October 19 – The reception at the Campidoglio had some great moments, they tell me. I was not even able to get to Piazza Venezia because of the crowd. There was a calmer curiosity in the air which I liked. This calm degenerated perhaps into indifference in the bus drivers and ticket salesmen, who looked tired and nervous. Trapped for hours, always hoping that the crowds would disperse, they did not abandon their vehicles. A few idiots were already getting mad at the Martian: ‘What the heck did he come here for?’ said a ticket salesman. A colleague of his answered: ‘Do you think that life on Mars can measure up to life in Rome? Would you live on Mars?’ ‘I’d sooner die,’ replied the first one. A bit later, walking by again, I heard the same two talking about football. Next Sunday there will be a fairly important match.

At the Campidoglio, the mayor made a fool of himself speaking of Rome, master of civilization. There were a few coughs, the gaffe was unfixable by now, and the mayor did not insist on the subject, limiting himself to praising the planetary system, the discovery of which was aided by Galileo, with his telescope and his studies on the sun. The Martian was smiling, and at a certain point it seems that he leaned in close to the ear of a cardinal sitting beside him to tell him something. The cardinal smiled paternally. When they offered him a certificate of honorary citizenship, the Martian said a few words. The loudspeakers broadcasted them, but not clearly. The press reports them, it’s nothing special, maybe we expected more effort out of him; but you must also keep the delicate situation of the Martian in mind, he feels he’s a guest.

October 21 – The first photograph of the Martian, they say, was sold the very evening of his arrival for three million to an American news agency. The fortunate photographer could have made more, but he gave in real quick at the sight of the banknotes.

The political life seems to have come to a halt. Today the Martian attended a session of the Chamber of Deputies. The speakers stuttered. A proposed law to increase certain customs tariffs has been unanimously approved, euphorically. The deputies were all dressed in black tie, and they gave way to each other with courteous detachment. ‘It seemed –’ Vittorio Gorresio told me – ‘like the last day of school.’ Everyone pretended not to look at the Martian, well knowing that the Martian was observing everyone. It seems that the Martian had a good impression of it all.

October 27 – What is the Martian doing? We await new information, and hope there is big news. For now the papers limit themselves to informing us on how he spends his time. One could point out that he participates in too many receptions, banquets and cocktail parties: but he does have some diplomatic obligations, and he’s the only one to fulfil them. Perhaps there is a conspiracy of silence concerning his intentions, which he may have clearly expressed to the government. The Communists already say so, albeit covertly. There were rumours of his decision to leave, and an evening paper sold a hundred thousand copies publishing the news, refuted later on, that the Martian had left. Many photographs of the Martian are still published. They say that the aristocracy, however, has abandoned him. But these are inevitable tall tales. And already some shady bon mots, some atrocious witticisms are repeated. I won’t relate them, as they are very humiliating to the human race.