Roman Holiday

Chapter 1 Trip to Rome.

April,

I'd just finished the bursary exam, some of the papers were quite tough, especially history, but I found the maths papers were surprisingly straightforward. I solved all the problems with about half an hour to spare, but felt a little uneasy, as nearly everyone else was still writing and I wondered if I'd missed a question. I looked on the other side of the question sheet to check that there no questions there, quite a common occurrence. Thankfully, I'd not missed any! I handed in my paper and left the others too it.

As I left the examination hall, I was joined by a tall lad, who looked vaguely familiar, was sure I'd seen him before.

He asked if I'd done all the questions.

"Of course, otherwise I still be in there! Hadn't he finished?"

He replied that he'd had and found the papers quite easy. I agreed, he then asked,

"Don't you play flute in our school orchestra?"

"Yes, you must be a new member?"

"Yeh, I play double bass and piano, but there are too many brilliant pianists around and not many willing to look after the double bass, I've been landed with the job for the summer!"

"So, you're a reluctant recruit?"

"Press-ganged by our music director! He said that the forthcoming tour would do me good, broaden my musical horizons and all that. I'm not very good at double bass, just started to play in a band, some friends had started a couple of years back, I've played piano for years, working on grade 8, but not nearly good enough to play solo in front of an audience. I'm Charlie Evans by the way and you're?"

"Louise Donaldson. I'm sure you're being too modest, Charlie."

"No Louise, sorry to say, it's the simple truth, my main interests are in maths and physics, I like music, but it's only a diversion, and a useful way of socializing."

"Well, I'd can't say I'm an outstanding musician either, I can play the flute well enough to keep my place in the orchestra, but I don't relish playing solos! I'm starting a law degree this coming September but was thinking of doing a few courses in applied maths, and stats to keep the numerical part of my brain working."

"I imagine that'll be quite useful if you want to do tax or commercial law, can't say that appeals to me much, though. Not a bit, to be honest!"

"Well, it takes all sorts, Charlie! Do you fancy a cup of coffee, there's a new café opened down in Ashton Road?"

"Yes, I noticed, not sure I can afford it though."

Louise looked at him curiously, how could this be? Who was so poor that they couldn't afford a coffee, never come across this before.

"Och, never mind Charlie, I'll pay and when you win the Math's bursary you can return the favour!"

"That seems a good arrangement, I think you're pretty safe, I'm fairly confident that I'll the prize!"

"Oh really, Charlie! What makes you so confident?"

"Well, I was a winner at the Junior Maths Olympiad, last year, and was the only Scottish contestant."

"Mmm, I know a little about that competition, it excludes girls! We've our own competition. How d'you know that there's isn't a girl who might beat you to it?"

"Well of course it's possible, although unlikely, how do you rate your own chances?"

"We'll see Charlie, we'll see! But tell me about yourself?"

Not much to know, my Dad was killed in Cyprus doing his National Service about ten years ago, and Mum works as a secretary and we live in a council flat in Kelvingrove. I was good at maths, so won a scholarship to School, and at school was given special tuition. I was lucky, the tutors are very good, one of them is the music director. I think he quite fancies my Mum, which is a little awkward. He pretends there's nothing going on, even although I've seen them together!"

Louise notices that Charlie is looking upset, "surely your Mum is allowed to have relationships now that she's a widow? How old is she?"

"About 45."

"So, she was widowed at 35 and you expect her to remain a celibate widow for the rest of her life? That seems a little unreasonable, don't you think?"

Charlie says nothing, then mutters, "it's just that I feel so close to her. She's my only parent, and I guess I feel that I've exclusive rights to her love and care."

"Well Charlie, I think that's extremely selfish and childish of you, to say the least. You'll be wanting to have a girlfriend, won't you? So, what'll your Mum do when she's no longer the centre of your egocentric universe?"

"I'd not thought much about it, I suppose I am a bit self-centred, what with school and working for the maths bursary and now the orchestra and no brothers or sisters. But it was a shock to realise that Mum was carrying on with one of my teachers, and he's divorced!"

"Well at least he's not still married!"

"Also, I don't like her sharing her bed with another man!"

"Ah, so we come to the heart of the matter! Is your Mum's name, Jocasta by any chance?"

"No, it's Rachel and that's a bit rude, Louise! We read the Oresteia in Greek last year!" He sniffs.

"Well bully for you! I've read Freud's 'Interpretation of Dreams,' only in English, mind. You must realise that it isn't natural or healthy to want your Mum to devote herself entirely to your needs!"

"Looked at objectively, I suppose not, but I saw them the other day, in bed together and it was really upsetting, it was almost enough to stop me from attending the Bursary exams."

"Sounds, as if you must have been really upset then! What were they doing? what did you see?"

"I was supposed to be at the chess club, but I'd a headache and came home early after losing a game, very annoying and it hasn't happened for about a year! When I got home, I heard some noises in Mum's bedroom and saw them through the door which was ajar, they didn't see me, thank goodness! They were both naked and she was lying on top of him with his willy in her mouth and she had her legs around his head."

"So how do you know it was your teacher?"

"I saw enough to recognise him although he seemed to be kissing her private parts!"

"That sounds quite exciting, so your Mum knows your teacher quite well, does she?"

"They met for the first time at parent's evening, when she came to the school before Christmas."

"It must have been going on since then, about three or four months, plenty of time to become acquainted!"

"It seems so!"

"So, what did you do? Burst in on them and create a scene?"

"No, I was so shocked, I left the house and took a walk down by the Clyde along the Broomielaw, for an hour or so. When I returned, he'd left, nothing has been said about it since. I don't think Mum or Craig Watt know that I'm aware that she's seeing him."

"So, am I the first you've told, about it?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps you should keep it that way for the time being, after all it may only be a short-term relationship, your Mum may want to try out other blokes and positions before she settles permanently on this guy. But I also think that as you're going to uni soon, maybe you should try to loosen the apron strings. Maybe you should find a girlfriend and take her home to your Mum?"

"Is that an offer, Louise? Do you have a current boyfriend?"

"Not currently, like you I've been too busy with these exams!"

"Perhaps we could go to the Scottish National Orchestra concert at St Andrew's Hall on Saturday, we could use the complimentary tickets the orchestra hands out?

"Ok, that's a date, I'll see you at 6.45 on Saturday evening outside the Hall, do you have any tickets, left?

"Yes, I've got all six, as I haven't had time to use any yet."

"Ok, bring two along as I didn't bother to pick mine up."

"Ok, don't forget we'll be sitting behind to orchestra, so you'll have to dress smartly."

"I can do smart ok, and I've a skirt that covers my knees! See you Saturday evening."

There was an unusually large crowd, as the soloist was Moura Lympany, a very popular English pianist, who'd made her reputation with Khachaturian's Piano concerto. Which she was playing tonight. There was also Haydn Clock Symphony and Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture, to start. We were seated a few rows behind the piano directly above the keyboard, so had an excellent view of Moura as she played the demanding concerto. The percussionist had a turn at playing a saw in the second movement, which was a novelty for almost everyone in the audience and probably the percussionist! I enjoyed her playing, Charlie, seemed less happy. She played a couple of Chopin mazurkas as encores, which got tremendous applause. There was a happy buzz from the crowd as they left the shoebox shaped hall and moved into the foyer, I bumped into my friend Neil, who I'd not seen since summer in St Andrews, he was with an older lady, could have been his mother, or an Aunt. When our eyes met, his lit up and he smiled. "Hi Louise, I'm sorry we seem to have lost touch!"

"Oh, that's ok Neil, I've been busy with the Bursary exam, which is just finished, thank goodness. Oh, by the way this is Charlie, who's also just sat for the maths Bursary and we're both off on tour with our school orchestra soon."

"That'll be nice for you, Louise, this is my mother, by the way."

The lady's eyes met mine, she smiled enigmatically but says nothing. To break the pregnant pause, I say, "We must be going, see you around Neil."

"Yes Louise, we'll catch up soon."

Charlie was glowering silently and seemingly relieved to get away from this unexpected reminder that he wasn't the only male in the offing. When we were walking through Charing Cross to catch the bus, he asked me unexpectedly, if I'd like to come home and meet his Mum.

"From our last conversation, I thought you might like to meet her."

"Have you told her to expect me?"

"No, I haven't mentioned anything about you."

"So, my visit might come as an unpleasant surprise!"

"I doubt it, Louise, but do come I'm curious to see her reaction."

"Ok, then."

Charlie's home was only a few bus-stops away along Argyle St. It took about ten minutes. We climbed up the close steps to the first floor flat, which was surprisingly roomy and comfortable, Rachel was a small sharp featured dark-haired woman, in her mid-forties with pleasant features, although she looked fatigued and very 'The Quiet American'.

"Hello, Louise, I'm Rachel, Charlie's Mum"

"Hello Mrs Evans, nice to meet you."

"So have you also been to the concert?"

"Yes, it was very enjoyable, Moura Lympany was very good, although I don't think Charlie was as impressed."

"Yes, I've heard her on the radio, she's very popular and has won lots of competitions, hasn't she?"

"I believe so, but I haven't followed her career, though they mentioned something about that in the programme notes."

"So how did you two meet, Charlie?"

"Oh, we both finished the exam early on Wednesday and got talking outside."

"You were doing the maths paper for the Bursary, were you, Louise? She seemed surprised. "Not many girls sit that, it must have been very hard."

"Perhaps for some, but maybe less so for Charlie and me." I smile at her winsomely, she doesn't respond as warmly as I'd have expected.

Instead, she said, "Blonde beauty isn't often associated with brains!"

"Then, I must be an exception to that cliché, Rachel!"

"My, my! Not just a pretty face, a fighter too! Do you intend to study maths at university?"

"No, Law, but I'll do some maths courses along the way."

"We're both in the school orchestra, Louise plays flute."

"That's nice Charlie. So, you're also going on the orchestral tour next month?"

"Yes, it was the prospect of going on the tour that kept me at school this year, I could have been at uni this year."

"Yes, Charlie wanted to do that too, but he was dissuaded by one of his teachers, Mr Watt, was the one who also persuaded him to join the orchestra so that he could meet girls. He's a bit shy, don't you think?"

"Yes, he's a very good teacher, he occasionally comes to our school too, to teach advanced maths."

Charlie was startled by this, "You didn't tell me you knew him, Louise!"

"No, it didn't seem appropriate when you spoke about him the other day."

"Don't you think you should have?"

"No, Charlie, I thought it better not to mention it."

"What were you saying about Craig to Louise, Charlie?" Rachel interjected quietly.

Charlie, blushed and didn't say anything.

"We were discussing the pain Charlie was feeling about your intimate relationship with Mr Watt. I think Charlie, may be jealous, as he feels entitled to your exclusive love. Incidentally, I don't think he's entitled to that, Mothers shouldn't hold their sons to their bosoms for too long!"

"Are you suggesting that he might like to hold yours instead, Louise?"

"He hasn't said! Would you like to hold my boobs, Charlie?"

Charlie, blushes, "Why? are you offering to let me?"

"Maybe, if you ask nicely and your Mummy doesn't object! But what do you have for me? Am I allowed to hold your willy?"

"Really, Louise, how coarse and unladylike! I've a good mind to report you to your headmistress."

"I'd go carefully with that, Mum! Louise is merely talking about it, but I saw you sucking Mr Watt's willy the other day! You pot! Louise kettle."

"Oh dear! I thought I'd heard you come back early from chess the other day! So, there's no point in me denying what you saw. Yes, Craig and I have been having a relationship, since Christmas. Nothing to be ashamed of! But we've kept it from you as we didn't want to cause you any upset before your exams. But now they're over, you might as well know!"

"But I did know, before the exam and it did upset me! Although, I don't think it's affected my exam performance."

"Good, but what's all this about expecting my exclusive love. You're not a baby anymore, Charlie, and I'd never want to stop you from having girlfriends. Why don't you and Louise go to your room for a private discussion, and I'll see what I can make us for supper."

"But you don't understand Mum! Although it didn't affect my performance whilst I was concentrating on the problems during my exams, I can't erase the image of you and Craig, having sex, I suppose you could call it. It feels like it's been burned into my brain!"

"Perhaps, you need an alternative strong image, or intense feeling to displace it, Charlie. I've just been reading a book by D. H Lawrence, 'Sons and Lovers' it's very much based on the theme of how mother love can destroy men."

"Didn't he also write a dirty book that the censor has banned?" asked Rachel, perhaps to divert from the awkwardness of Charlie's obsession.

"Yes, Rachel, I've read it too. My Aunt May gave me a smuggled copy that her friend had brought from France. You can buy it there and bring it back here, so long as you don't flaunt it when you go through the customs. It's about an unhappy couple, Sir Clifford Chatterley, a rich and powerful mine-owner, who's paralysed from the waist down by a war wound and can't make love. His wife, Lady Constance, is frustrated because she realises that although she loved her husband once, now that the physical part of their relationship had been destroyed, she feels distanced from him. The life of the mind isn't enough to make a satisfactory marital relationship, at least not for her! She's attracted to their game keeper, Oliver Mellors, who lives and works on the estate. At first, she's charmed by his physicality, a contrast with Oliver, but gradually as Mellors teaches her about the natural world, they form a more complete relationship, involving both body and mind. Mellors is also unhappily married, to a woman who wants nothing from him but sex. He finds that a turn off. The book has graphic descriptions of the love making, involving descriptions of their several body parts, not least her blond pubic hair, which I can respond to. The contrast emphasises that the only satisfactory relationship must include a union between body and mind, one or other is insufficient. Apart from the themes about sexual love, other themes, involve exploitation of the miners, by the land-owning class."

"Would you lend it to me Louise? I'd like to read it."

"Ok, Rachel, from what's been said, you seem have an open mind about what is permissible in a relationship. Maybe you should read it too Charlie, some of the graphic scenes may help you to release you from your Oedipal fixation, so that you can more easily transfer your erotic focus to someone else.

"You seem to have knowledge and experience well beyond your years, Louise! I don't decry that in any way, but I'm curious to know how you acquired it?

"Some of the members of my family are very broad minded and permissive, and their attitudes probably have rubbed off on me. Perhaps these ideas are a little in advance of the rest of the population, at least here in Glasgow, but in another few years I'm sure that nobody'll think of these tolerant attitudes towards women's sexuality and freedom as unusual. Can't you feel that women's liberation from paternalist attitudes is on the rise?"

Rachel was silent. Charlie interjected, "Would you like to see my maths Olympic medal, Louise?"

"Sure, I'd love to come close to such a prestigious award, I doubt that I'll ever have one of my own!"

When they go to Charlies room, he proudly shows his medal won at the Junior maths, Olympiad, she gives him a kiss, "now, you see, that being open, clears the air and reduces tension, in this case, at least."

"I owe you Louise! I realise now that Mum should be able to have relationships. Craig Watt is a good kind man and great maths teacher! Perhaps preparing for the exams made me a bit overwrought?"

"Yes, probably it did! Me too, by the way!"

"Another thing, I'd really like to touch your boobs."

"So, what's stopping you? I said rubbing my chest against him, he puts his hand on my breast as if it's radioactive, and I can feel it tremble and a hard swelling grow in his groin. I give it a gentle stroke. His hips make jerking movements and he cums at once! A large wet stain develops in place of the swelling.

"So sorry Louise!"

"Not to worry! It happens all the time Charlie, but you should change your trousers otherwise your Mum may want to telephone my headmistress! Also, despite what your Mum just said, I'm not qualified to be your therapist, nor do I wish to be; but I'll lend you my copy Lady Chatterley, it may shake you out of that recurrent image of your Mum and Craig shagging like gibbons in a zoo! But mind! I don't want it returned with any nasty stains, so read it carefully! I must be off! See you at rehearsals next week."

The Bursary results were published in the Glasgow Herald the following month, Charlie, came top in Maths and won a prestigious and valuable prize, enough to pay for his trip abroad with the orchestra and his studies at uni and allow him bragging rights for rest of his days, if he could find anyone to listen to him. Louise also did as well as she'd wanted. However, she was a becoming bored with the way the rest of her life was going.

Nothing had felt as exciting as the time she'd had with Henri, Rob, Davie, Neil, and Simone in St Andrews last year, or the little adventure she'd had in Troon; Charlie was nice, but he didn't make her juices flow in the way she knew they could. She wanted more fun. Perhaps she'd find it in Rome.

She decided to drop a note to her old friend Davie and let him know when she'd be in Rome playing with the orchestra at the old church in Trastevere. Perhaps they could meet? She also mentioned that she'd be staying on, for a month after their concert to learn Italian at language school.

Chapter 2 Rome at last!

When we assembled at the airport to take the plane to Rome, we were all keyed up. Although Rome had been quite badly damaged in the war, it had managed to shake off the misery and was regaining its attraction for tourists and pilgrims. For the majority, the religious aspects of the trip weren't in the least important, most of the orchestra weren't Catholics, they just wanted to see the famous sites, the Vatican, the Colosseum and the remains of the Roman Forum and ruins on Palatine hill that they'd read about in their school Latin texts.

Although musically, we were all very rusty, as we'd all been busy with exams, of course, we still wanted to make a decent showing at the concert. The Music director, Miss Brenda Wiley, head of music at our school, seemed very anxious and was showing signs of losing self-control, having a wee weep every now and again. Louise not very discretely thought that what she really needed was a good screwing. There was general agreement that this would sort her out, probably.

Craig Watt, the boys' school Musical Director who'd come along to assist, was perfectly aware that some of the lads might go a bit wild on their first visit away from home and with a mixed group, they'll like to show-off a bit!

"But they're basically nice kids, so what could go wrong?" he mused. "Nothing he hadn't dealt with before, although keeping track of thirty or forty vigorous adolescents in a busy city like Rome might be a problem. Maybe they should be told that they should never go out by themselves? Who knows what might happen to some of the girls? That Louise is quite a looker and liable to attract all kinds of undesirables, and young Charlie, very bright at maths, but otherwise completely clueless! His Mum's been over-protective for far too long, still she seems to have thawed a bit in the last month or so, since he finished the Bursary exams. She's much more relaxed about being seen out with me too."

The youth hostel where they were staying in central Rome came as very pleasant surprise, a huge contrast to their sordid counterparts in Scotland! It was in an old palazzo, with limestone walls, marble floors, large windows. They all had airy bright spacious two bedded rooms. The boys were on the top floor and girls, on the first floor. However, there were several sets of staircases, so impossible to keep track of any stray nocturnal movements between floors. The main door, of course was guarded by the manager's staff.

As there were nineteen girls, by chance Louise was allotted a room to herself as she was one of the oldest, nearly nineteen, a few kind souls, who thought she might feel left out, offered to let her join up, as a threesome, but she politely declined, saying she was quite happy to sleep by herself; what she did normally! She hid that she was quite relieved that she didn't have to explain any possible toing and froing.

She'd heard from Davie, and he'd said that he'd meet her next day at 5.00pm in the Piazza Navona by Bernini's famous Fontana die quattro fiumi, Fountain of Four Rivers. This had been assigned as free time when no doubt, Craig and Bren, after a torturous day of rehearsals, would be sedating themselves with magnum doses of alcohol. She could easily skip off unnoticed. They certainly had a lot more work to do before they'd be able to keep in time. Some of the second violins and cellos left much to be desired! Atrocious! If I were, Bren, I'd suggest that the useless ones, just pretended to play during the difficult bits, a few of them could barely read music, the boys especially!

One of the new lads was quite fanciable, a trombonist. He'd been shoe-horned in at the last minute. I think his name's Dean, he's been accepted for Medicine. He'd a cheery smile, nice ash blond hair and a ruddy complexion, and a big chunky body, and a fuck you attitude, gave him a clear edge, by a long way. Mind you, sometimes his trombone playing's a bit erratic! Seems to want to extemporise! I think he thinks he's in a jazz band. If Davie has become a religious freak, as plan B, she might see how Dean responds to a bit of encouragement. Meanwhile, there are the morning and afternoon's rehearsals to get through, that will be grim. I just hope Bren can hold her water, at least till the concert's over!

In the morning, rehearsals, which were held in a large hall in the hostel basement, went as badly as Louise feared they would. Bren became more and more agitated and edgy, the second violins and the back row cellos too were all over the place, out of tune and time and some of the brasses were also bit dodgy.

The Mendelssohn overture was enough to give everyone seasickness, spewing their guts all over the deck. By 11.00 poor Bren started to sob on the rostrum and had to call a break. The section leaders, I'd been promoted to head of winds, as I was the most experienced, although far from the most talented, gathered round and Craig came over to us. He told us that Miss Wiley was feeling unwell and had gone to her room, so he'd be taking over the conductor's role, at least for today.

I asked, if it mightn't be better to silence some of the dodgier performers during the difficult bits.

