The Bishop's Bedroom
Page 12
I slowly got up and stood in front of Matilde. She raised her eyes to me.
“I’m going,” I said. “Forgive me, but I must leave. I’m going down to the dock for the boat.”
Ten minutes later I left the little dock of the Villa Cleofe in the Tinca. It was midday, and I decided to eat at Cavallini’s Vittoria.
As I passed by the villa, I looked up at the terrace. Matilde had gone in. The only things visible between the iron bars of the baulstrade were the two wicker armchairs with their red headrests, the fringe on the cushions rustling in the wind.
I moored the boat in the harbor and climbed up to the road. Not a soul was about. The large balloons of trees spilling out from the gardens stood still under the sun. A hornet, stunned by the midday silence that had fallen over the lake and the houses, hummed through the pollen-laden air. I crossed over and stepped into the restaurant. I greeted Cavallini, who seemed to be waiting for me.
“It’s been some time since I’ve had the pleasure of serving you!” he said.
“True. Since one evening in July last year. I was coming here to eat when I made the acquaintance of Signor Orimbelli at the port. The rest you know better than I do.”
He seated me and remained thoughtful, the palms of his hands resting on my table. After a few moments, he brought his curly head close to mine and asked, “But now … are you coming back or are you on your way?”
“I’m leaving,” I replied. “And it will be difficult for me to come back. I’m selling the boat. Getting off the lake.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said quietly, “but I understand.”
Then, looking around like a hawker flogging his goods, he began in a loud voice, “Today we have macaroni pie, a timbale of rice alla finanziera, cutlet alla milanese, ribs and fresh fish …”
When I left an hour later, Cavallini came to say good-bye at the harbor wall.
I moved swiftly toward the center of the lake, turning my back to the shore until, the inverna rising, I steered the prow toward the top of the lake and headed for my home port.
As soon as the Tinca began to pick up speed, I looked back toward the coast. I noted one villa after another, separated by their gardens: the Poss, the Ceriana, the Miralba, the Thea and then the Villa Cleofe, her spectral face veiled by the heat. My gaze moved on to the pasha’s villa and the more modest one belonging to Massimo d’Azeglio. The wind shifted ninety degrees, and between Cannero and the mouth of Tresa, I sailed into home waters for the last time.
PIERO CHIARA (1913–1986) was a leading Italian author of the 20th century who won over a dozen literary prizes and whose work is marked by psychological depth, melancholy humor and a grasp of the essence of everyday life. The Bishop’s Bedroom is the most celebrated of his many acclaimed novels.
JILL FOULSTON is the translator of novels by Erri de Luca, Augusto de Angelis and Piero Chiara. She lives in London.
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http://newvesselpress.com/books/the-641-to-paris/
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A VERY FRENCH CHRISTMAS
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http://newvesselpress.com/books/the-animal-gazer/
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http://newvesselpress.com/books/adua/
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http://newvesselpress.com/books/madonna-notre-dame/
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http://newvesselpress.com/books/guys-like/
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http://newvesselpress.com/books/animal-internet/
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http://newvesselpress.com/books/killing-auntie/
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http://newvesselpress.com/books/called-necktie/
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