It wasn’t an unpleasant situation. I made the introductions, while Graziano, suddenly concerned with etiquette, struggled with his jacket, searching for a sleeve. “How are you all?” he said. Arianna smiled. This confused Graziano for a moment and as he tried to walk over to her, buttoning up his jacket as he did, he slipped on the rug and almost fell. She laughed. Up until then, I hadn’t realized how drunk he was.

“Why don’t the two of you sit down?” Eva said. “That seems safer.”

But I said we had to leave right away, we had an appointment.

Graziano looked at me in surprise, then joined in the game. “Sure,” he said, puffing at his cigar butt, “a whole bunch of appointments. That’s what we’re like.”

“Just for a while,” Arianna said, abandoning her cards. “Please!”

“They said they have things to do,” Eva said. The others said nothing, looking at us with conciliatory smiles.

“But they only just arrived!” Arianna said.

Something in her voice hit Graziano in some particularly sensitive spot, because he again looked at her and the smile faded on his lips. “Whose are you?” he said, without taking his eyes off her. Someone laughed, which annoyed him. “What’s the matter?” he said. “Can’t I ask a question?” Then he suddenly fell silent, swayed, and looked around for support. The only thing at hand was a little table with a Chinese vase on it, which wobbled alarmingly. For a moment, we all grimaced, as if hearing the smash. Seeing Eva look so ashen cheered me up and I took Graziano by the arm and walked him over to a chair. “Never sit down,” he said, raising a finger. “Nobody may come to help you up.” Then he moved me aside to get a better view of Arianna. “What shall we talk about?”

“The subjunctive?” she said.

“Where we’re going to dinner, you, me, and Leo,” Graziano said. “This is Leo. My best friend.”

“I thought as much,” Arianna said.

“But didn’t you have an appointment?” Eva said, her lips still pursed even though she’d recovered from her fright.

“Canceled,” Graziano said. “All our appointments have been canceled. Why don’t you come along too? Let’s all go eat some leftovers at Charlie’s. Charlie’s leftovers are the best in town.”

“Drop it,” I said. “Maybe another time.”

“That’s what you always say. You can’t fool me, you always know a thing or two.”

“I guarantee it,” Arianna said.

“All right, all right,” he said, raising his finger. “Never insist. It isn’t good taste. I’m getting up now,” he said, starting to summon his legs.

I tried to help him, but he pushed me away, and so we all sat there watching his resurgence. He managed to stand on his third attempt, and Arianna gave a little laugh. “If you want something done, do it yourself, right?” she said.