"Not a bad idea, Louise, do you know who might be told to remain silent during these more taxing sections? I can work out which bits are too taxing for them and ask them to be quiet and tell the others to turn up their sound volume to compensate."

"I know the girls I'd like to eliminate altogether, but not sure of the boys, I imagine you know them much better, Craig."

"I don't think we should kill anyone, Louise, not today anyway! That was a joke, by the way."

"I never joke about matters of life and death, Mr Watt!" I smile.

"Well, they have to stay with the orchestra, some of their parents will be coming along to the performance, and I don't want to have to have any embarrassing conversations afterward. It might create bad feeling back home, I'm sure you understand?"

"Fully, Craig! How would it be if I write down the names of those girls' who should be turned off, and you do the same for the boys and I'm afraid you'll have to be quite open about this to everyone, as the rest will have to play louder. Also, by the next rehearsal can you work out which bars where these changes will take place?"

"Ok, Louise, I'll go and clear this with Bren and ask for her help in selecting the difficult bits to reconfigure the orchestral score sheets.

"We'll reconvene around 2.00pm and finish about 4.30. which'll give us tomorrow morning for a dress-rehearsals."

Craig went upstairs and knocked on Brenda Wiley's door. After a minute, she opened the door, teary and bleary eyed, she was wearing a skimpy thin cotton nightdress.

"Oh, it's you Craig, excuse my state of undress, it's so hot and I've a headache. It's such a relief that you're here to support. I don't know what we should do! We can't possibly let them play in their present state!"

She burst into tears and slumped on the bed, head hanging low. Craig puts a comforting arm around her.

She's unmarried about 35, nice looking and well spoken, and never had much to do with men. Her experiences in that department had been disappointing, though she liked Craig. Craig, since he'd been divorced about five or six few years before, had acquired a wide acquaintanceship with women. He'd found there was really no shortage of willing ladies, looking for a bit of comfort from a good-looking middle-aged, middle-class divorcée.

"Ok Bren, here's what we're going to do. That bright young thing, Louise, suggested that we ask the incompetent players in the second violins and the back row of the cellos to stay silent during the difficult bits, which you and I will itemise shortly, and tell everyone to note the bar numbers this afternoon. We'll ask the others to play louder during these bits. We'll see how this goes this afternoon and run through it again tomorrow morning before the performance in the afternoon."

"Sound's plausible, can I see which girls Louise has fingered, she's a mind of her own, has that wee ptarmigan! But she's clever and knows what she wants and usually gets it!" After glancing at the list, she nods. "Yes, I agree. I imagine you know which lads to suppress, Craig?"

"Yes, and we have to agree meanwhile which excepts to select for silencing, I'll give you a hand, if you wish." He holds her right shoulder tighter and without thinking slides the other hand and cups her left breast which has become partially exposed. He feels her nipples engorge and she turns towards him, they kiss and fall backwards on the bed, the nightgown rides up over her thighs.

"I don't have any protectors on me Bren!"

"Oh, that's ok, I'm infertile that's the main reason for my celibate state, but I haven't done this for a while so..."

She watches curiously as Craig removes is trousers and underpants and his stubby phallus finds her opening receptive. They enjoy an energetic and fortifying coupling which reaches a satisfactory conclusion for both.

"That was nice Bren!"

"Just what I needed Craig, now let's get to the other work!"

They shared out the three pieces of music and finish their modifications in time for lunch.

"I suggest, I rehearse the strings whilst you take care of the rest, Craig and then we'll take the whole ensemble through the edited portions again later this afternoon. It's mainly the strings needing attention, the brass and winds are easier to deal with, I'll join the string's and you take over the conducting."

"Ok Bren, good thinking! Perhaps we can have a drink together later, if you're not too busy, maybe back in my room?"

"I'd like that if you're not too worn out! Craig"

"Hey, I know I'm quite old, but not burnt out yet, as I think I've demonstrated fairly adequately already and you're a very attractive young lady!"

"Gee thanks! I'm sure you say that to everyone you intend to fuck!"

"Miss Wylie, I'm shocked, I thought you were a lady!"

"Come off it, Craig, we'll see how much reserve you've got left in the tank this evening!"

"The wheels may need a bit of lubrication though Bren!"

"D'you mean we should bring a bottle or that you find me a bit of a dry old stick?"

"Nothing of the kind, you're a luscious peach Bren, very juicy!"

The changes went smoothly, the weaker players were all thankful that they needn't play music that was beyond their competence, so felt less nervous and better able to concentrate on keeping in time during the manageable bits they were left to play. The others were more relaxed too, as the overall sound was more mellifluous. So, everyone including Bren, was happier by the time rehearsals finished at 4.30pm and they dispersed.

Louise ran upstairs to change and nipped down the backstairs and walked briskly to the Piazza Navona, where she found Davie waiting by the fountain. He looked much thinner, paler and sadder than she remembered. He was wearing his novitiates' black suit with priestly dog collar and as usual, smoking. She had brought him a carton of his favourite brand, Capstan Original Navy Cut. "Davie, how nice to see you again!"

"Shh, Louise there are watchers all over the place, observing the young novitiate with the gorgeous blond chick and my goodness you're even more stunning than when I saw you last! I'd really, really, like to give you a hug and long sexy kiss, but it'd get me thrown out of Rome. That wouldn't be good, not at the moment; things have been difficult enough!"

"My goodness Davie! You must tell me all about it, can we go to a café and talk about it, I'll pay of course, I know they keep you short of cash."

"Not so much actually, I've a fairly decent allowance, but feel free to support a poor novitiate! I know a quiet place, near here where being seen together won't cause too much of a sensation!"

They go to a quiet small bar in one of the narrow side-street near the Piazza; the proprietario di café seemed to know Davie, he nodded and raises his eyebrows when he sees he's with Louise. "Cosa vorresti bere questa sera Davie E la bellissima signorina? Dovrai stare attento Davie, i muri hanno gli occhi!" he yells, as a welcome.

"I understood that Davie, you seem to have a reputation around here! I'll have a Campari and tonic what about you Davie?

"Oh, a beer and a glass of grappa."

The drinks arrive pronto, and Davie downed the grappa in a oner, "un altro?"

"Aye, Pietro!" The second grappa appears at once and Davie downs this too.

"Hey Davie, slow down, you'll be stocious in no time and how'll ye' get home?"

"Sì signorina, è la stessa ogni sera."

"Pietro also seems a bit concerned about your welfare Davie! He also understands Scottish!"

"Aye, I come here most nights to try to relax. It's much tougher than I thought it'd be!"

"So, do you regret being here? Are you homesick, or what?"

"It's the constant niggling criticism, humiliation and propaganda that comes at you, morning, noon and all night, on and on and on, they're trying to brainwash us into obedient robots!"

"Shh Davie! walls have ears, as well as eyes!" He nods, but doesn't seem to care, the grappa has already done its work.

"Is there anything you enjoy about it."

"No, Not really. The academic work is ok, I quite like that, but it's always wrapped up in this envelope of propaganda inculcating Papal infallibility and all the shit that goes with it. That goes for the Cardinals around here too and especially, the faculty of Scots College!"

"So, what is it that you object to? After all, you signed up for it willingly enough!"

"Oh, all the usual stuff, the evils of contraception, communism and Jewish hegemony over the media and US capital markets."

"It sounds a bit mad. Why? What's the rationale?"

"It's driven by a few right wingers in the Curia who've the almost medieval belief that the more children born to true Catholic believers, the more souls will be delivered up to Jesus. That's why they won't sanction contraception in any form. So, the population of most African countries, particularly the most underdeveloped in sub-Sahara, currently is rising unsustainably! The consequences, namely wars, hunger and famine, are of no concern to the Holy Fathers in the Curia, the more souls for Jesus and more money in the till! They only see things from the platforms they sit on, when the deign to visit these benighted places. This policy gets in the way of the good work being done in Central and South America, which is being starved of cash, as they suspect the Jesuits there are all communist sympathisers!"

"But Davie, when I listen to radio broadcasts and stuff explaining the Catholic mission, they're always going on about saving the Africans from themselves! Our lot too of course, especially in their beloved Rhodesia!"

"Aye, they use the world poverty issue as their main propaganda tool to raise cash!"

"Davie, are you sure that your real beef isn't that you just don't like the authoritarian regime that's embedded in the seminary."

"In part you're right, Louise; to a man, the teachers are sadists and sexual predators! If you don't agree to have sex with them, or more accurately, let them have sex with you, they'll make your life extra hellish, and they're extremely adept at that. Unlike our friend Simone, I don't wish to be sodomised up the bum, by a sweaty bloke. Definitely not! So, its extra fasts and longer prayers of repentance for sins present, past and contemplated for Davie and there's no comeback, no appeal! Theirs is the sacred word of Jesus!"

"Oh Davie, it sounds terrible, I'm so sorry. What a disappointment for you and how disillusioning! What can you do?"

"Get out as soon as my contract lets me. If I leave before two years, they'll make sure I'll be unable to get back into higher education. They have plenty of sympathisers in Scotland!"

"I'd not have thought so, Davie, I'd have thought the Glasgow University Senate is only slightly less anti-Pape than Rangers Football Club Board of Management, or the Orange Lodges!"

"You'd be surprised, about 30% of the Glasgow students are Catholics and there's a Catholic mission on campus with Catholic halls of residence. So, they have a big say."

"Well keep a hold of yourself Davie and maybe wear reinforced underwear!"

"Good idea Louise! Actually, one thing I've noticed since coming here is that my libido has diminished, probably all the fasting and sleep deprivation!"

"Very sorry to hear that too, Davie, I was looking forward to a bit of a cuddle in my room."

"Sorry, if I were seen going into your room whilst wearing my uniform, it certainly would be reported!"

"So, change into mufti!"

"I don't have any other clothes! They've made sure of that!"

"I could buy you some summer wear, not too expensive."

"Nay, Louise, I wish it were possible, but you must be a Papal cleric or in the Curia, or run your own parish, before you have that kind of freedom. They own me, certainly my body, if not soul!"

"What a pity, I'll be in Rome for a month or so learning Italian and I was hoping we could meet up."

"Oh, there's nothing to stop us from meeting now and again in the evening and if you have a flat perhaps with a rear entrance maybe something could be arranged, although I repeat, if we were caught, I'd be for the high jump, probably from the roof of St Pietro! But we could ask this other Pietro here if he knows of anywhere?

"That could be good! D'you trust him to stay quiet and not blackmail you?"

"Och aye, he's got cousins you run a café in Troon, Biggs. Maybe you've heard of it?"

"Strangely enough, I have! My Aunt May, who lives in Troon, recommends it highly, I must try it sometime! Still there no shortage of Italian ice-cream here in Rome, I imagine, would you like one?"

"No, but I'll ask Pietro if he knows of a small flat to let for a month. Do you want to share it with anyone.

"No, I'd prefer to be by myself to work on my Italian."

"Is that Italian language?"

"So, you haven't lost your sense of humour entirely!"

"I'll ask him and maybe he'll be able to let us know tomorrow. By the way, I'm coming to the concert, tomorrow, our attendance is considered to be good for public relations."

"Well don't expect much in the way of expert musicianship. The whole orchestra went into meltdown this morning and our teacher had a hysterical fit. Mind you, she seemed more cheerful this afternoon, maybe Mr Watt found a way of straightening her out! Anyway, it may just about pass muster!"

Before, leaving Davie, asked Pietro if he knew of any available flats for the next month. Pietro, said he thought maybe he could fix it, as his niece was visiting her cousins in Troon Scotland next week for a month to learn English. So, Louise might be able to rent the flat for a very reasonable price. It's just around the corner, I can ask my niece, and she can show it to your beautiful girl friend tomorrow evening.

"That would be great, Pietro!" "Molto grazie, arrivederci! Ci vediamo domani!"

Chapter 3

Concert in the Basilica of Santa Maria di Trastevere

The concert was being held in the Basilica of Santa Mari in Trastevere, one of the oldest churches in Rome, parts of it dating from the 4th century AD and contains mosaics of the Madonna and Child. Its façade was restored in the 18th century. The bell tower, Campanile stems from the 12th century. There's an impressive fountain at the front entrance. Inside, above the nave, the ceiling is supported by twenty-two Ionic and Corinthian pillars. On top of the pillars, a second tier consists of wall panels holding either paintings or windows. The magnificent highly decorated embossed ceiling has a painting of the Assumption of the Virgin. All this is outlined and highlighted in gold leaf. In the evening, a yellow glow from the sun illuminates the gold paint and fills the entire space with a glorious orangey buttery light. The Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow had fixed our gig with the Papal authorities several months ago. What a place! and for us to play in! Astonishing and humbling, considering how mediocre, not to say, piss-poor, we really are!"

The orchestra were seated in the semi-circular space at the end of nave. Two rows of seats having been removed to accommodate us in front of the apse. The audience were seated in the aisle, further back. It was so exceedingly grand that almost everyone was overwhelmed when they first entered. Even Craig was a bit stunned by the grandeur of it all. We don't do this kind of thing in Scotland. Our Cathedral in Glasgow is a much more austere, darker space; mind you, still grand in its way, but not in the same league as this!

No sound amplification was available, so Craig told us to play fortissimo in all passage marked forte. The audience would have to sit reasonably close to hear, as the mosaic ceiling above the apse was about 50 feet high, so most of the sound would be lost in the roof. As Mr Watt, who'd looked a bit worse for wear this morning made clear, there was no time to gawk at the building, we'd a job of work to do. He'd taken over Bren's conductor role. Bren, looking a little hung over too, but unusually cheerful and less anxious than usual, was playing along with the first violins.

Once we were seated in traditional orchestral array, first violins to the left of the conductor, with second violins to their left, in the centre, the brass, flutes where I was and wood winds and to the conductor's right, as usual, the violas, cellos and double basses, all three members of percussion section were seated behind us in the centre. I was playing second desk flute, but despite my relative lack of playing ability, I'd been promoted to manager of the wind section. I'd already suggested that the second violins should mime the bits when they were silent, so that the audience wouldn't know. Craig thought this was a really positive idea and the others fell in with this face-saving move. He'd also make sure that they obeyed their entry cues!

The dress rehearsal went ok. Although entrance to concert was free; as with all matters ecclesiastical, a collection was made at the beginning and end of the concert, to defray expenses in upkeep of the Church. We were expecting an audience of about fifty or sixty. We weren't anticipating many locals would be turning up for a visiting school's orchestra. But a surprising number of parents were also expected to come, combining the visit with a sight-seeing holiday. Mine weren't coming, as Dad was busy with a golf tournament and Mum had decided to visit Aunt May in Troon, she said that she wasn't too fond of Italians anyway, although she liked their ice cream! I think the real reason was that she didn't want to cramp my style.

Following the dress rehearsal, we all were more optimistic that it wouldn't be a total disaster, and we wouldn't let the side down. After a light lunch that not many felt like eating, except the lads in the bass and the brass sections, who pretended to be unfazed by the whole business, we had a short rest.

Several in the brass section also played in the Boys Brigade marching bands, so were quite used to making a big noise in public. I was feeling a little nervy!

When more than 150 people turned up! We were astonished. Mostly locals with nothing better to do in the afternoon and, Davie and a few of his cronies had come along for the reception afterwards, I saw him standing with other representatives from the Scottish Seminary. All the black suits at the back made it look as if we were holding a funeral for some grandee.

Mr Watt was dressed in a borrowed black morning coat, grey tie, and grey pinstripe trousers. Very smart! We girls were all dressed in clean white blouses and Hunting Fraser tartan skirts, to show that we were Scottish! The tartan has a blue green background with a thin red stripe. Some girls had wanted Royal Stewart, but Brenda had vetoed this suggestion because it was a bit too bright red and would be distracting, and also associated with Protestantism, which she thought might not go down too well in Rome. The lads wore white shirts black ties and black trousers, also quite smart and conventional.

Bren, also in blouse and kilt sat unobtrusively with the first violins at the back to give them a bit more body and also keep them in time. A sensible decision.

The concert went off surprisingly well, Mendelssohn would probably have recognised his overture, and the rest of the programme also went down well. The audience gave us generous applause and at the end, the seminary lads stood up and gave us a resounding cheer. We all bowed and felt an immense sense of relief that we'd carried the day without any overt mishaps. The Dean of the Basilica gave a speech of thanks in Italian and invited everyone to a reception in the vestry.

At the reception, Brenda, gave the Dean a vote of thanks, both in fluent Italian and English for providing support and welcome and she hoped that the Orchestra would be able to repeat the visit in the coming years.

I knew one of two of the parents and they gave us all fulsome praise, especially Brenda and Craig! I guessed that they couldn't have been music lovers, or maybe they were, but just being normal kind parents! I didn't know, as mine didn't come into any of these categories!

Craig sidled up to me and thanked me for my help with everything and he mentioned that Rachel had asked after me.

"Yes, I was round at her flat a few weeks ago, Charlie and I'd been to a concert together."

"She mentioned, something like that, she also lent me the interesting book you lent them. I've covered it in brown paper in case customs wanted to confiscate it. Of course, they weren't interested. I've found it very stimulating. I think, I'll lend it to Brenda Wiley, if you don't mind? I imagine she'll find it quite an eye opener, as did Rachel!"

"I'd think that they'll both agree with the main points that Lawrence is making about the need for a balance between the life of the body and mind."

"I agree, Rachel and Brenda probably have concentrated too much attention on their minds."

"Well, you know them much better than I! I certainly don't intend to make that mistake, and I don't suppose you've ignored your bodily needs either Mr Watt?"

"Very perceptive of you, Louise; but I'm afraid I must leave you, I've a date. Best of luck with university in September!"

I met up with Davie, and suggested that I return to the hostel before seeing Pietro's niece's apartment,

"I'd like to change out of this exhibitionist stuff."

"Och, you look fine, nobody'll turn a hair!"

"But what about flute and music case?"

"I'll carry them! Come away! I need a proper drink!"

"I might have known! Ok let's go."

We walked for about 10 minutes back to Pietro's, he was waiting with his niece, Lucia. She's a typical Italian young woman, about 19, pretty, olive skin, petite but with large dark brown eyes, black hair, and prominent boobs. "Caio Lucia, I'm Louise, I understand you're going to Troon next week and have an apartment that may be available to rent for the next month?" "Sì, Louise, capisco l'inglese ma al momento non lo parlo bene!"

"Ah, I'm in the opposite position, I can understand what you're saying, but don't speak well. I'll be attending an Italian School for the next month to improve my spoken Italian."

"Ah, allora dobbiamo trovarti un bravo ragazzo con cui parlarti in italiano! Ma vieni a vedere il mio appartamento!" She smiles mischievously.

"Thank you very much for your kind offer, Lucia, but I'd prefer to live in your apartment by myself, at least until I get to know your bravo ragazzo!" she smiles.

"Capisco, completamente! Vieni a vedere il mio apparatamento! Anche tu Davide!"

"So, you know each other Davie?"

"Yes, we're good friends."

We walk round to see the flat which is in the next street on the first floor. A large room with a bathroom and a small kitchen. It looks and smells clean, the furniture is plain, but adequate and the bed linen on the large double bed, respectable. There was a small cooking stove and oven, a refrigerator and sink in the kitchen. A couple of reproductions of ikons and a prominent photograph of the Pope Pius XII. These could be stowed in cupboard for the month. The rent was very reasonable, so we agreed on the deal. "Ok I'll take it for the month and pay you tomorrow. When can I move in?"

"Il giorno dopo domani. Inoltre, una signora che viene una volta alla settimana per pulire l'appartamento. È molto scrupolosa e onesta. Sarai responsabile di pagarla per le settimane in cui sarai nell'appartamento. Le sue tariffe sono molto ragionevoli."

It was a big relief to find that there was a built-in cleaner, who'd change the sheets and towels and clean up. I don't do a lot of house cleaning at home: ok, no cleaning! I'm sure it'll be worth every lira.

"That suits me very well. When do you intend to visit your relatives in Scotland?"

"La sera del dopodomania."

"How convenient! I've an Aunt and Uncle living in Troon, perhaps you'd like to meet them. "In cosa lavori come puoi prenderti un mese di ferie, Louise?

"I'm going to start study Law at university in September, Lucia. What about you?"

"Sono uno studente di graphic design e ho il mese libero in estate per imparare l'inglese, che spero mi sarà utile dato che mi piacerebbe lavorare in Gran Bretagna."

That's excellent Lucia! My uncle in Troon has a photographic studio and he has lots of contracts to do fashion shoots for trade magazines. His studio is very near to your relative's shop, I believe. They probably know him already! I'll give you a note of introduction if you wish?"

"Grazie! Sì, mi piacerebbe incontrare gente scozzese."

"I'm sure my uncle would like to meet you too, he's an excellent photographer, he might want to take some photos of you. He's always looking for attractive new talent!"

