“I wasn’t expecting a talk like that,” he said before we parted. “I wasn’t expecting it to have … that kind of theoretical concern. It was very good, very instructive. Not just for the kids.”

You sometimes feel happy when you think you’ve done something well, I thought as I walked to my office.

Definitely feeling happy.

126

12

I had kept Lorenza informed of developments by telephone. Since her visit to the office, I hadn’t seen her again. Two days before the hearing she called me.

“I’m sorry, Guido, will I be disturbing you if I drop by this afternoon?”

“No, that’s fine.”

“If it’s all the same to you I’d prefer to make it late, when you’ve finished with your other appointments. That way we can talk in peace, without worrying about keeping someone waiting.”

I took a quick glance at my diary and told her to come at 8.30, when I would definitely have got through my other commitments. When everyone’s gone, I also thought, as if I had something to hide. A rather absurd thought, I told myself, quickly dismissing it.

She arrived a few minutes early. Pasquale announced her and admitted her to my office. He asked me if I still needed him and I replied thank you, I didn’t need anything, he could go. The others, Consuelo and the trainees, had already left.

“Thank you for seeing me today, I know you’re very busy.”

I simply nodded and smiled rather stiffly, then asked her if she’d like a coffee or a fruit juice or something else to drink. I don’t know why, but I was sure she would say no, thanks.

So when she replied that she’d have a coffee I was surprised. It was a trifle, but it made me think how we speculate 127about things, and are extremely certain about them, only to see them just as easily proved wrong.

I went to make the coffee, grabbed a fruit juice for myself and returned to my office. Lorenza had stood up and was looking around.

“I didn’t really take it in last time, but this doesn’t look like a lawyer’s office. Not that I have much experience of them, but it’s different from how I would have imagined it, definitely very different from Costamagna’s.”

I had been in Costamagna’s office. His office was all in walnut, with leather armchairs and shelves filled with law books. It really was hard to imagine decor that was more different.

“If you want to smoke, go ahead,” I said, “it doesn’t bother me. In fact, I like the smell of cigarette smoke in here. It makes me feel at least fifteen years younger.”

“How did you know I still smoke?” she asked.