wife, publicly and legally through due process of law, of having deprived him of his judgment through her extraordinary sexual demands.
“Gran Maestro,” the Colonel said. “Have you heard from our Leader, The Revered One?”
“Not a word. He is silent these days.”
“He must be thinking.”
“He must.”
“Perhaps he is meditating on new and more distinguished shameful acts.”
“Perhaps. He has not given me any word.”
“But we can have confidence in him.”
“Until he dies,” the Gran Maestro said. “After that he can roast in hell and we will revere his memory.”
“Giorgio,” the Colonel said. “Give the Gran Maestro another short Carpano.”
“If it is your order,” the Gran Maestro said, “I can only obey.”
They touched glasses.
“Jackson,” the Colonel called. “You’re on the town. You can sign here for chow. I don’t want to see you until eleven hundred tomorrow in the lobby, unless you get into trouble. Do you have money?”
“Yes, sir,” Jackson said and thought, the old son of a