"Mille grazie!"

So, the matter was settled very quickly, I arranged to bring my case round to the flat and the returned to the café for a drink. Almost as soon as we arrived, Lucia's boyfriend, Mauro appeared, they gave each other fond kisses, and he was briefly introduced. Lucia explained to us as she led Mauro away, that as she was leaving soon, they needed to be together for a while, Mauro, turned to give me another quick glance, as he followed Lucia out through the door, smiled and said in quite good English, "Nice to meet you, Louise."

"Chaio Mauro! See you around."

When we got back to Pietro's café Davie muttered, "I don't think you'll be short of companionship when you stay here, Louise! Mauro's probably got a key to the flat!"

"That hadn't occurred to me, perhaps I should change the lock? I imagine you want another grappa or two. Where's Pietro gone?"

Pietro returned almost at once, with drinks, as before. "Le bevande sono in casa per darti il benvenuto nel nostro quartiere, Louise!" He spoke. "Molto grazie Pietro!" Louise and Davie chorused. "Prego!"

"I owe you Davie, for arranging this, many thanks." I leant forward to kiss him, but he retreated, shaking his head whilst glancing at Pietro, "Lead me not into temptation, Louise!" I nod, "Capisco, un altro giorno! There's a party tonight at the hostel to celebrate the end of our tour, would you like to come, Davie? There'll be wine and beer, I think."

"Thanks Louise, normally I'd love to come, but I can't, I've to finish writing an essay for tomorrow and anyway I must return to the seminary quite soon. But we can meet on Sunday if you wish. I'll come here about 5.00pm as usual."

"Sorry about that Davie, I'd have liked to have shown you off to the boys and girls in the orchestra, who'd all be interested to hear about your experiences!"

"I think that my message would be too downbeat to be palatable to all these innocent young people. So, it's maybe just as well that I won't be coming, but thanks. I'll see you on Sunday though?"

"Of course, maybe you can join me for dinner then?"

"I'd like that very much! Caio." With that, I returned to the hostel to pack my cases and prepare for the party. I also wanted to say farewell to Brenda, as we probably wouldn't see each other again and I wanted to thank her for all her support during her years in the orchestra, which I'd very much enjoyed.

After packing and giving myself a bit of wash, I went along to Brenda's room and knocked. She opened the door, once again in a tearful state, her eyes swollen and her mascara running down her face like a sad clown!

"Come in Louise!"

"Are you sure, Miss Wiley, you look a bit upset, I was just coming to say cheerio and thank you for all your patient tuition during the time I I've been in the orchestra."

"Och, Louise, call me Bren or Brenda! And yes, I'm upset, but come in anyway, sit down on the chair. I'll sit on the bed."

"So, what's troubling you Bren, if I may ask? I thought the concert went well, considering, and it'll be very encouraging to the younger girls who'll want to continue next year!"

"Yes, it did, thanks in large part to your very useful advice, I'm told it was you who initiated the rescue operation!"

"Thanks, perhaps I'm better able to see things from a beginner's point of view than you or Craig."

Bren winces at the mention of Craig's name. I raised my eyebrows, "I thought you were best of friends?"

"That's in the past!"

"So, the schism happened recently?"

"Yes, an hour ago!"

"Can I ask what was the precipitated the kerfuffle?"

"It's a bit personal. But you know Charlie Evans?"

I nod, "A bit, I lent his mother a book, recently! Be assured I'll stay as silent as the crypt!"

"Well, in a casual conversation with Charlie, when I congratulated him on his recent success in the Bursary, he mentioned that it was in part down to Craig, who, by the way, was in a relationship with his mother! He said that he'd only got to know about it recently."

"So why is that so distressing for you? Oh Brenda! Of course! I understand! You're also seeing Craig! For how long!"

"Since yesterday! I questioned Craig about it just before you knocked, and he openly admitted it! I was shocked!"

"Mm, well, I'm not surprised that Craig fancies you Bren, you're younger and more attractive than Rachel. But it shouldn't surprise you that he isn't a virgin, after all, he's divorced!"

"Maybe so, but I don't want a three-way relationship!"

"Have you told this to Craig?"

"Yes! and he said that he didn't want to stop seeing Rachel, they were good together!"

"So, I've heard!"

"Really? Well, we're also quite good together!"

"You mean you've done it already? Here! My goodness! Mind you, I thought yesterday, that maybe something like that had happened."

"Was it obvious, then Louise?"

"To me yes, but I'm quite observant, I notice stuff like that! So did you tell him to fuck off!"

"No, I said I'd have to think about what to do about it."

"You mean, he offered to keep seeing you as well as Rachel! Sequentially, at least for now, I imagine?"

"Correct!"

"Well, perhaps you could use your wily arts to persuade him to see a bit more of you? Pun intended."

"Ha, Ha I've heard that joke too often, Louise! But I'm curious to know how you've acquired such insight into the persuasive arts at your age, only 18, aren't you? Such a wise head on such a youthful body!"

"Oh, where there's a will and a willy as well, I've intuited many ways! And I'm a fast learner!"

"I understand, maybe you can give me a few hints?"

"I'd not presume, after all you're twice my age and a great deal more experienced, probably."

"Hmm, to be frank, I'm a bit rusty; I've always been a bit shy of men, they only want to communicate at a rather base level and ignore all the other qualities a person may have."

"I agree that men are only interested in seeing how far they can go physically with you, at first, at least. But a fond relationship and friendship can only grow with intimacy, shared experience of life and work and that takes time! You have to draw them in, maybe with a honey trap."

"So, you're saying continue until intimacy becomes more important."

"Yes, but also erotic feelings shouldn't be dismissed. I think Rachel and Craig may have quite a strong erotic attraction, I'm told, Rachel is quite an adventurous lover."

"How can you possibly know this?"

"A tall bird may have mentioned something."

"Ah, I follow, so what kind of games do they get up to?"

"Do really want to hear, Bren?"

"Yes!"

"Ok, I don't think one should be too squeamish about sex. It's called 69, mutual oral masturbation, head to tail and vice versa, fellatio and cunnilingus. You've heard of it, at least?"

"Yes, of course, but never partaken, it sounds utterly disgusting for everyone."

"I agree, it can be rather bestial, unless it's done with some preparation and care. In my opinion it should only be undertaken in the cleanest and most fragrant conditions. Both for him, if he hasn't been circumcised, and for her too, if she's having a period, or she hasn't been too careful with her toilet hygiene and oral hygiene too, I believe that genital herpes once obtained, stays with you for life. Also, it's not necessary to swallow afterwards, unless you feel like it! So, I'll repeat, unless done with due care, it's likely to leave a bad taste, literally and figuratively."

"It all sounds a bit like a branch of gymnastics too!"

"Yes, for the novice, I think a sequential rather than simultaneous approach may be a better option, perhaps if you give it a kiss or two that would be a beginning, and maybe with experience you might become more adventurous and encourage him by body language to go down on you. You'll enjoy it!"

"I'll bear that in mind, Louise! I think maybe I take a trip to the local pharmacy before the party."

"Do you know what to buy, they may not have the same stuff here that you can buy in Boots in Glasgow."

"Oh, I can speak Italian quite well, so I'm sure I can communicate my needs pretty well."

"Well, good luck! Bren, I hope you have a stimulating and fun evening, and thanks again for the music lessons!"

"Thank you too for your practical advice about everything, Louise and I hope you stay out of trouble in Rome!"

"I'm sure soon you'll be heading in the right direction, I hope it works out for you!"

Chapter 4 The farewell party

After leaving Bren to prepare for her showdown or face off with Craig, I returned to find that the girls were busy with a general clean up in the communal washroom. There was much searching for blackheads and pimples and hair washing, everywhere. Quite necessary as it was becoming hot and humid and playing in an orchestra for hours on end is strenuous work, it takes it out of you.

Anyway, most of us were reasonably fragrant and suitably attired at the start of evening at least. The lads seemed to have had a bit of a wash too, their hair was slicked back in a rather unnatural glossy way, as their Mum's had taught them, unwisely in my opinion. I prefer hair to be clean and dry.

Everyone was shy at first, standing around in their instrument groups, but Craig took charge, saying that as we were an orchestra with many talented musicians, could he have a list of any who'd be prepared to give us a bit a tune, or piano recital, which was quite a good upright, or would they like to fetch their instruments for duos, trios, quartets, quintets, sextets, septets or octets and of course songsters?

"What's a group of nine Craig? Dean asked cheekily we all tittered. "Non o thet, Dean!" Loud groans all round, but it broke the ice.

A few volunteers came forward and I was surprised that Dean volunteered to sing Lied Die Beiden Grenadier, if anyone was willing to provide the piano accompaniment. Very brave! A couple of girls agreed to play Chopin Waltzes and a set of Mazurkas, which they'd just prepared for their RMS grade 8 piano exams. Morag, from the cello section said she could sing a Burn's medley, if anybody felt like listening." We all cheered heartily, hoping that she'd be up to it.

Bren agreed to organise the ad hoc concert and play the accompaniments if music was available. Everyone who'd volunteered by a strange coincidence had brought the music. We musicians are all exhibitionists at heart! Bren after scanning through each of the pieces, nodded that she was ok to go.

Craig was self-appointed as MC, and I volunteered to be Bren's page turner.

By this time, the wine had been surreptitiously introduced was circulating amongst the seasoned drinkers, just about everyone!

Dean kicked off with a surprisingly moving rendition of Schumann's great song, "Die beiden Grenadiere," the two Grenadiers, the poet Henrich Heine wrote the lyrics. It's a song about the humiliation after the defeat of Napoleon's army in Russia. Its overt sentiments, "What matters son? What matters wife? Let them go beg, my Emperor is a free man no more!" didn't elicit any sympathy from this British audience, who'd seen and heard enough of Nationalist heroes to see the irony and hollowness of these outdated sentiments.

Dean managed to emphasise the underlying pathos of this tale of the devastating effect of national defeat in warfare. Traces of which could be seen all around in Rome, a consequence of many Allied bombing raids. Even though it had been declared an 'Open City', after the Pope pleaded with President Roosevelt, even then, the Vatican was bombed by both Allied and German planes. Although now the Italians seemed to make a good pretence that it had never happened and even it had, they had nothing to do with it! All that beastliness was entirely the fault of the wicked Germans!

Everyone gave a big cheer after Dean had finished singing, but it injected a note of sadness.

Craig referring to this announced that now we would have the piano interlude.

The waltzes and mazurkas went well, with their bitter-sweet nostalgic themes, but were not to the lustier tastes of the audience. Why all this regret and guilt? We're young, plenty of time for regrets later.

"Ok everyone, let's have the Burns' songs now. First a song of unrequited love

"Ae fond kiss and then we sever

Ae fareweel, alas for ever etc." Not much of a tune in my opinion, but the words are very sad.

This was followed by one where he declares his undying love, an unlikely tale.

My Luve is like a red, red rose.

That's newly sprung in June.

O my Luve is like the melody

That's sweetly played in tune.

However, she sang the song well enough, negotiating the higher notes without too much difficulty. These tend to ensnare many. We all gave her a big cheer.

The boys thought Morag was at least as good as Kathleen Ferrier. I didn't, but what the hell? Had they ever listened to Ferrier? And everyone knows she's a contralto! Morag's a soprano, in need of voice training! But mustn't be too catty, I'll go and congratulate Dean on his moving performance before anyone else gets her claws into him.

Dean was standing by himself, "You look a bit down in the mouth Dean! Feeling a bit deflated?"

"Yeh, a bit Louise! It was the wrong choice of song for this audience, don't you think?"

"I doubt that many understood the words, as you sang it in German!"

"Maybe so, but most of the lads at least are familiar with the translation, as, you are, I imagine, too?"

"D'you think they'd have preferred a rip-roaring rendering of "The Laughing Policeman?"

"Yes, probably! I remember loving that song when I was a kid!" He smiles a little sadly at the memory.

"Yeh, I used to like it a bit, as well. It's surprising how our tastes change as we grow up, at least mine have!"

"Oh, now that you've left the laughing bobby to his own devices, to whom or what, have you transferred your affections?

"Good question! I think I'm in mid-stream at present, now's a time of transition for me."

"Mmm, I guess that's probably true for most of us here, don't you think?"

"Well not so much for Craig and Bren, or the younger ones. But for we who're finishing sixth form and going to uni, or others starting a job, yes."

"So, you're open to a bit of experimentation and adventure are you, Louise?" he asks with the twinkle returning to his eyes.

"Absolutely, although I think I have boundaries that I don't wish or dare to cross."

"Oh, what or where are they?"

"They're a bit fuzzy, I'm afraid, some are retreating and others fairly fixed.

"What about you Dean, where do you stand on boundaries?"

"I'm in a similar situation, or dilemma, not sure about much, although I've a reasonably clear idea about what and where I don't want to do or go."

"So where and what are the no go areas, Dean?"

"Oh, nothing startling, but I don't go along with organized religion, or crime, much the same thing, if you had a close look at that golden monstrosity of a church today."

"Funny you should mention that Dean, I've a friend who's a novitiate at the Scottish seminary, 'Il Pontifico Collegio Scozzese,' here in Rome, who was saying the same sort of thing in even stronger terms than you've just used, and he's a signed up Catholic!"

"Poor guy, I feel for him."

"Why Dean?"

"Before attending the school I've just left, I was at Fort Augustus Abbey School, up in Invernesshire. It's a happy hunting for paedophiles and sadists, most of them Benedictine Monks, who under cover of their pietist ways, lead a life of utter perversion. If they did what they do openly at Fort Augustus, elsewhere, they'd all be put away for life!"

"Poor you Dean! So, you're Catholic, too! Sorry, I meant no offence."

"None taken, Louise! Yes, technically I am, my parents got divorced and my Mum is a keen left footer, papist born and bred, she made the mistake of marrying my Dad, who is part Prod and part Jew.

"My goodness I seem to have a gravitational attraction to guys like you!"

"So, you're attracted to me, are you Louise? That's the best news I've heard for weeks!"

"Oh, I assure you Dean I'm flighty as a bee, I'll suck nectar from whichever flower I happen to fancy at the moment!"

"That's certainly good enough to be going on with Louise, don't you think?"

"Yes, Dean, when are you going back home?"

"Not sure, I was thinking of staying for a week, I've got to get home at the end of the week as I've got to attend a cousin's wedding in Glasgow."

"Mmm, I'm staying on for a month as I'm going to learn to speak Italian at a language school."

"Oh, I can help with that for a week or so, I speak Italian, my Mum's half Italian, her Mum, my late grandma was an Italian immigrant, they've a café at the bottom of Byre's Road in Glasgow. You, probably know it."

"So, why did your Dad let them send you to this hell hole up north? For the sake of peace at home?"

"Not quite, he'd made off with his secretary, and after they got divorced, my Mum decided that I should have a sound religious education, and possibly because she wanted to find a replacement for Dad in her bed! She's done that ok, she's happy now, although ironically married to an atheist, like me. I like him, he's an understanding bloke and it was he who rescued me from the Fort."

"Gosh, Dean, what an exciting life you've led. I don't think I've anything like that in my background, very ordinary, my Dad is only obsessed with getting his handicap below five and making his accountancy firm the biggest in Scotland."

"He's not medical?"

"No, his friend is though, we've just been visiting them in St Andrews. So, why do you want to study medicine, do you want to cure humanity of its ills, or do you like looking at women's bodies, or willies.

"You're not supposed to like looking at your patients' bodies. It's part of medical ethics, the Hippocratic Oath and I don't think many women have willies!"

"Well, if you read the crime reports in the Sunday Post or the Glasgow Herald, as I do, you'd be surprised at the numbers of ostensibly respectable Medics who honour their oath only in the breach!"

"Yes, we should all try to keep control of our urges. Don't you think?"

"I think that must be applied within context, Dean."

"Is this where your boundaries become a bit fussy?"

"Could be, Dean, could be."

We move out of the main room and spontaneously find ourselves in a clinch.

"Where are you staying? Louise."

"Do you mean today or tomorrow?"

"An answer to either, or both questions would be of considerable interest."

"Let's take this one step at a time. If we go up the far stairway, I can show you my door, if you wish to see it?"

"Not particularly interested in the door, per se, but as a means to an end."

"What end did you have in mind Dean?"

"I believe one should be a bit nebulous in stating one's goals, they're likely to change midstream."

"So, you prefer not to say? Then, how do I know whether your intentions are totally pure and honourable, Dean?"

"Actions speak for themselves, Louise. I don't think we should hang around in the corridor, Craig might not be willing to turn two blind eyes for long."

"I've a feeling, he's got other priorities at the moment than patrolling this corridor?"

"You seem to have insider knowledge?"

"Inside, now Dean!"

"Wow! That was fast Louise!"

"Whad'you mean? Don't tear my dress! What an impetuous boy you are! Festina lente! We've enough time! I've this room to myself, by the way. My goodness what a big fellow you are! Very impressive!"

"So, you've seen something like this before?"

"Not sure I can remember? I'm an only child, so no brothers to see in the bath, whereas I imagine that you've seen a lot to compare yourself with?"

"Don't remind me! I may lose the urge!"

"It doesn't look in the least like that at present! How did you get in that state?"

"Maybe you had something to do with it, Louise? I don't know how, but my flies came undone by themselves!"

"You probably did it unconsciously whilst trying to remove my bra! And you haven't made a very good job of it!"

"I can't feel the fasteners, aren't they usually at the back?"

"Not always, see!"

"Ah, I'll know next time."

"I don't usually wear this bra, it's for special occasions."

"Why are you wearing it then?"

"To fool guys like you of course, who regard innocent young ladies like me as a kind of prey, to be plundered and thrown away on the scrapheap, like some used tissue!"

"Here steady on Louise, I only want to see your breasts?"

"Really, I wonder for how long?"

"Ok, then please let me unhook you, now." As no resistance is offered the ample bosom is exposed in all its generous pink glory."

"Very impressive, Louise, have you seen the film 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,' it was showing last year. I think you're even more desirable than Monroe.

"I was too young to see it when it came out last year."

"So how old are you, Louise?" "I'll be 19 in September."

"So, I can take you, now!"

"You're 18 are you, Dean?"

"No, 19, I lost a year of school due to all the fuss with the Fort and having to find a new one! Anyway at least you're above the age of consent!"

"Yes, isn't it absurd, they won't allow me to see a buxom blond screen goddess parade her boobs at the cinema, but it's perfectly fine to allow me to be fucked by any passing pederast, present company excepted!"

"I agree there's an anomaly, ditto being old enough to getting killed fighting colonial wars in some hot hellhole but not allowed to vote for the turds who order us to fight for the Empire!

"Well put, Dean! Can I say, in case you misconstrued my last remark that I don't want you to put your prong in my fanny, or vagina, this evening. We might explore other parts of the boundary though."

"So, you are saying that other wider explorations are still on the menu?"

"I'm not saying anything, Dean."

"Come, come Louise!"

"Later, Dean, if you don't come first!"

"Try me?"

"No, not yet!"

"Ah, ok then, I'll go as slow as I can manage. With that he removes dress and knickers and his shirt and trousers.

"Can't Adam and Eve it, Louise, I've fancied you since I first set eyes on you six months ago."

"You're not so unattractive yourself. Not so forceful, please, I'm quite sensitive down there!"

"Can I give it a little kiss?"

"Mmm, ah that's nice!"

"Perhaps you'll do something for me later?

"What did you have in mind?"

"Something like this, I suppose?"

"What, Dean? I'm not doing anything!"

"You, smell surprisingly hygienic down here."

"You've had less hygienic excursions, have you?"

"At the Fort for one."

"Too much information Dean! Anywhere else?"

"Not recently."

"Not here in Italy?"

"No! I told you I've only had eyes for you!"

"Try to hold my clitoris between your lips and press hard."

"Like this?"

"Exactly." I feel a quiver down there and come. Dean holds me tight and is silent for a few moments, then I give him a long kiss on the lips until he starts to become restive.

"I enjoyed that very much Louise, but!"

"But what, Dean?" I gently stroke his erect willy.

"Would you like me to give you a kiss?"

"Yes, definitely!"

"Ok, then!" I kiss him harder on the lips!

He laughs, "You're playing games with me, Louise."

"What sort of games are you referring to?"

"Games of love, you might call it. But I might call it games of temptation and seduction?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Dean! Not ball games?"

But I kissed his lightly hirsute chest then his taut abdominal muscles, and then his blond hirsute lower abdomen, avoiding his pulsating willy, which showed preliminary signs of eruption. Should I risk being showered in sticky goo? Perhaps, if I'm very careful, I'll risk it, he'd shown remarkable restraint. I give him an exploratory lick around the root, and then moved slightly higher, compressing my lips to assess its hardness, quite woody, another gentle lick and then he'll blow! Sure enough, not quite Krakatoa, the earth didn't tremble, for me at least, but not far off, the wall next to the bed took some stray flack!"

