Imprimatur by Rita Monaldi, Francesco Sorti Page B
Authors: Rita Monaldi, Francesco Sorti
Tags: Historical Novel
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before we leave here," said Cloridia in amiably tempting tones, as she laid a pack of Tarot cards on the table.
"Libera nos a malo" murmured Robleda, crossing himself and rising hurriedly, without even taking his leave.
No one responded to Cloridia's invitation, which all believed to be merely introductory to other deeper but financially more onerous inquiries.
"Perhaps this is not the best of moments, dear lady," said Atto Melani courteously, to save her from embarrassment. "So sad is our plight that it overshadows even your delightful company."
To everyone's surprise, Cloridia then grasped Bedfordi's hand and drew it gently to her: precisely in front of that luxuriant bosom, decollete after the French fashion.
"Perhaps it would be better to have a nice palm reading," proposed Cloridia, "but gratis, of course, and only for your pleasure."
This once, Bedfordi remained speechless, and, before he could refuse, Cloridia had lovingly opened his fist.
"Here we are," said she, caressing the Englishman's palm with a fingertip. "You'll see, you will really enjoy this."
All present (including myself) had imperceptibly stretched forward, the better to see and to hear.
"Has anyone ever read your palm?" asked Cloridia, gently smoothing first his fingertips and then his wrist.
"Yes. I mean no... I mean, not like this."
"Calm down, and Cloridia will explain to you all the secrets of the hand and of good fortune. First of all, the fingers of the hand are unequal for decency's sake, and for greater ease in using them. The great finger is known as the thumb or Pollex, quiapollet, meaning that it is stronger than the others. The second is called the Index, because it is used to indicate; the third is called Infamous, because 'tis a sign of derision and contumely; the fourth is the Medical or Annular, meaning that it is the ring finger; and the fifth is the Auricular, because 'tis used to pick and to clean the ears."
While she conducted her review of the digital apparatus, Cloridia underlined her every phrase by wantonly tickling Bedfordi's fingers, while he strove to conceal his agitation with a weak smile, showing a sort of involuntary aversion before the fair sex which I have observed only in travellers coming from northern climes. Cloridia went on to illustrate other parts of the hand: "Here, you see, this line which ascends from the wrist towards the index finger, right here, is the Life Line, or Heart Line. This one which cuts across the hand more or less from left to right is the Natural Line or Head Line. Its sister line, close by, is known as the Convivial Line. This little swelling is known as the Girdle of Venus. Do you like that name?" inquired Cloridia insinuatingly.
"I do, very much so," interrupted Brenozzi.
"Get back, you idiot," retorted Stilone, repelling Brenozzi's attempt to conquer a position closer to Cloridia.
"I know, I know, it is a lovely name," said Cloridia, turning first to
Bedfordi, then to Brenozzi with a knowing little smile, "but these too are beautiful: the Finger of Venus, the Mount of Venus, the Finger of the Sun, the Mount of the Sun, the Finger of Mars, the Mount of Mars, the Mount of Jupiter, the Finger of Saturn, the Mount of Saturn and the Seat of Mercury."
While she thus illustrated fingers, knuckles, wrinkles, lines, joints, swellings and hollows, in skilful and sensual counterpoint, Cloridia shifted her index finger alternately from Bedfordi's palm to her own cheeks, to the Englishman's palm and then to her own lips, again to Bedfordi's wrist, then to the first gentle slopes of her generous bosom. Bedfordi swallowed.
"Then we have the Line of the Liver, the Line or Way of the Sun, the Line of Mars, the Line of Saturn, the Mount of the Moon, and it all concludes with the Milky Way..."
"Oh yes, the Milky Way," gulped Brenozzi, swooning away.
By now, almost all the group had gathered around Cloridia, as not even the ox and the ass did with Our Lord on the night when he
"Libera nos a malo" murmured Robleda, crossing himself and rising hurriedly, without even taking his leave.
No one responded to Cloridia's invitation, which all believed to be merely introductory to other deeper but financially more onerous inquiries.
"Perhaps this is not the best of moments, dear lady," said Atto Melani courteously, to save her from embarrassment. "So sad is our plight that it overshadows even your delightful company."
To everyone's surprise, Cloridia then grasped Bedfordi's hand and drew it gently to her: precisely in front of that luxuriant bosom, decollete after the French fashion.
"Perhaps it would be better to have a nice palm reading," proposed Cloridia, "but gratis, of course, and only for your pleasure."
This once, Bedfordi remained speechless, and, before he could refuse, Cloridia had lovingly opened his fist.
"Here we are," said she, caressing the Englishman's palm with a fingertip. "You'll see, you will really enjoy this."
All present (including myself) had imperceptibly stretched forward, the better to see and to hear.
"Has anyone ever read your palm?" asked Cloridia, gently smoothing first his fingertips and then his wrist.
"Yes. I mean no... I mean, not like this."
"Calm down, and Cloridia will explain to you all the secrets of the hand and of good fortune. First of all, the fingers of the hand are unequal for decency's sake, and for greater ease in using them. The great finger is known as the thumb or Pollex, quiapollet, meaning that it is stronger than the others. The second is called the Index, because it is used to indicate; the third is called Infamous, because 'tis a sign of derision and contumely; the fourth is the Medical or Annular, meaning that it is the ring finger; and the fifth is the Auricular, because 'tis used to pick and to clean the ears."
While she conducted her review of the digital apparatus, Cloridia underlined her every phrase by wantonly tickling Bedfordi's fingers, while he strove to conceal his agitation with a weak smile, showing a sort of involuntary aversion before the fair sex which I have observed only in travellers coming from northern climes. Cloridia went on to illustrate other parts of the hand: "Here, you see, this line which ascends from the wrist towards the index finger, right here, is the Life Line, or Heart Line. This one which cuts across the hand more or less from left to right is the Natural Line or Head Line. Its sister line, close by, is known as the Convivial Line. This little swelling is known as the Girdle of Venus. Do you like that name?" inquired Cloridia insinuatingly.
"I do, very much so," interrupted Brenozzi.
"Get back, you idiot," retorted Stilone, repelling Brenozzi's attempt to conquer a position closer to Cloridia.
"I know, I know, it is a lovely name," said Cloridia, turning first to
Bedfordi, then to Brenozzi with a knowing little smile, "but these too are beautiful: the Finger of Venus, the Mount of Venus, the Finger of the Sun, the Mount of the Sun, the Finger of Mars, the Mount of Mars, the Mount of Jupiter, the Finger of Saturn, the Mount of Saturn and the Seat of Mercury."
While she thus illustrated fingers, knuckles, wrinkles, lines, joints, swellings and hollows, in skilful and sensual counterpoint, Cloridia shifted her index finger alternately from Bedfordi's palm to her own cheeks, to the Englishman's palm and then to her own lips, again to Bedfordi's wrist, then to the first gentle slopes of her generous bosom. Bedfordi swallowed.
"Then we have the Line of the Liver, the Line or Way of the Sun, the Line of Mars, the Line of Saturn, the Mount of the Moon, and it all concludes with the Milky Way..."
"Oh yes, the Milky Way," gulped Brenozzi, swooning away.
By now, almost all the group had gathered around Cloridia, as not even the ox and the ass did with Our Lord on the night when he
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