"That was fun, Dean, but I think the bed is a bit too narrow for both of us but stay a bit longer."

"You're the best Louise," he murmured as he drifted off."

"You're not too bad either."

Chapter 5 The morning after and Lucia's Apartment, Rome.

The rest of the night passed uneventfully, Dean slipped back to his room, undetected and I agreed that I'd introduce him to Davie and Lucia at Pietro's café. I felt it was only right to come clean about having Dean as a house guest for a week. I didn't think there could be any objection, from Lucia at least. Dean, who wasn't short of cash said that he'd be happy to pay for any extra rent. I'd mentioned that there was a comfortable double bed, which I might let him share if he behaved.

I bumped into Bren as she was organizing the return bus trip to the airport. We didn't talk for long, but she thanked me again for my useful advice, she thought that maybe she and Craig had reached a new level of understanding.

"And was there a positive response to the new garden fragrance?"

"Yes, very, he compared me with a summer's day."

"Any rough winds that shook the darling bud?"

"No, more like a zephyr with sweet breath, that half opened the rose of the woods!"

"That sounds like Chaucer?"

"No Louise, much more obscure! You know, a few years back I too did quite well in the Bursary exam, it was more difficult in my time, no specialist exams for maths! Anyway, once the rose opened, and a head of steam built up on both sides of the forest, there was modulation to more primal notes, like the Rites of Spring! Any concern about fragrance was forgotten, it was drilling down to base!"

"Sounds as if you had quite a ball, Bren. Well good luck! I'll miss you."

"Perhaps you can drop me a line, maybe we could try a duet or two at my place sometime?"

"That might be worth exploring Bren, I'll give it serious consideration." We hugged and kissed goodbye.

I was very relieved and pleased that Bren had recovered, she seemed euphoric, so obviously things had gone quite well with Craig, he owes me big time! I think Rachel, may have to up her game. I wondered if Bren was suggesting that we might try to practise my fingering techniques. If things are quiet in the autumn, maybe I'll give it a go. Meanwhile, I need to take a taxi round to Lucia's apartment, too much to carry. Dean can make his own way.

I'd arranged with Dad, to make a bank transfer to Lucia and he confirmed in a telegram that everything, was in order.

When I arrived with my stuff, I was greeted by an elderly lady, Maria, the cleaner. I wondered if she was another of Pietro's relatives. She welcomed me noisily. I mentioned that a friend would be staying for a week. She didn't seem in the least concerned, she didn't speak much English, but my pidgin Italian was adequate to make myself understood. "Bene, un ragazzo carino?" She said as an afterthought that she might pop in to see if the sheets needed changing in the middle of the week. I thanked her for this thoughtful gesture. Of course, we'll pay her for the extra work involved.

"Grazie mille, signorina!"

So that was sorted. I decided to have a look at my language school to see what I was letting myself in for. It was a small, dowdy establishment in the Piazza Firenze. I'd registered by post last month. A lady of about forty functioned as receptionist and school factotum, and as it turned out, proprietrix, looked up when I entered.

"Benvenuta nella nostra scuola, signorina!"

"Sono Luisa, di Glasgow."

"Ah, ho sentito che parli già italiano! Vorrei averlo fatto, ma spero di imparare qualcosa nel prossimo mese!" She thought I could cope with the fast beginner's stream; I didn't see why not either. I asked how many would be in the class. She said "at the moment about 5 or 6. A girl from USA, another Australian, both a little older than you, they've just finished at college and a couple of young Frenchmen, who like you, will be starting University in Paris."

"That sounds as if it will be congenial."

"Molto bene, sembra che sarà divertente!" The secretary lady pretends to look severe and then smiles saying, "You're here to work Louise, not to distract the young men from their studies!"

I'm irritated by this comment, and reply, in English because it's perfectly obvious that she speaks excellent American accented English.

"I don't think your entitled to assume that I'm a bimbo, just because I'm blonde and have big tits!"

"Perhaps not Louisa, but I know how young men, at least in this school, look upon such enviable and attractive assets as yours, where the predominant natural colouring here in Rome, is brunette."

"I assure you, Senora Biaggi that my hair colouring is quite natural!"

"Of course, Louisa! Certamente! I don't doubt it for a second! Your lessons start promptly at 9.00am on Monday in classroom 7; it's at the top of the staircase on the left. Signor Luigi Biaggi will be your instructor."

"Is he related to you, then?"

"Yes, he's my nephew, my late husband's brother's son. I'm sure he'll be to your liking. He's extremely well qualified." As no further information was forthcoming, I bade the lady farewell.

"I'll look forward to meeting everyone on Monday. Arrivederci Signora Biaggi."

As I'd not seen much of Rome since I arrived, I used the spare time till our meeting at Pietro's café, to explore the famous Roman remains, around the Forum and the Palatine Hill. It was magnificent, but melancholy, almost like well-tended bomb site, or a cemetery, where Roman grandees' tombs have been raided and their entrails exposed. The statue of Romulus and Remus being suckled by a wolf was a bit gross and turned out to be a replica of the real Etruscan statue which is safely housed in a museum. The origins of the statue are controversial, to say the least, the wolf is probably quite old, but the twins were a 15th century addition. But its importance is mainly symbolic, who cares about its provenance or authenticity, any more than of our, "Stone of Destiny," currently residing under the throne in Westminster Abbey. Should it be sent back to Scotland? A question of some importance to sad Scottish legacy obsessives but given that the stone probably isn't a genuine relic, only an unprepossessing lump of sandstone, such as can be found in any builder's yard, equally only gesture to an invented history!

It was too hot to continue this trudge around the parched ruins of Rome, I was beginning to feel like one myself, so decided to return to Pietro's for a cold drink.

"Ah Signorina Luisa! Come stai!"

"Molto Caldo, Pietro, ho bisogno di lunga bibita fresca" A glass of ice-cold mint tea was offered. "Grazie mille!"

I think Lucia will be here soon, and a friend Dean, will be coming too and Davie. "Penso che Lucia sarà qui presto, sì e verrà anche un amico Dean e Davie."

"Sì, zia Maria, mi ha detto che avrai un amico che starà con te per una settimana."

No need for a telephone round here, news travels at least at the speed of sound and I was right to guess that Maria was an aunt, if only an honorary one.

"Così non sarai sol di notte."

"I don't think so, not for the first week, anyway. You'll like Dean, he speaks Italian! Talk of the devil, here he is!"

Dean unloaded his bags, and instrument case, and greeted me like a long-lost sister, and nods at Pietro.

"That looks good, I'd like one too!" He turns to Pietro and in fluent Italian asks for another drink and olives."

"So, you weren't lying about your Italian, Dean!"

"No, what would be the point of that?"

"You mean you'd lie to me if it was about something worthwhile, like a string of catamites in tow?"

"Yeh, sorry I'd forgotten to mention them, they'll be along in a few minutes after they've cleaned their bums!"

"Really Dean, that's a bit below the belt!"

"Yeh, in most cases, that's where bums are!"

"What've you been up to, did you say your fond farewells to your chums and Craig?"

"Yeh, that sort of thing, I suppose, I may bump into one of two at uni, but mostly I'm looking forward to getting shot of them!"

"Yeh, I feel much the same, although I'll probably meet up with Bren sometime, we warmed to each other over the weekend."

"So that's where you were hiding! I wondered where you kept disappearing to."

"Yeh, she needed a bit of encouragement on the first day, when things went into meltdown!"

"Was it you who suggested the changes? I didn't think it was like Craig to take the easy and pragmatic option! His natural inclination would have been to rehearse the weaker links until either they got it right or dropped dead from exhaustion."

"Funny, I didn't get that impression, he was quite amenable to my suggestions!"

"Do you think he might have been mesmerized by those, big blue eyes you've got, or those even larger assets?"

"Surely not! I thought he'd only eyes for Bren, they seemed to be doting on each other."

"I didn't notice, but he's certainly got an eye for a pretty face!"

"Well at least it's not for the lads! Although, he seems to have helped both you and Charlie, and incidentally Charlie's Mum!"

"Yeh, there were a few rumours about that, a couple of weeks ago, someone had seen them together in a restaurant in Byres Rd."

"Yeh, I think they're an item, at least for now, until Bren guns her down."

"Here's Davie! My goodness, he looks in even worse shape than before!"

"Caio Davie, this is Dean, I think I mentioned him, we'll be sharing Lucia's apartment for the next week, whilst he's in Rome. He plays trombone."

"Aye, I saw him give a fine performance, yesterday, what a star, Davie, you hit some of the notes to perfection!"

"Gee thanks, Davie, I'm grateful for any praise that comes my way, however faint!"

"Now boys behave! If you must fight, do it outside! Dean, I met Davie whilst he was working as the chief bell boy in the hotel in St Andrews where we were staying last summer. We got to know each other, quite well! But you look very uncomfortable! What's happened to you? Are you injured? How did you do it?"

"Nothing serious, Louise, just a routine punishment beating."

"What! They physically beat you, as well as all the rest of it?"

"Yes, that's the system at Scots College and almost certainly at most of the other seminaries around here."

"I can barely credit it!"

"Well, I certainly can!" Dean grunts. "We were routinely whipped at the Fort, till we bled and were reduced to tears." He flushes and his eyes fill with tears.

"You obviously need a drink, Davie, you too Dean from the looks of you!"

"Coca Cola will do for me Louise."

"Ok, can you order a treble for Davie? I won't have anything."

"You were at Fort Augustus, I guess, Dean? I've met one of two of the Benedictine Monks who teach there. Some of them are very erudite. They visited our school in Glasgow, to look for recruits I think, there are a few scholarships donated by wealthy businessmen, who were looking for Papal honours, not doubt. So, they came looking for likely lads."

"You were lucky that they didn't choose you, Davie!"

"I wasnae' good looking enough when I was eleven, which is when the scholarships are awarded."

"You mean they chose the kids for their looks!"

"Only the scholarship boys! If your parents were dumb enough, or cruel enough to want to pay, then the Fort didn't mind how ugly you looked, or how stupid!"

"On reflection, I think that was a major factor in how I was selected." Davie, muttered.

"I'd say that you were probably chosen for your brains, Dean!"

"Davie! What is it with you! Try to be a bit kinder!"

"Dean knows I'm kidding him, Louise, it's bred into our hard Scottish bones."

"The drinks arrive, Davie, drinks his quickly.

"Would you like some aspirin, Davie, I use them for my period pains."

"Aye, thanks, I'd be grateful for that, the pain in my bum is hurting like billy-o!"

"Maybe Dean should have a look at it. He'll be a doctor in a few years."

"That doesn't qualify me now, Louise, although I've been on advanced first aid courses, run by Red Cross. That's probably more useful than a medical degree, I should think! But the Monks are quite expert in the art of inflicting pain without much overt sign of injury or causing permanent damage! Probably too many questions would be asked, if they did!"

"Well, you obviously need cheering up, Davie, let's take you out a good meal, you're as thin as rake. But first we should take Dean's stuff round to Lucia's place, her cleaner gave me the keys.

At that moment Lucia and Mauro arrive and introduce themselves to Dean. Dean managed to charm Lucia with his fluent Italian, and she's happy to have him as a guest. Mauro seemed a little miffed but remained silent.

They suggest that we eat at restaurant in the next street, run by another of Pietro's extended family.

We all sat at a long table in the narrow lane outside the small kitchen restaurant, which also supplied take away dishes of pasta and sauces. We were served, with large helpings of salami followed by spaghetti al sugo, followed by liver wrapped in bacon, called saltimibocca, with courgettes, followed by cream caramel. Dean and Lucia spent the time chatting, nineteen to the dozen about Scotland and how Italians fared in Scotland. They seemed to own the entire Scottish ice cream business, and everyone knew everyone. It was a big and quarrelsome family. Lots of territorial disputes, often leading to violence, vandalism and arson of the ice cream vans. A few van drivers moonlighted by selling more dangerous and profitable stuff than ice cream. The police were sniffing around the business, Dean thought mainly for the payoffs, rather than any immediate threat of arrest. The Scottish polis were notoriously susceptible to bribery and wouldn't think twice of accepting a couple of quid to let a driver off a minor parking offence.

Dean thought that Biggs was free of the drug taint, although it had a few vans in Ayrshire. At present the drugs trade was mainly confined to Glasgow and its environs, but Lucia, should watch herself.

Lucia said she would, but wasn't interested in ice cream, she was preferred fashion design and marketing through modelling and photography, in which her family also had an interest.

Dean mentioned that his father might be helpful. Always room for expansion in business the more connections the merrier.

Meanwhile Mauro and I were chatting, he suggested that after Dean had left that I might like to speak Italian with him, or we could even have a threesome together some evening, as he'd be at a loose end when Lucia was in Troon. I was non-committal, but not uninterested. He was a good-looking guy, although a bit of a snake to make a move in plain sight of Lucia; she seemed not to be paying attention, as she was busy with Dean, but I was sure she was eyeing us covertly.

Davie was mainly silent, not eating much, but drinking the rough red wine served in big bulbous bottles that were held up in wicker-cases. I wasn't exactly sure what Mauro did, he said he was in business, but exactly what, was vague. He dressed in conservative dark suit and tie, but somehow, didn't look like an office worker, he'd one or two old scars on his face, which suggested that he might have been beaten up.

When Lucia and Mauro, left for the airport, Davie, turned to me and said quietly, careful of that guy, he's probably a member of the mafia that control nearly all commercial activity around these streets, including Pietro's café. You definitely don't want to cross them, so avoid him, Louise! Find someone else to caste you spell on; these guys are not your average small-time hoodlums!"

"So, what are you doing hanging out with them?"

"My uniform gives me immunity, and anyway the Church pretends to ignore them and their dealings all over Italy. Rumour has it that they've friends in the Curia, who protect them and have done for many years. They also have some kind of relationship with USA. They agreed to help the allies defeat the Nazi's in exchange for protection of their sex and export trade officially in cooking oil, but probably drugs, especially to USA, and racketeering here in Italy. So, I'll say it again, be careful of that guy."

"Davie, you're being too heavy, firstly he's Lucia's boyfriend, and second I don't know anything about him."

"Louise, I know you like playing games, and sooner or later, you'll get your fingers burnt very badly! So, stay away from obvious trouble!"

Dean had been listening to what Davie had been saying after Lucia had said her farewells and taken off with Mauro, said he agreed. He didn't think that Mauro was someone to cultivate, although he couldn't quite say why, but he might have some useful connections his Dad could cultivate. Clearly, Dean's stepfather wasn't too picky about his business connections.

We agreed to meet with Davie soon and returned to the apartment, where we sorted our things into the various cupboards, and suddenly disenchantment with the place and the situation fell upon us. Davie's downbeat tone and his dreadful plight coupled with his dire warnings about Mauro and the strangeness of us falling together like precocious babes in the wood, into this basic apartment, cast a pall over our headlong rush into cohabitation.

"Dean, can we be open with each other for a couple of minutes? I'm very happy to sleep in the same bed as you, but I'm definitely not keen on becoming impregnated, by you or anyone else at this time. So, we'll have to find ways of avoiding that possibility!"

"I agree! I didn't say, but I've managed to obtain a few durexes, from a surprising source, but maybe not as many as we need for the week!"

"How many!"

"A dozen, we'll have to ration ourselves, as our chances of finding a supply in Rome are close to zero."

"I imagine I can restrict myself to twice daily, as I'll be out during the day and by the way, Dean, what do you have in mind to do with your time, when we're not in bed?"

"Oh, I want to see a few of the sites outside Rome, the Villa D'Este and Hadrian's Villa they're supposed to be well worth going of see and I'd also like to see the Vatican in more detail than the cursory run through we'd had with the group. If you can find time to come with that'd be great, otherwise I'll go on my own."

"We could take the bus tomorrow to the Villa D'Este. It won't cost much and only takes an hour, or so from Rome to Tivoli. I didn't realise you were such a culture vulture Dean! What about a bit of less highbrow fun?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"A trip to the seaside, have you brought a swimming cossy? Ostia has a famous Lido with plenty of beaches."

"Of course! I'll have you know I've won several swimming medals for crawl."

"Mm that's very impressive! I won't boast too much about my own cupboard full of silverware!"

"Perhaps we should ask Pietro or someone where the best beaches are. I've heard that some of these private clubs are very exclusive and pricey, but there are public beaches as well."

"Judging from his appearance, I wouldn't have thought Pietro would be a habitué of beach clubs!"

"We can't all be as cute as you Louise! Old people are entitled to go to the beach if they want, don't you think?"

"I suppose so! Mind, only if they wrap themselves up well, so that they're not an eyesore!"

"My goodness! It gets worse! Who would have thought you were a body fascist, Louise? Only, kidding!"

"Mmm, I hope so! Anyway, if we bump into Mauro, perhaps he'll know somewhere decent and not too exorbitantly pricey."

"Meantime, I think I'd like to practise my breaststroke."

"I think the bath's a bit small for that Dean! But you could go through the motions, we could try together, perhaps?"

"You mean have a bath together? Now? Aren't we a bit old for that, I haven't shared a bath for long while."

"Possibly, but let's give it whirl and if it proves impractical one or other of us can hop out."

"That'll be you Dean, remember who owns the lease!"

"I knew there'd be a downside to this sharing lark!"

"Ok let's give it a try, it might be an icebreaker, you've been a bit standoffish since you moved in."

"What me! Didn't I tell you I'd a dozen rubbers all waiting for us, compliments of Craig Watt!"

"I knew it would have to be him!"

"Yeh, he was very keen to prevent anything from going pear shaped, and especially you! If that happened, your Dad might cause repercussions that could affect his job security!"

"Ha! Good old Craig, what a White Knight! But how did he know we'd be sharing a flat."

"Not, sure. Perhaps you might have mentioned to Bren?"

"I don't recall mentioning. Anyway, I think the bath is full, I'll get in first, if you don't mind."

"You're paying the rent!"

By the time Dean had practised his breaststroke, the ice-age was rapidly succeeded by a switch to a warmer epoch. After hasty drying, a preliminary exercise in safe sex was undertaken. Dean was an adept performer, and I, an enthusiastic cheerleader.

"Phew! I think I'll need another bath Dean. Can you open the windows its baking in here!"

"Gee whizz, Louise, guess who I've just spotted staring at us from a window across the street, and I should think he'd a pretty good view of what we've been doing as we'd didn't turn out the light?"

"Who?"

"That mafia guy, Mauro!"

"Wow, how convenient for him to have a flat so close to his girlfriend!"

"You don't seem too concerned that he's been spying on us?"

"Why should I? It's not illegal to look out of your window! and anyway I suspect that voyeurism is a national hobby, judging from the looks I've been getting when I walk in the street! But, are you sure it was him?"

"Yes! when I went to open the windows, I saw him ducking out of the way!"

Perhaps he was appalled at the site of that monstrous cock of yours!"

"Maybe so, but I don't want any revealing photos of us being circulated in flagrante delicto, do you?"

"He was taking photos, as well as looking?"

"No, I don't think so, I didn't see a camera."

"He'd need a good telephoto lens to take anything decent from across the street!"

"I think you mean indecent! But we're surprisingly close, the lane's only about 15 feet wide; neighbours can easily talk across it without having to shout, although that doesn't seem to stop them! Also, we don't have any curtains."

"No, we've got shutters, they're outside, folded back against wall, pull them closed!"

"If I do that it'll will be stifling in here."

"There's a hook that holds them ajar, here, let me show you!"

I walked over to the open window and stretch out and pull the shutters together and locked them in the semi-closed position. As I was doing this, I looked opposite and sure enough, behind the half-closed shutters, I could see movement but couldn't identify who was there. He must have been thought he'd hit the jackpot when he got a full view of my boobs and tail piece, as I leaned out of the window to pull the shutters closed, lucky boy!

"I think you're imagining things Davie, but now you see how to lock the shutters!"

"Come away from there, Louise! Anyone'd think were deliberately showing yourself off!"

"I don't suppose, he's seen anything he hasn't seen before!"

"You're remarkably sanguine about being spied on!"

"I agree, it's weird being practically in touching distance of your neighbour's windows, we'll have to get used to it and take precautions."

"What precautions, do you suggest, Louise?

"Well not undressing until the shutters are closed."

"Well let's get some sleep, I've had enough excitement for one night."

"You, surprise me Dean! I thought we were rationing ourselves to twice a day!"

"Tomorrow's another day, Louise!"

Within a couple of minutes of his head hitting the pillow Dean was sound asleep, I was quite restless and a little frustrated. I got up and wandered to the window and noticed that although Mauro's shutters were closed, the jalousies were in the open position; I could see quite clearly into his bedroom as it was lit by the streetlamp hanging above us. He was standing naked behind the shutters, massaging his willy as he looked in my direction.

Poor guy, he's probably missing Lucia. Good muscles, but only a medium size cock, 3 or 4 inches at most. I don't think he realises I can see him, just as well! As I stood watching, he ejaculated and then seemed to wave towards me. Surely, he couldn't see me!

Chapter 6 Trips to Tivoli and Ostia

We slept till about 10.00am and had an Italian breakfast, a tiny coffee, and biscotti in the miniscule café next door to the flat. The coffee was very strong, incredibly bitter, I needed two spoons of sugar to make tolerably drinkable. As we were drinking, Mauro joined us and ordered a coffee.

"Hi Mauro! Fancy seeing you, what a coincidence!"

"No coincidence, I live across the road!"

"I didn't realise you lived so near!"

Mauro raised his eyebrows but decided to ignore my disingenuous remark.

"Oh, by the way Mauro, we're thinking of going to a beach at Ostia tomorrow, do you know of anywhere nice, not too expensive?

"Tomorrow's Sunday, it'll be very busy, especially the public beaches, not very pleasant. If you like, you can join and me and a friend as my guests at a private beach club that I belong to? We can catch the train, about 11.00am tomorrow. My friend doesn't speak much English I'm afraid, but we'll manage."

What have we to lose? We nod our agreement,

"I must be off, see you here, tomorrow."

We walk quickly for about a mile to the newly opened Metro station, Colloseo, then continue by Metro to the Ponte Mammolo bus station. It takes a surprisingly long time, about 45 min for such a short distance. The bus station is crowded with a throng of tourists milling around looking lost. Dean took charge, found the ticket office, and asked for day returns to Tivoli. They asked to see our student identity cards, which we'd needed to stay at the student hostel. It turned out that people usually visited both Villas d'Este and Adriana on the same day as they are quite close, so we decided to take up the offer.

We found the bus, boarded with mainly American tourists and found a couple of seats towards the back.

Three hours at Villa D'Este and about two at Hadrian would suffice would allow us to return to the apartment by 8.00pm.

The Villa d'Este is an astonishing 16th century folly, build by Cardinal d'Este, a younger son of the Duke of Ferrara, and descendent of Lucrezia Borgia, so had pots of money, which he used mainly to attempt to buy the Papal crowns. Although he made it to Cardinal, he failed to win the big prize of the triple crown, which irked him a lot, as he really wanted the salary and other perks that go with the gig. Still are pretty good, even to this day! So instead, he put his vast wealth into building the extraordinarily extravagant and exuberant Villa d'Este, and into the more tasteful restoration of the neighbouring Villa Hadriana.

The Villa d'Este was still undergoing major renovations after World War II bomb damage. Only around half of the fifty-one fountains were in working condition, but this still meant that at least two hundred spouts and water jets and about fifty of the sixty-four waterfalls were operating. The famous water organ was in disrepair; it turned out that it hadn't been working for nearly a century! A small notice beside it said that they hoped to restore it to its original working condition soon! The design of the fountain hydraulics greatly appealed to Dean, though. It was housed behind the fountain. It consisted of a water reservoir and a series of whirlpools. He loved the sheer audacity and swagger of the concept of digging up a whole hillside to install the reservoirs and pipes needed to provide gravitational feeds for all the fountains. It's amazing, but how many fountains do you really need to look at in one afternoon?

I could hardly credit the sheer prodigality of the place, which, after the Cardinal died, unsurprisingly proved too expensive to maintain. His successors, amongst them another Cardinal d'Este (1629-41), restored it, by extending the garden and building even more fountains! They also planted avenues of trees to provide much needed shade.

No surprise that many celebrities were attracted to such a kitschy place, amongst whom the composer Hungarian composer, Franz Liszt, who visited on several occasions and dedicated several musical pieces in memory of his visits, probably in lieu of rent! The view I liked best was the first one that visitors see, as they walk towards the villa along the main avenue. The dancing fountains are a bit too cheesy for my taste, but they appealed to Fred Liszt okay, and Dean!

After an hour or so I'd had enough of looking at fountains, it had become far too hot and humid to hang around in the very exposed park.

Eventually I managed to drag Dean away to our second port of call, Villa Adriana, aka Villa Hadriana. This only took about 10 min by bus. On the way we stopped for iced water drinks. Both of us were bright pink from the heat, it must have been at least 95°F and very humid.

Thank goodness the bus was air conditioned, so by the time we reached Villa Hadriana we'd cooled off and a light breeze and early evening sun, made the conditions ideal for viewing this jewel of ancient Rome, built as a summer retreat by the emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. This guy certainly had excellent taste. Most ancient Roman buildings are rather solid, their primary aim being to project an image of Imperial strength and authority, a style favoured more recently by Mussolini and his Nazi pals up in Germany. Here, instead the buildings adopted classical Greek architectural design. The walls and waterways incorporated curves, arches, gardens and ponds. There are also imitations and evocations of different parts of the far-flung Roman Empire, particularly the Nile in Egypt and Grecian buildings. There are several large pools, all very beautiful. Particularly striking is a long rectangular pond, the Canopus lined with statuary of Roman and Greek origin.

What an impressive place! I must remember to return when I'm about 40, a rich and successful advocate; the top QC for settling high profile divorces, older and more serene, swanning around in wig and silk gown at the Edinburgh High Court."

I'm daydreaming in back on the bus, my head on Dean's broad shoulder! What an exhausting day, all I want to do now is have another plate of succulent spag and curl up in bed, and after a decent shag, or indecent, if Dean's up for it, sleep.

Still, I'm looking forward to tomorrow's seaside excursion with Mauro and his new friend, I assume she's one of Lucia's many replacements now she's sampling the joys of Troon! Wonder what my randy uncle Jim will make of her?

As we were both tired, we didn't spend long at the restaurant, we cut the meal down to a simple plate of spag and a fruit salad, I had some fizzy water, Dean a glass of beer.

I wanted to have quick bath, by myself this time and an early night. Dean said he'd read for a bit. He wanted to catch up on the reading list he'd been sent by the Medical Faculty. He showed me what he was reading.

It was a paperback, "The Human Species" by a guy called Anthony Barnett, a Lecturer at Glasgow Uni in the Zoology Department. The book was interesting on inheritance of red hair, but he also seemed to have racist views on the intelligence of Bantu Africans, I wondered whether this ripe material should be recommended reading for medical students.

"Reads much like a Nazi tract on the Aryan types, they liked to enthuse about; blonds like you and me Dean, and non-Aryans, namely the rest of humanity with darker pigmentation, who are only useful as servants of the master race of blondies.

"I don't think that's all there's too it, Louise."

"Ok what else, skull size and shape, nose size? You've got a big head and so' ve I!"

"Not the only big things you've got Louise!"

"What do you mean? Oh, you mean these?"

"Yes, I think so, let's have a closer look!"

"What about your big thing?"

"I'll show you in a minute!"

"No, now!"

A few minutes later I told Dean he could have his book back; now, I was ready for sleep!

I woke a couple of hours later, Dean was enjoying deep sleep beside me, I was curious to see if there was any activity across the way, so moved to the shuttered window, Mauro was swinging a light cane, at a target placed below my line of sight. As I approached the shutters, he stopped this exercise, bent over, and conversed with someone.

A young woman who'd been concealed from my view stood up. She had dark hair on head and tail, and was pale skinned, apart from her bum, which was bright red! She turned and bent forwards and stretched her arms and placed her hands flat on the wall, Mauro, removed his trousers and pants, he was fully erect and approached the girl from behind. I couldn't ascertain which orifice he was probing, but they both became energetically engaged for several minutes until the final shot. I admit to being both riveted and stirred by the performance. I also had an uneasy feeling that Mauro was presenting this sado-masochistic performance for my benefit! Absurd! I'm imagining things, he can't see me here in the dark behind the shutters, so how could he know I'm watching? He can't possibly!

Perturbed, I return to bed but manage to get back to sleep.

Next morning, after another encounter with Dean, we grab our swimming things and meet Mauro, and his new girlfriend who are downstairs in the café.

"Ciao, Louise, Ciao, Dean, this is Victoria."

"Hi Victoria, can I call you Vicky, for short?" Vicky, nods and smiles demurely, acting the total virgin! How dare she! She's also very pretty. Clear pale skin, dark brown hair, and eyes, nice white teeth, about 18 or 19.

"Vicky's Lucia's cousin, they're like sisters!"

"Oh, really? Have you heard from Lucia yet, Mauro?"

"No, but I'll let you know when she does. Vicky's a teacher in the local primary school. She understands English quite well, but shy of speaking it. We can catch the train at Via Tuscolano station. The trains leave every 15 min, and it takes about half an hour to Ostia. The bus to the station is from the Piazza. Have you brought your swimming things Dean? The place we're going insists that the men remain clothed!"

"What about women?" I ask.

"What about them?"

"Are they also required to wear swimming costumes?"

"What do you think? Like everywhere else of course!" He smiles enigmatically.

"Fine, I brought my two piece along, I hope it'll be fashionable enough for you sophisticated Romans."

"Lucia è interessata al design dei costume da bagno."

"That's lucky, my uncle Jim in Troon works as a fashion photographer; perhaps he'll find work for her. I'll write and tell him."

Vicky said quietly in Italian, that she felt a little jealous, as she too would like to model swimwear, but nobody wanted to see her in a bathing costume.

No doubts about how they did want to see her! Dean smiled to himself and said nothing.

We managed to board a crowded train, found separate seats, and reached Ostia around 11.30 a. m.

"It's best we take a taxi to the club, it's 3 or 4 kilometres from here, there's a taxi rank outside. Don't worry about the fare, my people have an arrangement with the taxi company.

We find a taxi and Mauro, sitting in front speaks quietly to the driver, he nods, and we drive off; with the Dean sitting in the middle between Vicky and me at the back. I notice that Dean's bare knees, are touching both Vicky's and mine, Vicky, doesn't seem to mind. I'm not too bothered. Two can and probably will play that game!

We arrived a Mauro's beach club, the Capocotta. As we're his guests, entry was free. We went at once to the changing rooms to don our swimming costumes. The women's room was minimalist, basic, but clean.

Vicky and I found ourselves alone. The room had four WC stalls, all clean! A couple of hot and cold showers, four washbasins, and wooden benches below the lockers around the three sides of the room. A long high window supplied sunlight. We'd all been supplied with locker keys which we were expected to keep till we left.

As we were alone, we'd an opportunity to check each other out. Vicky had an excellent figure, average height, wide hips with a narrow waist, moderate size boobs and a sexy jet black bush, the blackness was enhanced by its vivid contrast with her pale abdomen. Her face also was pale and oval shaped, with a rather sad expression. When she turned her back to me to step into the bottom half of her swimsuit, I noticed that she had bruising and a thin red inflamed stripes on the lower side of her bum cheeks. She showed signs of some guarding of her leg movements, and I noticed that she winced as she stepped into the pants. The black costume was fairly revealing, cut high at the thighs and sides. I noted with a little concern that quite a few dark curls visible extending around the edges below of her pants. I wondered if she was aware of it. However, she'd shaved underarms, which was with relief, I really abhor hairy armpits on women! So gross! She changed quickly into her two-piece.

She didn't seem that interested in me, perhaps she was shy. My own swimming attire was a modest two-piece, light green, top and bottom. It complimented my skin tone. I complimented Vicky on her sexy appearance. She smiled a little wanly and made hand gestures towards my boobs, in salutation. I decided not to mention the pubic hair, perhaps Italians weren't concerned about such solecisms.

As I suspected there was some nudity, and lots of boobs on display, exclusively by young women, mostly people were walking about in skimpy bathing costumes, nobody seemed to mind. Dean was wearing a pair of navy-blue swimming trunks whilst Mauro appeared in very tight micro swimsuit, leaving nothing much to my imagination, but then I'd already had a good idea of what was available. His darkly tanned skin covered a very tough looking musculature, he looked like he was some kind of professional body builder, super tough!

The beach was a long stretch of golden sand, with a shallow slope towards the Tyrrhenian Sea. To the right was a rocky promontory giving shelter from the town and other public beaches and to the left, it stretched southwards for several miles with dunes and wild marram grass. An oil drum barrier about 50 yards away marked the limits of beach area owned by the Club. There was a small rocky island about 250 yards from the shore, where a few distant figures could be seen sunbathing. The beach wasn't particularly crowded, mostly couples, a few with young children. There was a games area for beach volleyball and a couple of tennis tables. No one was playing. Drinks and simple snacks were being served at the café bar. That was it.

We agreed to sit together at table by the bar under a couple of umbrellas. As a gesture of thanks for Mauro's hospitality, I offered to buy us all drinks. Mauro accepted with a nod and said I could order from the waiter, who was circulating. Vicky and I ordered lemonades, Mauro a wine spritzer and Dean, a beer. These arrived with a plate of lemon flavoured olives. I signed a receipt, asking Mauro how much to tip, and he said absolutely no tips here. It's frowned on. So, I didn't add any extra. We'd pay when we leave at the end of the day.

"I see that there is some nudism, but only women, no male members to be seen! Is that usual Mauro?"

"Yes, that's the club convention in the café area, if men want to take off their trousers, they must do it further down, or on the island over there."

"Ah! But there's no objections to women displaying their boobs then?"

"No, not at all, in fact the management encourage it; it brings people to the café. Feel free!"

"Perhaps later after I've been for a swim, I'd not want to deprive the management and the others of their fun!"

"We Italians are quite relaxed about women's breasts certainly around here."

"So why not penises, Mauro?"

"Well, quite a lot of the members are Vatican officials and don't want to be seen to be encouraging overt homosexual activity. But they turn a blind eye to naked men by the rocks, so if you really want to look at naked men, we can swim over, later."

"I can see as much as I want back in Rome, Mauro! But the swim looks like good fun, so I will, if Dean or someone wants to come with. I prefer swimming with a partner in case of cramp." I look across at Dean who nods, although fully absorbed in chatting quietly to Vicky. She seems quite taken with him, a big contrast with Mauro. Light versus shade.

"So, you come here often, Mauro?"

"Only at weekends, when I've a date."

"Lucia isn't your only girlfriend?"

"By no means. Mama would never allow me to have a regular girlfriend, until I've earned enough to support a family of my own!"

"Then, you're not as rich as I thought! Pity!" I smile.

"Wealth is a relative quantity. I probably seem rich to many; but compared with my bosses I'm practically a pauper! I don't have a big house, although I do have a couple of apartments and as well as working for my company, run a small business."

"So, what's the other business, Mauro?"

"It's a small escort and model agency?"

"Really, for both men and women?"

"No, only young women. There's very little employment for young people at present in Rome, the extra money comes in handy for them."

"What percentage of their earnings do you take?"

"In central Rome, 25% is generally charged."

"How many girls do you employ?"

"It's not fixed, about 5 or 6. The girls contact me when they've free time or need the cash or are bored."

"So, what do you do for them?"

"I arrange for them to be employed by any of my contacts who want their company, either as a model or for escort purposes and I try to ascertain that these contacts won't damage them, either by brutality or transmitting some kind of disease and of course ensuring that they're paid at the correct rate."

"And if they don't?"

"They always do, Louise, even if they sometimes need a little persuasion."

"What else do you do Mauro?

"Mainly collect rent and other payments for my bosses."

"So, these fine muscles I've been admiring, must be come in handy!"

"Yes, but when it comes to persuasion, I call in an assistant or two, who specialize in that kind of thing!"

"Ah, so you mainly deal with the financial aspects of the business, as well as securing the girl's contracts."

"Yes, but one can't be too specialized at my level, even the big bosses have to be prepared sometimes to employ some persuasion."

"How fascinating, but isn't it all quite dangerous?"

"Not, really, as I said, if needed there's plenty of backup available, and I keep myself quite fit, I don't drink much and I keep trim, as you see."

"Yes, I do, you've a very impressive physique, Mauro."

"Would you like to feel my muscles?"

"Not just now, maybe another time?"

"Ok, I'll remember!"

"How long have you known Vicky, is she one of your employees?"

"Oh, no she's one of Lucia's friends. She isn't interested in escort work, although she has modelled occasionally."

"Yes, she has a lovely body, I'm sure she's very photogenic, especially in black and white."

"Yes, she has an attractive cunt, wouldn't you say?"

"From the little I've seen, I'd agree, but perhaps she needs some polish, here and there to appeal to more sophisticated men."

"I assure you, the men around here aren't very sophisticated."

"I think you'd be surprised, take Dean for example, to look at him you wouldn't think he was, but actually he is very well educated and cultured, I'm sure he'd appreciate a more refined type."

"He seems to be quite appreciative of Vicky, as she is! But what would you suggest she did to improve her appearance and er, sophistication?"

"Not much, but a little attention to her hair, and makeup perhaps, subtle things like that, the little things make a difference."

"Thanks for the advice, I'll bear it is mind. Do you have any modelling experience, yourself?"

"A little, I've modelled some clothes and things for a catalogue."

"How interesting, perhaps if you've time when you're not too busy learning Italian you might like to do some work for me too, as well as make some suggestions about how to improve the appearance of some of my girls?"

"How flattering! perhaps when Dean goes home next week and if I've some free time, I'll consider it. You know where I live! But let's go for a swim!"

Dean and Vicky agree.

We fetched some towels from the kiosk. It was now so hot that I decided to remove my costume top, Vicky followed suit, and we left them at the kiosk and wandered topless into the water. It was very shallow, so I was a little self-conscious about having to wade for about 50 yards before the water came up to our waists with my boobs swaying as if they had a life of their own. Vicky's were more static and looked almost staid. I noticed that she and Dean were becoming quite friendly; she gave him occasional shoves after he'd made some kind of cheeky remark.

Once the water was deep enough to swim in, I decided to test whether Dean's swimming was as good as he said, although it did mean breaking up his tête à tête with Vicky.

"Race you to the island, Dean!"

"You're on!"

We both pulled away from the others, who were only mediocre swimmers; Dean was surprisingly good with an excellent crawl style. He'd obviously been expertly coached; I was only just about able to keep up with him over the 250 yards to the rocks.

Once there, we found that we'd swum into a shoal of nudists, who'd been hidden from view of the café.

Several big lads and a few girls were lying starkers on a flat platform, hewn into the rock. Ideal for sunbathing. We climbed up a metal staircase and, not wanting to be the odd people out, removed our costumes.

"Make sure you don't lose you costume Dean. The management, might become uncomfortable as you emerge, like the "Birth of Venus" from the waves."

"Even the most cursory spectator wouldn't have much of a problem distinguishing me from Venus! On the other hand, you nicely fit the bill!"

"I'd need a very big shell and longer hair. I stand in the pose, left hand covering my crotch and right, artfully covering by boobs but making sure the left nipple was visible.

"Very good, just about got it. I doubt that Vicky would do for that pose."

"Why not?

"Well, her hair colour doesn't fit. She'd need to a real blond like you."

"You've noticed then?"

"Noticed what?"

"That she's not a blond!"

"Anyone can see that, although I'm curious to see the other bit."

"I think you may become embarrassingly excited!"

"We'll see, I didn't see much of an erectile response around here when you did your Botticelli thing."

"Probably because most of them are queer, they're probably more interested in you!"

"Probably! Oh, I can see them coming now, they're looking a little puffed out! Perhaps I should offer to give her some lessons? How would you feel about that, Louise?"

"Are suggesting we practice your famous breaststroke, as a threesome?"

"No, I think that might compromise any future we might have together, don't you think Louise? I was considering private lessons?"

"Well, we'll see about that later, Dean! But only as long as I'm out having Italian lessons, I don't mind in the least, you shouldn't have any problems in fixing it, although I think Mauro might cut up a little rough if you invade what he may regard as his proprietorial rights, and I hate to think what he might do to that nice nose of yours. So do tread carefully!"

"Here they come! Hi! you made it guys, well done!"

They did look a bit breathless, Mauro surprisingly, more so. Vicky looked around and without fuss remove her pants as though undressing in public came naturally, perhaps it did? She sat upright with both legs bent to her left, still breathless, her chest heaving dramatically, drawing attention to her nice breasts with water streaming in rivulets between the gap and pooling in her hirsute lap. A bit like the statue of little mermaid, which is a popular tourist attraction in Copenhagen harbour. I was sure that if the tourists were here, the mermaid wouldn't get a look in! The living hyperventilating mermaid was a very pretty picture!

I said, "Vicky you look like the Copenhagen mermaid!" I asked Dean to translate.

Vicky seemed puzzled, "What's a mermaid?"

"Sirena!"

"Ah a girl who lures men to their deaths on the rocks!"

"Exactly!" Dean and I chorus.

"I don't want to do that! I'm in enough trouble already!"

"What kind of trouble?" Dean asks.

"Oh, Vicky's been in trouble with a guy who wanted her to do stuff which she doesn't agree to."

"Who's this guy, Mauro?" Dean inquires coolly but not really having any difficulty about guessing the culprit's identity.

"I'd rather not talk about it, Dean. It's being looked after!"

I too thought I'd a pretty good idea who the guy might be but refrained from comment. Instead, I said, "It's so nice to sit around without any clothes on, one feels so free!"

"As long as it stays warm and sunny its fine, but careful, your boobs will become sunburned if you stay out here much longer!"

"And your willy, Dean!"

"Yes, that too, I don't want a tender todger anymore than you'd like burning boobs!"

"Vicky and Mauro look as if they're more acclimatised to this kind of exposure. I don't see any unevenness in their suntans, turn round Vicky. Let me see your back!" She obligingly turns and Dean exclaims, "My god, Vicky what have you done to your bum? It looks as if you've been whipped? And I know whip marks when I see them!"

She looks embarrassed and coyly said, "Oh it's nothing, just a little amusement, a game I like to play sometimes that went a little too far. Nothing to worry about." Dean translates as she speaks.

"You mean you like being whipped, Vicky?" I ask, "Why!"

She answers in Italian and Dean translates, I assume with perfect veracity,

"Well, it's a bit embarrassing, but till recently I've not been very interested in sex with boys," she looks a little demure with her sad eyes looking out to sea.

"How about girls?" I interject.

"Are you asking if I'm attracted to you Louise?" she smiles.

"Since you're asking, a little! But I don't feel passionate about you!"

"Give it time, we've only just met!"

"Enough, Louise, everything doesn't have to be about you, all the time, let Vicky speak!"

"Anyway, as I said, I've never been much turned on by men, ok I go out with them if they ask politely, and I let them kiss me if they wanted and squeeze my breasts a little. But I didn't want anything more, or at least didn't till a month ago, when I met this guy, in the little café where we met at this morning. He offered me a coffee and complimented me on my beautiful creamy skin, he was referring to my face. I do look after it! Then he asked what I did, I said that I was a primary school teacher, just recently qualified. He asked if I liked the job, I said I did, although it was a little boring. Then, he asked me if I'd like a bit of excitement. I said of course! Not knowing exactly what he had in mind. He explained that he ran a modelling agency and was always looking for new talent, would I be interested? He mentioned that he could fix me up with a job modelling swimwear the following evening after I finished work, the pay wouldn't be great, but it might be interesting.

The following day he took me along to a modelling agency. A man and woman were in the studio, the woman asked me to take my clothes off and she'd see what they had that suited my figure.

The man, stayed whilst I stripped and then said that he didn't have much that was suitable, would I mind if he took some photos as I was. As I was already stark naked, I couldn't really see any reason for further objections. I allowed them to take a few photos, and then he said would I mind doing a few sexy poses. I said I didn't know what he meant.

He said, "well bend over with your legs wide apart and he'd take a shot or two from below. I said that I didn't want to, my Mum would be very angry if she ever saw the photos.

He then said, how would you like me to beat you on the bum with this switch? Do you think that might change your mind. I was quite frightened, by him and his wife who was also beginning to look angry. I hesitated, then he hit me with the cane, quite lightly. But apart from the pain, I was shocked and surprisingly excited which was also a shock, he hit me a couple more times, I began to feel quite randy, not about him, he didn't attract me at all, it was a kind of itch.

I felt myself swelling up and become wet. This was quite new for me. It must have had the desired effect because he took some photos and said thank you and goodnight.

When Mauro collected me, I still felt quite randy, he must have seen how flushed and excited I was; unusual for me. He asked me if I'd like to have a drink in his apartment, I agreed. We fooled around a little, but the excitement had diminished. I really had returned to my normal disinterested state. I said, perhaps jokingly, "You'll have to beat me if you want me to cooperate!" We were both standing naked, and he took a bamboo cane from a plant pot. He told me to bend over, and wacked me on the bum, another two whacks and my bum became red and sore, but I was really turned on again and well lubricated. I lost my virginity to him that night, and I had a powerful orgasm. I was ecstatic. Since then, I've found that a light beating is the thing that gets us going. Last night things went a little far and you see the result! But I don't think I'll be marked for life."

Dean was looking concerned. "Interesting story Vicky, you know I've had a similar experience. When I was younger, I was a boarder at a Benedictine boarding school in the north of Scotland, where the main entertainment that the monks, who also were our teachers, had, was to beat the boys. One master in particular enjoyed beating me on the bum with a cane.

Even though we were still young boys, who mostly hadn't reached puberty, the beating gave us erections and frequently we pissed ourselves too. On a few occasions after a particularly savage beating, we shat ourselves. You see, beating on the underside of the bum, stimulates the pudendal and genital nerves that supply the genitals, bladder, anal muscles, and skin around the anus. These are all erogenous zones. So, a beating on the lower part of the bum often prompts erotic sensations. This is simply caused by mechanical stimulation of the nerves, not by any true erotic feeling towards the beater. Nevertheless, the beaten person feels the same sensation as a genuine erotic experience and if repeated often enough, it becomes associated with the guy delivering the beating and can cause great feelings of guilt and confusion in the victim. A feeling of affection, even love may develop between the victim and his tormentor.

The guy who does the beating also becomes erotically charged, but in this case it's because he sadistically enjoys inflicting pain on his victim, not just the physical pain, which is relatively short term, but also the much longer lasting anguish that the victim has to cope with, due to the confusion that these erotic sensations evoke. It's easy to see how this confused state can be exploited, especially when the victim's a helpless child.

In your case, Vicky perhaps the combined effect of the beating with the erotic excitement of a nude photographic session shook your brain into an erotic awakening and lucky Mauro was the fortunate man at the receiving end! Or maybe you're a natural masochist, are you Vicky?"

Neither Vicky, nor Mauro said anything!

"It sounds as if you know a lot more about this topic than is healthy, Dean! Do you still have erotic feelings towards the Benedictines at the Fort, or have you found other objects of desire? Do try to be as honest, as Vicky has been. I think all this nakedness is quite good for putting us in a confessional mode, they say that catharsis is good for you, albeit messy! Do go on!"

"Ok, Louise, I'll follow Vicky's brave example I'll try to be honest, and I've had previous experience on the psychiatrist's couch!

When I was rescued from the Fort, I was very mixed up. But was lucky, I was young enough to make a full recovery. My sexual leanings and erotic imaginings are now triggered entirely by what normal people regard as conventional objects of desire, breasts; I can't take my eyes of your breasts Louise, that is until I see Vicky's and they remain magnetically attracted to Vicky's until I'm distracted, and I return my gaze to yours, so my eyes keep swivelling between these four gorgeous globes, like the ricocheting balls in a pin ball machine! I'm attracted to your genitals too, but I suppose it's more permissible to openly enjoy looking at breasts and also girls like to show them off, although they pretend, they don't! It's a unwritten pact but fully understood by all parties. Anyway, that's what I like doing and what's turning me on this afternoon!"

"Surely, you're not attracted to any old breasts, Dean? See that old lady over there who must be about 40; are you turned on by looking at her breasts, as much as Vicky's or mine?"

"They're quite shapely, actually! I don't suppose she'd be displaying them if they were saggy, with nipples turning to her toes! But, a big part of the erotic thrill is engaging in the mating ritual, the choreographed steps are fully prescribed and ritualized. As with a dance, there's the preliminary introduction, bows, eye contact, asking permission to make the initial move, holding hands, step out, hand on waist, swing around together, a new piece of information exchanged, an uncovering of that which has previously been hidden, at least to the other, each successive step, a progression towards total intimacy.

This mirrors the mating games we play, the initial chat, exchanging the external information, name, age, place of birth, job, signifiers of class, and political attitudes, then in time, removal of successive layers of clothing and at each stage obtaining tacit permission before moving on to the next stage. In our case Louise, we've established a bond, by working together in the orchestra and just chatting to establish the preliminaries, the initial elimination round, is the gateway stage, then the normal steep progression towards the goal, to see and touch and possess. Of course, this escalation of intimacy can be short circuited, but going too fast through the stages, leads to trouble!

But I admit I'm also attracted to the film star's breasts, like Monica Vitti's or Brigitte Bardot's. Unfortunately, I don't know either of them. But the context's important. Cinema encourages millions of us to believe we've relationships with these sex goddesses. The artificial relationship between the image and viewer fools us into thinking it's a genuine relationship we have with these phantoms. Distinguishing illusion from reality is hard. But an understanding of how we're being manipulated can sort this out. Assuming, we want to be rid of false beliefs. Many prefer to hang on the illusion that they actually do have a relationship, with Monica, or the Queen or Holy Mary, or even the girl next door. It helped me and maybe it'll help you too, Vicky! But you've heard too much from me! How about you Louise, tell us what turns you on?"

"Ok, its odd, as I was listening to you, I was wondering whether I'm gay. I'm attracted by women's breasts too, they can project an erotic attraction which we all enjoy in the context of intimacy, as you say. So, I too am attracted to Vicky's breasts and would like to touch them. But I'm also attracted to male projections, and the qualities associated with maleness, like strength, vigour, impetuosity, ardour and audacity, which I see in you and to an extent Mauro, obviously I also like to look at the physical characteristics that go along with some of these things, your face, eyes, teeth, chest, abdomen and yes, cock, but a disembodied cock has little or no attraction, to me at least. Like a drawing you may see in a public loo, it may be funny but not very erotic."

"I don't think you've seen enough of these drawings, Louise, some can be quite effective, it depends on the skill with which they're done! Maybe you should visit a few more men's rooms. But what about you Mauro, what turns you on."

"Ok, I'll try to be honest with you, as you may have been, although I don't think you've been completely honest. What turns me isn't pretty, it's darker than the stuff you've mentioned. I was brought up in a less stable setting, than you, Dean and certainly you, Louise. I was raised to a life of abject poverty, violence, oppression, and ignorance, and just as you've been oppressed by the monks and priests, Dean, so have I. But the difference is that here in Italy especially in Rome, it's a totalitarian persecution, from which there's no escape, its universal! It's everywhere, home, school, work, politics, the police, and the cosa nostra; the Church has a hand, or at least a finger in it, somewhere! Its oppressive, violent, cruel, and greedy, that's my childhood. Compare that with the relatively comfortable lives you've led, and no doubt expect to continue with.

So, I'm afraid, whilst I do find erotic attraction in a shapely breast, or a juicy cunt; what turns me on, even more, is being able to exert power over other people, to force them do stuff they'd rather not. Dominating other people gives me a thrill! So, yes, I like beating Vicky and hearing her whimpers turning to shrieks of pain, sometimes pretended, and then fucking her wet cunt which the beating has reduced to a swamp, and I like to the sour of smell of fear she communicates, also the attraction she feels towards me, as I possess her body and mind. Not pretty, I admit it, but remember, she's waiting for the day when she can reverse the roles, when she can exert her dominance over me! She probably practises this now, by little acts of cruelty to the kids in her class. It's sociopathic and maybe psychopathic, but it's human and it's a me and not just me, I'm sure I'm not the only sociopath, here, Louise. I recognise that one can't live like that without a price being paid! Maybe Vicky will tire of being oppressed and knife me in the back while we're in mid-fuck."

"Well Mauro, the picture you paint is ugly! It probably suits your lifestyle very well. But how does your victim feel? What would society be like if everyone behaved like that? Do you find Mauro's character traits attractive, Vicky?"

"No Dean, I don't find these aspects attractive, but he tends to exaggerate, as you've seen, he's really quite a charmer, he talks well, almost as if he's been to high school, which I know for sure he hasn't! And he's usually very considerate and sensitive to my wishes and needs. So, in answer to your question, Dean, yes, I am attracted to him, maybe because of these character traits, rather than despite them. So, he's right, we live in a criminal twilight here in Rome and as a woman, I use the meagre advantages I have to survive. In his milieu Mauro's character traits are an effective survival strategy and also beneficial for me too. Like coming with him on nice trips to the seaside, instead of staying home with mama. Also, he protects me too, against being hassled by other predators. It would be nice to spend time with you Dean sometime, but will you protect me from the dangers on the streets? I don't think you've the skill for that, unless you're hiding a skeleton under that great pink body of yours, covered in blond hair which I'd love to ruffle with my hands, like I do to my cat.

"Thanks for that Vicky! Though, I'm not sure I like of the picture you're painting, but I do like the idea of you running your fingers through my blond pelt!

"Just thinking out loud, and Louise, you can stroke my boobs any time, though I'm not sure I can get round all of yours!"

"Now, girls, a little decorum please, and save the cattiness for your cat, Vicky!"

"I'm famished, let's get a bite to eat, then we should think about how we're going to amuse ourselves this evening."

"I agree, very thoughtful Mauro, you're not so bad after all! But don't forget to put on your pants! You too, Dean! The members may not appreciate your blond hair as much as others, I could name!"

We swam back and caught a bus to the Ostia station and returned to Rome. When we reached home, about 7.00pm Mauro, invited us to come round for a drink about 9.00pm. He has some business to deal with before then.

"Ok, Mauro, but I've a class tomorrow so we can't stay too late."

"Me too! School starts tomorrow at 8.00am, I've to be there for the kids, so that their mums can go to work!"

Chapter 7 Mauro's place.

I decided to have a shower, to wash off the sand and sea and suggested that Dean bought a plate of lasagne from Pietro, so that we could eat it here.

"Good idea, then I can read a bit more about the Human Species!"

"I think you could write a treatise about child molestation, in Catholic boarding schools."

"Unfortunately, it's not only in Catholic schools that power abuse happens, it's almost everywhere, it's a power thing, not a religious thing. Religion is just a cover, to achieve dominance. It's not the only way dominance can be achieved; in a boarding school, authority is reinforced by with the rod, as in British schools they feel they've the right to do. God given or upheld by long custom and usage.

"Well, it'll change soon, I can feel it."

"I hope so, but the whole ethos of boarding schools will have to change too."

"Enough Dean! Go and buy a wodge of delicious lasagne from Pietro, otherwise I'll make you sleep on the couch!"

"Ok, back in a jiffy!"

By the time we'd finished eating the delicious and very filling lasagne, Dean had decided that he preferred to sleep.

"Why don't you just go and tell them I've got a headache, maybe too much sun and need to get some sleep. Don't be too late."

"Ok, but I think Vicky will miss you!"

"Maybe so, but she's a pragmatist, she'll make do with what she's got."

I knocked on Mauro's apartment door and Vicky let me in, obviously disappointed at not seeing Dean. Mauro isn't back yet from his business, so we can only communicate with difficulty. She offers me a drink, I nod, she pours a glass of something from the only available bottle. It's very strong. Neither of us know what it is, but we like it's fiery taste, we screw up our eyes and swallow, then decide that maybe we should have another, it might help us communicate better. We sit together on the couch.

With hesitancy Vicky says that she's sorry she was so rude this afternoon. I replied that I'd forgotten all about it, which I had! Then, she remembers something I'd said.

"But I'd not mind touching your breasts! My goodness, I must be a bit tipsy!"

"Me too, Vicky, but I thought you weren't interested in my boobs."

"No, I'm very jealous. Let's lie of the bed and have a hug, but we have to be quick, as Mauro will be back soon."

We lie together on the bed and remove our tops and bras and then decide that we might as well remove the rest of our clothes as it's so warm in the flat.

I explore Vicky luxuriant pubic hair which she accepts without shyness. She gently runs a finger along the margins of my inner labia, and I copy her action, then Vicky lightly touches my swollen clit, and I copy her action.

"This is nicer than with a guy, he doesn't know exactly what to touch and how much. We should do this again. Perhaps when Dean goes home?"

"Ah, I like both of you, Louise, you shouldn't keep him to yourself!"

"I've already told him, that he's welcome to see you when I'm at classes till about 7.00pm."

"Are you serious?"

"Of course! So long as I can see Mauro. I've never met anyone like him before, he fascinates me."

"There are many like him around here, I assure you!"

After things reached their natural conclusion I say, "that was nice, Vicky, I think I'll go back now. Tell Mauro I'll see him sometime soon if he wants. Caio, Vicky,""

"Bona notte, Louise."

Chapter 8 The language school

I arrive at 8.55a. m. with pen, notebook and pocket Collins English-Italian dictionary and an elementary guide to Italian grammar, our teacher was sitting at a desk with door wide open.

"Ah, Louisa, benvenuta, entra e siediti."

"Buongiorno, signor Biaggi."

"Per favore chiamatemi Luigi, Il signor Biaggi è troppo formale!"

"Ok Luigi!"

"Our class will mainly be in Italian, but I'll use English or French if any students are in difficulty, I hope you'll enjoy the lessons. But as sitting in class all day is a little tedious, on Wednesday afternoons, I intend to take you all on visits to places of interest around Rome. Also, we'll have a coffee break at 11.00 am and resume at 11.30 am then we will work till lunch break at 1.00 pm. Class will resume at 2.00 pm and continue till 4.00 pm. Yes, I know we're supposed to go on till 5.00pm, but we'll use the extra hour for informal discussion in the café, so you see, it'll be quite a relaxed schedule, and I hope it'll suit your needs."

"I watch and listened, observing Luigi closely. He was a tall, thin young man with a high forehead and wavy auburn hair with bright blue deep-set eyes and seemed good humoured, although serious. He wore a tailored light weight navy blue suit, of some kind of silky possibly mohair, material, clearly expensive, and well-fitting light brown leather shoes, coffee coloured shirt, no tie. Quite good looking, he spoke good English with an accent, a dish! His gaze was focussed firmly on my boobs. That's good, I'll see what comes of that. I hope it won't be too much to handle, what with Mauro.

The French lads were next to turn up, Jean-Pierre and Marc. Jean-Pierre, tall, black hair, with a sallow complexion and serious, Marc, medium height, slightly chubby, gingery hair, reddish complexion, seems jolly. They both were dressed in tee shirts, jeans and sneakers, American style. The girls arrived together, Shereen from Sydney and Marlene from Philadelphia. Both college graduates, Shereen had studied English and American literature and intended to do a master's degree in fine art, with the intention of going into the art business; Marlene, had done a Business degree at Virginia Tech in Richmond, she was interested in making contacts with Italian exporters. She was tallish, attractive redhead, with lots of freckles, covering her face and arms. She talked louder than strictly necessary, I assumed that she had taught to be assertive at the Business School. Shereen, small, pale, with mousey blond bobbed hair, had sharp features and a good figure, wore glasses, she seemed shy. Her Australian accent wasn't strong. She wore a buttoned up white lace blouse with high collar and beige pleated skirt and good pair of court shoes and wore a pearl necklace. A little prim for the class, I thought, perhaps she thinks that the class will be very formal, she's going to have a rude awakening!

After, the introductions we settled down to work, Luigi asked us if we were familiar with Latin grammar, I put up my hand, as did both Jean-Pierre and Marc. They'd both attended Henri IV, a prestigious lycée in central Paris, both intended to study maths, physics, and economics and of course 'philo.' They were aiming to become top civil servants, it seemed likely that these guys were going to be highly motivated and quick learners. They didn't seem to be particularly interested in conversing with others.

I quite liked the look of Marc, he might be fun, Jean-Pierre was too intense for my taste. But I approved of their work ethic, eyes on the books, no distractions.

Luigi was the one I thought I'd cultivate, although Marlene and Marc might be worth attention.

Meanwhile we learned about distinctions between French and Italian formal and informal speech as in

Oui, tu es très gentil and Sì, tu sie molto gentile; and in formal speech, Oui, vous êtes es très gentil and Sì, lei è molto gentile and plural

Oui, vous êtes très gentils and Sì, voi siete molto gentile.

Also, in Italian the subject is dropped, so instead of, I go to school, it translates to, vado a scuolo, or in plural, vanno a scuola.

The definite article is employed more often in Italian, so my child becomes il mio bambino and our house, la nostra casa.

In this way we progressed, till coffee time. We trouped out into the blazing sunshine and Luigi, said that he liked the café across the street, it had excellent coffee and wasn't expensive and also had excellent biscotti and amaretti biscuits to take with coffee in the shady yard at the back. The others said they didn't want coffee thanks, they preferred water, and wandered off, so Luigi and I were left on our own,

"Try the amarreti, they offset the bitter coffee taste perfectly and will give you strength till lunch time. But they're very sweet, and more than one will make you fat, and we don't want that Louise, do we?

I nodded, and pushed a back little, "So you think I'm a bit too well developed do you Luigi! where do you suggest I lose weight?"

"Mio Dio no, tu sei la media aurea, My goodness no, you're just right! Per favore non essere offeso, please don't be offended!"

Perhaps you're right, maybe I don't conform with the Italian norm. Many young women seem to have smaller breasts than me, although Italian film stars like Gina Lollobrigrida and Sophia Loren have impressive breasts, don't you think?"

"Definitely! But unfortunately, they're exceptional. Still, it's a little infantile to focus on women's breasts, don't you think?"

"I've found that in some ways, most men are just big babies, they're drawn reflexively to them and sometimes, men express views, they don't really feel, don't you think Luigi? They're being insincere, perhaps?" I look into his eyes. "But your Aunt, Senora Biaggi, said that I mustn't distract the members of the class. I hope I'm not distracting yours?"

"My Aunt has sensible views on most things, and I'm sure she wants to protect the good name of her school, but I don't think you'll distract me or my class, providing you work hard at Italian conversation. From now on we'll only speak in Italian. Certainly, in class. Sono d'accordo con te. Let's go back?"

At lunchtime, led by Luigi, we all trouped out to another nearby café. He explained that the school had arrangements with a few local cafes to supply lunches to the students, at a discount. We could take advantage of this deal if we wished, there was no pressure. But it would be pleasant to get to know one another over meals and speak Italian, wouldn't it?

We nodded and took our places at simple wooden tables in the back yard, which was protected from the fierce sun by a thick vine, whose leaves made a cool enclave. We were served the standard Italian café meal, antipasto, cheeses and olives and artichoke and slices of peppers and tomatoes with a strong taste, then a plate of plain spaghetti with oil and Parmesan cheese and to finish a piece of fruit, we could drink have either wine or mineral water. Luigi and all the girls had mineral water, the Jean-Pierre said he'd have wine, Marc said he preferred water at lunch. I sat next to Marc, who said he'd prefer to talk in English, I said I didn't mind, but I'd a French cousin, so I was familiar with French customs. Marc raised his eyebrows and enquired, "what customs are these?"

"My cousin is a little younger than you, Marc, he has some charm and panache and is quite intelligent, but he is very egocentric and arrogant. He stayed with us last summer in Scotland.

Marc replied that perhaps not all French boys are the same, for example he and Jean-Pierre had very dissimilar tastes.

"How so?"

"Well J-P likes male company, and I prefer to be with girls."

"Do you have many girlfriends, Marc?"

"Not a lot at present, I attended an exclusively boys' school and almost all the teachers were men too."

"But you've a girlfriend, Marc?"

"It depends on what you mean, by girlfriend, I know a few girls, neighbours, girls in Sunday School, but not girls with whom I have any intimacy at present."

"Ah, intimacy! I think that needs to evolve with time, don't you?"

"Well, it depends on what you mean by intimacy, it might not take very long to become well acquainted with your skin and body, but I think it might take longer to get to know you as a person."

"So, Marc, as neither my body nor skin are available presently, your only option is to get to know me more slowly by conversing."

"But you're mistaken, Louise, I've observed you carefully for the last four hours, I've seen your face, your hair and quite a lot of your skin, and am now familiar with your body shape and occasionally, I can catch a fleeting glimpse of your breasts, which are only partially covered by your blouse when you lean forward or turn suddenly, as I think you're probably aware."

"Really Marc! You're bit of a voyeur! You resemble my cousin Henri in that respect at least!"

"No, Louise, voyeurs are secretive, I'm not. I've told you quite frankly that I've been observing you and I'll now declare that have I enjoyed what I've seen and would like to see a bit more."

"Yes, you're very open, and actually very like Henri, perhaps they teach this sort of attitude at schools like yours. We call it entitlement, les drôits des Seigneurs; and I think it's a bit gross. Some discretion and concealment are necessary in any form of casual relationship, don't you think."

"Perhaps, but I think I have to be open and a little indiscrete, otherwise, I suspect and fear that Luigi will make a move, on you, as I think Marlene or Shereen are both too serious for his present desires or wishes."

"Are you saying that Luigi is attracted to me? I don't think so, anyway I suspect his Aunt, Senora Biaggi, the College secretary and proprietrix, has forbidden him from fraternising with the students. It might be too much of a distraction for everyone. She is probably right. What do think, Marc?"

"I agree that Signora Biaggi is probably right! I think several others would be very upset, or more accurately, jealous!"

"Do you mean Jean-Pierre, or Shereen or Marlene or even you perhaps? Don't you find Marlene's red hair attractive?"

"Pas du toutes, je deteste les cheveux rouges!"

"C'est à cause de ton cheveux rouges, peut-etre? Moi, j'aime les garçons avec les chevaux blond!"

"Do you have many blonde boy friends?"

"In Rome, I have two at present."

"Only two! I think that's better than one, though!"

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, if you had one, it would probably mean that he's an exclusive friend, a fixture and item."

"Ah, I understand, but one is a novitiate priest at Il Pontifico Collegio Scozzese, the other is a friend in the orchestra, he returns to Scotland on Wednesday."

"So, I deduce that you will have an available slit, sorry slip of the tongue, SLOT! toward the end of the week?"

"As an accomplished logician like you must be aware, logical consistency is only a partial guide to the occurrence of a predicted event. Many unknown factors can affect outcomes. But what you suggest is a possible option. Perhaps it can be reviewed later."

"I'll try to contain my aspirations for a little longer."

We continued work during the afternoon and by 4.00pm we're all so tired that we decided to have a quick drink of mineral water, and I said I'd spend the evening working on my compiti a casa arrivederci, fino a domani.

Marc clapped his hands in an ironic gesture at my ability. Actually, all I wanted to do was go back to the flat and have a shower.

When I returned, I was unpleasantly surprised to find Dean and Vicky sprawled naked on the bed in post-coital slumber. It appeared that Dean had used one of his dwindling supply of rubbers. It was hanging unbecomingly on the end of his shrivelled dick. Vicky was lying next to him with her legs spread revealing the moist lining of her pink vagina. A welcoming come on for Dean possibly, but not for me! I felt outrage and I admit it, jealousy, I wanted to take a knife to them both, how dare they! I couldn't face the situation, and I didn't want to make a scene with Dean, as I knew I wouldn't be able to control my fury, so I rushed back into the street, only to find Mauro leaving the entrance to his apartment.

"You look upset Louise, what's the matter?"

"Oh, a small thing, have you seen Vicky recently?"

"I think she may be visiting Dean, is that what's upsetting you?"

"Yes, a little, I don't think my bed should be used by all and sundry!" I burst into tears, of rage, jealousy, and self-pity.

"Calm down Louise, it's not like Othello, I hope! You haven't killed them, have you?"

"No, not yet, I didn't think it would be right to knife them when they are asleep!"

"In my experience that is by far the most efficient way of dealing with such a situation. But I understand, it might prove a little awkward with the squadra omicidi, they like nothing more than an easily soluble sex crime. Also, Vicky has some very powerful friends, who would be quite angry if she were killed for such a trivial crime as a scopare nel pomeriggio sul lato. So better to live and let love. I'm sure we can think of ways for you to take vengeance without unnecessary bloodshed. Why don't you come up to my apartment and have a cooling drink and lie down for a while. I've a call to make right now, but we can talk it over when I return."

When he'd left, I looked up the meaning of scopare nel pomeriggio sul lato; it means, as I suspected, a quiet illicit shag in the afternoon. But the new-found piece of Italian vocabulary didn't make me feel much better, although I thought it might come in useful next week.

I lay on the bed with my lezione di vocabolario italiano and after a few minutes dosed off.

I must have slept for about half an hour, I dimly heard Mauro quietly come back in and pour a glass of water. He sat on armchair next to the bed. I was conscious that my skirt had ridden up above my knees, and blouse was loose and thought he might as well have a better view, by slowly turning on my side I could loosen a bra strap and hitch up my skirt a bit higher, so that when I turned back in a minute or so, I could see if it encouraged him a little, but maybe he was asleep as well?

I turned, dislodged my left strap and flexed hips and knees so that I was curled up with my back toward the room. I could feel that my left nipple was partially exposed over the top of my bra, just enough, but didn't want to make it look too obvious.

When I turned back to the other side, my skirt had ridden high and my left boob was almost fully exposed, enough to agitate any red-blooded male.

Mauro, called my bluff, he put his hands under my skirt and pulled down my pants, I pretended I was still asleep, he then undid my blouse and pulled down my bra so that it encircled my waist. As my boobs and pubes were now fully exposed. I decided it would be best if I awoke. I open my eyes to see him staring lustfully. "Don't you think you're a bit of a voyeur, Mauro?"

"No more than you're a cock teasing exhibitionist, Louise!"

"Cosa me?"

"Si tu, Louise!"

"Ti ho visto masturbarti l'altra sera davanti alla finestra!"

"So, you admit that you too are a voyeur! Did you like what you saw?"

"Well, I was very shocked to see you whipping poor Vicky!"

"But she told you she enjoyed it! Would you like me to try with you? I think you deserve a a whipping because you're a really bad girl!"

"I don't think so, especially if you make a mess of my bum like you did with Vicky!"

"No, no that was an accident, but she's an infuriating and disobedient girl."

"How was she disobedient?"

"She didn't give me head!"

"And after you beat her, did she oblige?"

"When I did it a bit harder!"

"Why do you want head so much, is it because you don't want to fuck her properly, Mauro?"

"Perhaps, I find all that black pubic hair a bit off-putting, don't you?"

"No, on the contrary."

"So, you don't want to give me head, either? Perhaps you need a little encouragement?"

With that he pulls me up, turns me round and grabs a bamboo cane from behind, and gives me a few whacks on the bum, it stings like crazy, and I cry out in pain.

"So now will you give me head, or do I have to beat you harder?"

"Please stop, I don't like it!"

"Your soaking wet pubes tell me otherwise!"

"It's a reflex, just like Dean explained!"

"Maybe so, but it turns you on, all the same, here suck me off!"

"I've never done it before; I might bite you?"

"I've seen you do it with Dean!"

"No, it was the other way round!"

"Anyway, do it and then I'll fuck you in the bum."

"Sound a bit humiliating, I've certainly never had that done to me before!"

"Always a first time! Bend over and open your legs and I'll show you. Your so wet, I won't need any lubricant."

With that he inserted his fat prick into my anus and sure enough we had a very enjoyable few minutes before we both came.

"I hope you don't expect me to suck you off now, Mauro."

"How about if I have a shower, would you like one too, your bum doesn't look quite as clean as it should be, and it doesn't smell too nice either!"

"You're disgusting! Mauro, if you don't mind, we'll postpone a second encounter, till we're both sweeter smelling."

I had a quick shower, dressed, and returned to my apartment, where Dean was sitting by the window, enjoying the view of the street.

"Hi Dean, what have you been doing today?"

"Hi Louise, you're late, I expected you earlier. I thought we might go out together for a last meal, I've decided to go home a day early.

"Ok, Dean, but what's made you change your plans?"

"Oh, I suddenly remembered I've to do a few things at home before I start at university.

"You managed to change your train ticket then?"

"No, problem. So how was your Italian class?"

"I'll tell you about it later, I want to change, before going out, it is very hot out there."

"Yes, I see you've been perspiring a bit."

"Judging from the state of the bathroom, you've had a shower too, Dean."

"Yes, I needed it, we're not used to this hot climate."

At dinner we were both a bit morose and picked at our food. I didn't want to part from Dean in such a miserable way, so I suggested that we looked for somewhere to listen to music and dance.

Dean brightened up at this, saying he'd like that. He'd heard that the Piper club near the Piazza Buenos Aires, was a good new place, not too pricey and they accepted student cards. I decided to put on a navy boob-tube, and a pair of white slacks. Dean thought he'd be ok in a white shirt and jeans.

We caught a 63 bus. Our student cards gave us a 50% discount. The bouncers all looked like Mauro's cousins, dark haired, dark skinned and mean looking, but they nodded us through. We found ourselves in a very large underground basement. The stage with the band was at one end blasting out an Ellington number, tables were placed around the hall perimeter, we were sent to a table at the back of the dancing melee and as soon as we sat down a scantily clad waitress asked what we wanted to drink. Dean without hesitation ordered two rum and cokes. He explained that was the cheapest and best. He'd obviously knew the ropes.

I looked around to observe the scene, most people were in their 20s and respectably dressed, the guys mainly were wearing T-shirts and the girls boob tubes, like mine, I looked behind to check where the loos were and saw a couple I recognised sitting demurely at the very back, Luigi and Marlene! Her flame red hair was unmistakable although it was now in a ponytail, she was wearing a white tank top that exposed her midriff and a pair of tight black jeans. Luigi was dressed in jeans, a T-shirt and light denim jacket.

I waved and they recognised me at once, Luigi smiled and gestured for us to join them, I motioned that we were waiting for our drinks, so they should join us. They joined us, Marlene a little reluctantly, I thought. I introduced Dean explaining that Luigi was my insegnante di italiano and Marlene was a compagno di classe. Dean stood and shook hands very formally, "Ciao piacere di conoscerti."

Luigi said with surprise, "Ma parli Italiano!"

"Si, mai madre è per metà italiana."

"Ma tu sei Scozzese!"

"Yes, and I came here on the same school orchestral trip as Louise, I play the trombone."

"Yes, I think it's best we talk in English, as the girls aren't yet as fluent as you."

"So, you play the trombone Dean, do you prefer to play classical or dance music?

"Oh, both, I joined the school orchestra to try and get a bit more experience, with proper music, I learned to play in a Catholic marching band, but that proved to be a bit too violent, so my Dad suggested I join a dance band, which is much safer and also quite profitable."

"I didn't know you played in a dance band, Dean, whereabouts?"

"The Cameo Ballroom, and there's lots more you don't know about me, Louise!"

"You're a pale-blond horse! But I can understand why your parents weren't too keen on you being in a Catholic marching band. Marlene and Luigi, I don't expect you know, but Glasgow has a big sectarian divide. Protestantism is the predominant religion, and they are furiously anti-Catholic. The secular branch is organised in Orange lodges that are similar to the Freemasons, although the Freemasons deny having any connections with the Orange order. Anyway, they like to show off their mastery of the streets by having huge marches on special days of celebration like July 12th, 1690. To celebrate Protestant King William of Orange's victory of over the Catholic King James II at the river Boyne in Ireland. In Northern Ireland and Scotland, protestant zealots have a tradition where they show their dominance by organizing very long lines of marchers with bands that parade through Catholic areas of the cities. They are protected by the complicit police force. This provokes a Catholic backlash often leading to extreme violence. One of the ways Catholics retaliate is to form their own marching bands, which I imagine is what Dean was doing and that's also probably why Dean's parents think it's better if he stays well away from that sort of activity."

"Oh, we've similar murderous conflicts in Richmond where I went to college. There's a lot of anti-segregationist activity amongst the black population, and on the other side Richmond was the Confederate army's centre during the civil war, on the side of the slave owning states. There's a lot of racial tension at present in the city, it's becoming more acute, as the white population is retreating from the poorer areas, and the blacks are replacing them in large numbers and gaining in confidence. There's a lot of white push-back from the Ku Klux Klan!

"Hey guys, can we fight these battles somewhere else, would you like to dance Louise?"

"Certo Luigi, sarebbe un piacere per me!"

"Good grammar! Louise."

Dean had no choice but to ask Marlene to dance, it turned out that although Luigi was quite good at Latin American dancing, he wasn't so good at jive which was what the band was playing, so we quickly returned to our seats. We watched in awe as Dean and Marlene, jitterbugged, turning and arching under each other's arms. With Dean's adept guidance, he bent Marlene backwards, whilst still doing the steps, very impressive and sexy too! As they progressed it was obvious to the dancers around them that they were in the presence of experts! A small crowd gathered to garner tips, especially on how they managed to control the backward dip without any embarrassing mishaps. Dean had obviously learned a lot from his stints in the Shawlands dance hall, and Marlene too was also very neat on her feet. When the music stopped, they were given a big clap from the onlookers.

"You dance like a professional Dean! You make it look so natural!"

"Well, you need to learn all the steps if you want to play music in a dance hall, Luigi."

"How about you Marlene, where did you learn to dance?"

"Oh, at college, these dances are all the rage up and down the east coast, from Georgia upto Boston, Mass. It's popular with the seniors at the high schools too, especially with the girls and good exercise too!"

"But how about you Louise? You learned to dance at school?

"Yes, we'd school dances, but these were mostly Scottish country dancing, I was taught ballroom dancing by a dancing teacher, and my Aunt May. She's an excellent dancer and goes out regularly to dances in Ayr. In case you didn't know, Ayr is a small Scottish coastal town. I like Latin American dance, rumbas and sambas and tangos and the latest craze the cha, cha, cha. But I like rumba best, it's elegant without being ostentatious, unlike the tango.

"You surprise me Louise, I'd have thought a bit of ostentation would suit you just fine!"

"No Marlene, I don't feel any need for overt display."

"Ah, there speaks one of life's winners. Where I come from, we're taught to sell ourselves, to project."

"Well, where we come from, modesty is considered a virtue and we prefer people to speak of themselves quietly, without shouting about it."

"Ladies, I think the drink is beginning to talk! Louise, can I have the next dance, before you really get going?"

"Sure Dean, you lead."

We danced together without saying anything, "aren't you being a bit aggressive with Marlene, just because you find her loud voice irritating. She, seems quite nice and she's probably a bit envious of your first-class boobs."

"Oh, I'm not as sensitive about my boobs, as you are!"

"Ha, ha, very amusing!"

"So, tell me why you are running off tomorrow, have you fallen out of love?"

"Not at all Louise, I'm still in love."

"But not with me?"

"Well, I sense that you're not wholly committed to me."

"You'd like my complete devotion, then Dean?"

"No, but I prefer not to share you with the local mafiosi."

"You mean Mauro?"

"Who else?"

"Well, I don't think you can complain when you shared my bed with the local crostate!"

"You mean Vicky? What makes you think I'd do such a thing!"

"There're long black hairs on the pillow and a few short black and curly ones on the sheets! So, who else d'you know around here with hair like that?"

"Touché!"

"Are saying you're in love with Vicky? Don't you think that's a little unwise and hasty?"

"I don't love her like I love you Louise, for all your arrogance, sense of entitlement and sharp tongue! But she's a nice and beautiful girl and she reminds me a lot of my Mum's Italian roots."

"I doubt if your Mum would be pleased with the comparison! Isn't it all a bit like, La Boheme! or maybe more like Traviata? Do you think your Dad will come over to rescue you from the scheming courtesan, then fuck her, himself? Or perhaps you see yourself in a more tragic role, Rudolfo, with Vicky as Mimi in La Boheme! By the way, I do hope Vicky doesn't have a cough, she has very pale skin, does she sweat a lot? And after you return to Scotland will she obligingly get run over by a bus, or perhaps you're hoping that Mauro will beat her to death?"

"Stop it, Louise! You seem to think that it's quite ok for you to go around fucking every Craig, Dick, and Mauro, but not for me to have a fling?"

"Whaat! Craig Watt? Firstly, I haven't fucked Craig, nor would I want to, he's far too busy with Brenda and the geeky double bassist Charlie's Mum, Rachel at present. Secondly yours is only the dick I've been fucked by, which I'm beginning to regret! We should join the others!"

When we rejoined Luigi and Marlene, Marlene remarked in her irritatingly loud voice, you two seem to be having a bit of disagreement. What a pity to part on a quarrel, as Dean mentioned that he's leaving tomorrow.

As I was feeling quite irked at this point, I took a gulp of my rum and coke and said, "thanks Marlene for your no doubt well-meaning advice, but I imagine, you wouldn't be too happy either to come home to find your boyfriend in bed with the local putina! I imagine that the fine ladies of Virginia are outstanding exemplars of toleration, but I expect, even they, might demur at such cavalier behaviour on the part of their beaux. And I certainly do give a damn! To quote that creep Clark Gable. But perhaps you think I'm being a little impolite to mention such peccadilloes. Maybe we should ignore this minor fall from grace, as he's such a great jitterbugger!"

I felt I'd said enough. Dean looked pained, but impenitent, Luigi looked at me quizzically and Marlene merely grimaced and muttered, sotto voce but loud enough to be heard, "It's the same the world over Louise, boys will be boys!"

"Yeah right! Scarlett!"

Luigi at once asked me to dance again, we kicked off with a tuneful rumba, as if nothing significant had been said. Then he said, he was sympathetic to my situation, he too had recently had a breakdown in a relationship due to similar causes. But perhaps I shouldn't take it out on Marlene, she too has had a few problems, before coming here.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, I'll try to be nice to her."

"Ok, Louise, I don't want a lot of bad feelings spreading like a miasma over my class members, it makes everyone unhappy, so please keep that sharp tongue of yours under control!"

"Ok, Luigi, I said I'd try to be nice to her, but when it comes to sharp tongues, I think maybe you could ask that Marlene, stays off her supercilious Southern Belle schtick!"

"You're right, my ears are not attuned to that American kind of feminine mischief, as much as I am to your European vitriol. I think we Italians are kinder."

"Oh really! Well, I've met one or two who wouldn't describe as the least bit kind. Not by a long chalk. Thugs are not uniquely Italian, but it might seem that most Italians are complicit in the workings of the mafia, otherwise how could they be so pervasive?"

"I'll have to introduce you to a higher class of people than those with whom you seem to be associating, so far, I'd not want you to leave Italy with such a jaundiced impression of us.

"In Scotland we tend to take the rough with the smooth, although I fully admit that so far, my life has been pretty smooth, but as I intend to become a lawyer, I welcome meeting with some rougher or unsavoury types. It's likely to be useful experience, for my professional life.

"Well Louise, I strongly recommend that you desist at once from any further contact with any mafiosi. They're definitely not the kind of company I'd want a rather naïve, but very attractive Scottish girl to be involved with!"

"Thank you, and yes I've a Scottish friend here in Rome at the Il Pontifico Collegio Scozzese, who told me more or less the same thing."

"Well, I'm relieved to hear that you've friends at the other end of the spectrum."

"If you listened to him, you wouldn't think that there was much difference between these two ends, they seem to meet on the dark side round the back."

"That sounds like interesting and novel viewpoint, we must talk about it sometime. But meanwhile you must do something about avoiding your criminal connections."

"Easier said than done, he's the boyfriend of the lady from whom I'm renting my apartment and lives close by."

"I see, that's awkward, I don't suppose you can break the contract, I'll give it some thought. Where do you live? Marlene mentioned that she is still looking for somewhere more satisfactory to stay."

"I'll think about it. Maybe I'll discuss it with her tomorrow at coffee."

We returned to find Marlene and Dean deep in conversation. Dean was telling her why he wanted to study medicine. He was saying that he fancied being a surgeon. He liked the drama of it all and the idea that one could make a difference to peoples' lives. With most medicine there was no immediate tangible benefit, at least in the short term. Whereas with surgery, one could bring immediate relief and save lives.

"Of course, there's a downside to all that drama, when things don't go well, Dean. That might be hard to live with, don't you think?"

"Yes, life can be tough. But since most surgery is necessary, for example repairing a broken bone, or doing an appendix operation, providing you do a competent job, then you can probably live with yourself, even though things may not have gone well for the patient. But I agree, one is likely to see a lot of human misery. Life isn't all about enjoying evenings in Rome in beautiful company. But we might as well enjoy this brief moment, whilst we can! Carpe diem!"

"Well said Dean! I think that calls for another drink." Luigi called the waitress over and ordered another round of rum and coke.

Dean and I had another dance, a slow foxtrot, and I mentioned that Luig had told me that Marlene, was looking for another place to stay, for some reason and suggested that it might be convenient if she moved in when you've left.

"You've talked to her more than I have, do you think it's a good idea?"

"Yeh, I do, it might keep you out of trouble with Mauro, he might prove to be too much for you to manage on your own. From what I've seen and heard from Vicky, he's a nasty piece of work and since he lives so close, he could make a real nuisance of himself. Marlene is much more sensible and more mature than you and quite a tough-minded lady, so I think it would be a good idea."

"So, you think the big bad Roman wolf might come for me, when you're no longer here to protect me?"

"Yes, I'd put money on it, a bit of fun is one thing, become involved with an outright thug and pimp, quite another! I can't see his Latin charm appealing to Marlene, like it seems to you."

"I admit, I do like a bit of a rough edge to things now and again, things aren't all they seem amongst the Scottish bourgeois class, as you're probably aware Dean."

"Aye, but here the safety net is threadbare, if it exists at all! At home, the polis are there to protect people like us. Here, I don't think you could count on them as much. They're quite likely to see thing's from Mauro's point of view."

"You're probably right, but I'm not sure Marlene and I will hit it off. We seem to be quite different."

"I agree, she's sensible and doesn't run after the nearest decent looking bloke for a start."

"She seems to be doing ok with the two at our table! "

"Why not, but she's not throwing herself at us, there's plenty of reserve in the tank. But in her own way she's probably got a greater sense of entitlement that all of us put together, including Luigi, who seems a decent bloke, by the way."

"Yes, why not, we mustn't assume that all Italians are mafiosi!"

"I wonder about that. There are few that aren't tainted in some way or other. To survive the war either they're compromised with the mafia and Americans, or with Mussolini's Fascists and the Nazis."

"Ok, I'll have a talk with her. By the way do you know why she wants out of her current place?"

"Don't know, I told you she's reserved, she doesn't blab her intimate life story to anyone and everyone she meets!"

"But she did say she was looking to move?"

"Yes, she did, and out of the blue, I wondered if she was making a play for me."

"Don't flatter yourself! Why should she care about you when she probably can get hold of Luigi?"

"Yeh, you're probably right, maybe she's being devious, neutralizing the potential threat from you by getting closer. All's fair in love! Still, I don't think she's likely to assault you, or ransom you, or pimp you, all of which are distinct possibilities with Mauro!"

"Yeh, you're probably right. Talking of being devious Dean, are you really going home tomorrow, or are you going to spend the day with your new girlfriend in some quiet place, and you don't have the courage to tell me? I warn you if you do, Mauro may come after you. I'm sure, like any game keeper, he has some severe deterrence methods and warning systems to tell him if him of any poachers. So, if you've plans in that direction, please drop them, it could lead to serious trouble. Mauro isn't a man to be fooled with, he's a total thug!"

"Ok I admit I intend to see Vicky in the morning to say a fond farewell etc."

"Well fine do that and go at once to the station and leave! Mauro will have spies tracking you. He has a team of ragazzi working for him. I think we should leave soon, don't you? I've got a class in the morning and you're catching an early train."

We said goodnight to Marlene and Luigi and caught the bus home.

I decided to call a truce, with Dean, what was the point in spoiling our last night together? Fortunately, he's a pragmatist too, and we had an enjoyable time with the last of his supply of rubber goods. When we'd finished, I said, that I hoped we'd stay in touch when we got back to Glasgow although obviously, it might be a bit awkward as I'll be living at home and there was no way we could sleep together in my parent's home.

Dean agreed, and said that he didn't want that either, but there was a two-bedroom flat available in Hyndland near the university, that his Dad said he could have if he found someone to share the rent, would I be interested?

"There's no way that my Dad would pay for me to rent a flat round the corner from where they live, he'd regard that as an economic sin. So, you'll have to find someone else for the time being, another boy definitely! I'm, not going to be the third member of a threesome!"

"Ok, that might work, I'll see what I can do, I'll put an advert in the Student Union and ask around when we get back."

"Maybe after Christmas, my Dad might let me use my bursary money, to pay rent, I believe there's an allowance that can be claimed for living expenses, so for Dad, it wouldn't necessarily involve much expense. Mind, you'd have to meet my parents so that they could see what a fine upstanding young man you are. Mum would be quite relaxed about us sleeping together so long as we didn't flaunt it. Also, you'd have to get a cleaner in, I'm definitely not going to be your skivvy!"

Chapter 9 Italian School, Day two

I arrived promptly at the class and found Jean-Pierre and Marc waiting, but Luigi, Marlene and Shereen missing, I asked J-P and Marc what they'd got up to last night.

Marc said that he'd gone for a walk alongside the Tiber and then done some Italian revision, J-P said he'd had an enjoyable evening; he'd found a café where he met up with some young novitiate priests, who were very companiable if you know what I mean, he raised his eyebrows. I replied that I didn't really know what he meant, but perhaps they knew a friend of mine who's studying at Il Pontifico Collegio Scozzese."

J-P thought it unlikely as he didn't think the Scots and French colleges had much to do with each other, but he'd ask. I said if you like, you can meet my friend this evening, as I've arranged to see him after school. I gave them Pietro's café address and they said they'd come along. "Great!" I said, "Perhaps Marlene might come too."

Luigi arrived at that moment looking a little flustered and apologized, he said he'd had to sort some things out with Signora Biaggi. Marlene arrived soon after, looking a little harassed, tired, and pale. We settled down to work and continued till coffee, Marlene asked if she could join me and we ordered coffees, the lads went off somewhere else and Luigi said he'd join us in a few minutes, as he'd some business to attend to.

"Where's Shereen? Is she ill?" I asked.

"Oh, she made a horrible scene when Luigi brought me back last night, she'd waited up and started calling us all kinds of horrible names! Degenerates! And shouting that it was immoral for Luigi to be dating me, etc. Then she burst into tears and left the apartment with her bag, that she'd already packed."

"So, when did she return? And why did she make a scene in any case? Surely Luigi can date whoever he wants, and you too, obviously."

"She didn't return last night! I'd a sleepless night worrying about her!"

"So, Luigi wasn't with you to allay your anxiety?"

"What're you saying Louise? We've only just met; I hardly know him!"

I let that pass, "what about Shereen, how long have you known her?

"Only since Friday, the school rented the apartment to us. They thought we'd be compatible and reliable tenants for the time we're at the school."

"So why was she so upset, she can hardly know you?"

"I guess she has some sort of crush on me; on Sunday night, she climbed into my bed uninvited. I told her that I liked her well enough, but not enough to share my bed with her when she had a perfectly good bedroom of her own. She said that she really fancied me, etc, I told her straight, that I wasn't interested in sex with women. She started to swear at me and was quite abusive. I assure you that it's very unpleasant when someone's verbally abusing you whilst you're trying to get some sleep. I told her that this won't do, I'd ask the College to find me a new place to stay, as I'd not stay with her any longer. Apropos, Luigi mentioned last night that you might be able to put me up in your apartment?"

"Yes, certainly you can stay with me till you find another place. Why don't you come round after work this evening and have a look? I've already paid the rent for the month. So, the rent's not a problem."

"That's very generous of you Louise, I don't want to be a nuisance."

"No problem! But there's only one bedroom and unless you want to sleep on the sofa, we'll have to share the double bed, there's plenty of room for two at least, but if Luigi wants to join us it might be a bit of a squeeze!"

"I don't mind sharing a bed, and I'm quite broad minded about lesbians, there were lots of girls in our dorm at college who regularly slept together in the same bed; quite a few smuggled their boyfriends in too!"

"My goodness you must have had large beds Marlene!"

"No, it was different girls and different beds! Oh, oh, you're kidding me! I suppose I'll have to get used to your English humour!"

"Yes, you might catch on in time, but it's Glasgow humour, so it may take a wee while longer. We'd better get back. See you after school."

Much to Luigi's and Marlene's relief, Shereen was waiting in the classroom when we got back. They'd feared that they may have to alert the police, possibly she'd jumped into the Tiber. But obviously, she hadn't!

Luigi welcomed her back; said he'd talk to her after class; we divided up into the two groups as we'd been allotted in the earlier session. I was with J-P and Marc and Shereen and Marlene were together, with Luigi.

We decided that we preferred to converse outside in the café and Luigi didn't object.

J-P asked me when we got outside, "Did Marlene tell you about the row she had last night with Shereen and Luigi?"

"How do you know about it?"

"We've an apartment above them in the same block. I think the College own's the whole building, there was a tremendous brouhaha about midnight, Shereen was yelling at Marlene and Luigi. Accusing them of all sorts of carnality, which I doubt they had time to conduct, as the row started just after they'd arrived. Incidentally, Luigi has a very smart sports car, a Fiat Ghia Supersonic V8, they're very rare, only about 100 have been built and seriously expensive. I know my Dad would be green with envy."

"So would mine! He likes expensive cars, golf, business and then me, as a poor fourth!"

"Interesting! Anyway, I understand that Shereen is madly jealous of Marlene for going out with Luigi and leaving her on her own," Marc nods his assent. Jean-Pierre said, "it was really loud, and some very unladylike language was spoken, the language of the gutter. Quite shocking."

I smile at their assumption that Shereen were jealous because she too fancied Luigi, like J-P probably did. Who wouldn't, with a sports car like that?"

I decided to put them right, "yes, I did hear Marlene's version; apparently Shereen fancies her, not Luigi, I don't know about his car though! She's a lesbian and Marlene isn't. So, she wanted to keep Marlene for herself and was upset that she had the presumption to go out dancing with Luigi. I don't think they're into a full relationship yet, but I may be wrong, I'd not have thought they could engage in much hanky panky in a sports car.

"Qu'est-ce que, hanky panky?"

"Ça veut dire putain, n'est pas, Louise"

"Ah merci Marc, te fais confiance pour le savoir!"

"Full marks, Marc! How long did Luigi stay with Marlene, after Shereen left?"

"Oh, he left very quickly, I think he was a bit worried, as Shereen had threatened to report him to the college administration."

"Doesn't she realise that Luigi's family! Signora Biaggi is unlikely to censor her nephew because he's dating a student, who's probably older than he is!"

"Not sure, I imagine the college won't like this kind of row, and it may cost them a month's rent; I don't see Marlene and Shereen agreeing to live together for the next month, do you?"

"No, I agree. As a matter of fact, I've agreed to let Marlene stay with me in my apartment, till she's found somewhere else."

"That's nice of you, I assume she thinks she's safe with you?"

"Why d'you say that, Marc?"

"I'd not have thought you approved of lesbian relationships."

"Why not Marc? I don't think it's illegal in Italy at least, and I'm perfectly relaxed about same sex relationships, either male or female, so long as there isn't coercion involved."

"Bien dit, Louise! j'approuve! En France c'est légal depuis 1791! Grâce à la révolution!"

"Gosh, I didn't realise that you French were so much more permissive than we British."

"I think you must distinguish between what is legally and socially acceptable. As I keep telling J-P, simply because homosexual behaviour is legal doesn't make it acceptable. You can have a mistress, beat her up and have a catamite in France, and all are legal, but none of these activities is socially acceptable within the bourgeois class to which we all belong, I assume Louise."

"Yes, Marc, you're right about my parents at least, they're as bourgeois as they come! All the same what's acceptable in France, differs from Scotland. For example, we frown on men openly keeping a mistress, and pederasty's a serious crime, remember what happened to Oscar Wilde! Assault of your spouse, probably not though! So, there are subtle differences in emphasis. We really disapprove of homosexual behaviour between men, although I believe it'll soon be made legal, although I doubt whether it'll be acceptable to have an openly homosexual relationship in Britain for some time to come. However, nobody cares about lesbians, I don't think it's even illegal, unless there's grossly offensive misbehaviour involved."

"You seem to be well informed about these legal matters, Louise."

"Yes, when I graduate, I will be an advocate at the Scottish bar, the English call them barristers, so legal affairs interest me."

"So, not just a pretty face, then?"

"Thank you, Marc, but I don't see you often looking at my face, unlike other parts!"

I shake my boobs and cross my legs, J-P laughs loudly and Marc blushes.

"Time for class, I'll see you at Pietro's about 5.30, maybe I'll bring Marlene, if she sorts herself out."

After class Marlene and I walked round to my apartment. It was baking hot, the pavements and stone walls were too hot to touch. By the time we arrived, we were soaked in sweat.

It was relatively cool inside, and I was relieved to see that the cleaner had changed the sheets, so the place was quite presentable. Marlene, said she thought it was fine, although a bit small for the two of us with her luggage. I suggested that perhaps she could stow some of it in a storeroom in her apartment and bring what she needed for the next few days. She nodded agreement.

I offered some ice water and said, I was going to have a shower, she could have one too if she liked.

Without waiting for her to reply, I skipped into the bathroom had a quick pee and stripped, I left the door open, as it was quite stuffy in the bathroom and didn't see why I should be modest. I've nothing to be ashamed of.

After the shower I wrapped my middle in a towel and flopped on the bed. Marlene said, "I think I'll have a shower too, if you don't mind.

She stripped off her clothes except for her panties, and hung them neatly on the back of the sofa. Nice boobs, and milky white skin, her freckles didn't extend beyond her neck and shoulders, she removed her pants as she stepped into the shower, her body was impressive, a top-class figure, a long thin waist and nicely shaped hips, her pubes were only sparsely covered with ginger hair, so that her brownie orange pubic cleft was clearly visible. Odd that, she must shave her pubic hair, I wondered why anyone would bother, unless they were used to showing off in front of a paying audience.

When she appeared, she too lay down of the bed, without bothering to cover herself. I'd removed my towel too.

"You've a great body, Marlene!" I said, not to beat about the bush.

"Shucks! Thanks! You, too!"

"But you've a real athlete's build, lots of well-defined muscles, I've a smoother look."

"Yes, I like to keep in shape, I played for the volleyball team at college, it's real competitive, also I swim a bit and jog. It's important for women aiming to be leaders in sales to be presentable."

"I don't know about that, although I guess it's also important for modelling. I've done a little of that for a clothing firm."

"Really? That's a coincidence, so have I, to earn extra cash. Contrary to what you may have thought, my southern belle manner was acquired at college. My folks are from Philadelphia, Dad's a professor of anthropology at the State University, and my mom's an executive in an exporting dispatch firm. So, we're not plantation owners, as you seem to have been implying."

"Hey, no worries, Marlene, I was only joking, perhaps I'm a little jealous of your gorgeous red hair and lovely figure, which Luigi, I imagine finds very attractive too. Me too, in a Platonic way of course!"

"Hey, no need to lay it on so thick, I get it! You're sorry for being so snide about my loud voice and domineering manner, also learned at the business school, by the way."

"So how did you get into modelling, Lou?"

"Ok, I'll let you call me that, my schoolfriends called me that too. But it was often accompanied by giggles as it's like loo, a synonym for toilet, or WC, as you like to say in USA."

"I'm a bit past making toilet jokes, Lou is a bit shorter."

"Well, I'm happy with Marlene, reminds me of Fraulein Dietrich."

"Yeh, I think that's why my Dad named me Marlene, it's not a common name in USA."

"Not since the war in Britain, either! Anyway, I was asked to model some clothes by my uncle. He's a professional photographer in Troon."

"Is he the husband of the Aunt who taught you to dance so well?"

"Yes, you've got a good memory! Anyway, after modelling clothing, my randy uncle suggested I do some glamour shots, as I was down to my underwear.

"What did your Aunt think of that?"

"Oh, she's very relaxed about that sort of thing, she's a great model herself and does my uncle's photo-editing. He's won a lot of prestigious photographic competitions."

"And what about your parents, do they object to your doing glamour modelling?"

"My Dad is unaware of it and my mother probably does know, because she's very close to her sister and her brother-in-law, she's modelled for them as well."

"You seem to be a very tightly knit family, at least on your mother's side."

"Yes, we are, but how about you? How did you get into modelling, and do you intend to continue when you find a job in business?"

"It was an accident, completely unplanned, I met a man when I was on a date with my, then boyfriend, when out with friends of his. We were talking about clothing sales and fashion, and my boyfriend's friend asked me if I'd ever done any modelling of clothing. He said he'd a friend who was a professional photographer and was always looking for new talent and he thought I'd fit the bill. He thought it would pay well. He gave me a business card. My boyfriend, who's an innocent, but keen on money, said I should go for it. It would do me no harm to be seen as mannequin for a big clothing company. He said he'd fix the interview and contract. A few days later I was contacted and asked to appear at a loft studio in downtown Richmond. Richmond has an old central area, down by the James River, where there are a lot of old warehouses. The river traffic used to dock, in Richmond, but no longer, ships have grown too big to sail that far up Chesapeake Bay. Most of the warehouses now are derelict. But quite a few have been turned into bars and restaurants and the area's been resurrected as an attractive tourist spot.

Anyway, I was met by this very tall handsome, well-dressed guy who was also very polite and professional. As soon as I came in, he had a good look at me turning me round and asked for my measurements, he pursed his lips a bit at my bust size, which is a little on the small side, don't you think?"

"No, I don't! For your figure they're just right! Anyway, go on."

So, he said he could do a few trial shots, now if I'd the time. I agreed and he said, there are a few day dresses in the cupboard you can change behind the screen, while I set up the lights.

He put a bit of makeup on my face, eyes, lips and some foundation cream to mask my freckles on face and arms. Asked me if I shaved my underarms. It's only recently become the custom to shave underarms in the States, how is it here?

"In Britain it's much commoner than here in Italy from what I've seen."

"Anyway, I do, as it's better if you play a lot of vigorous sport, like volleyball.

Anyway, he took a few shots of me looking elegant in the high-heels, I'd brought along. The lighting added to the vicious heat in the loft under the wooden ceiling of a four-story building with inefficient air conditioning.

He said would I mind doing a few swimwear shots as well, I said no of course not, I didn't mind showing off my body. When I returned, he muttered that I might need a little under bra support, to emphasise my attractions, he produced a few wires and said please take off the straps, so that he could insert these wires into the bodice.

I was a little embarrassed, I'd let my boyfriend play with them, although we didn't have sex, as we're Southern Christians, who prize chastity before marriage. In any case I wasn't sure I was going to marry him, so we didn't have sex.

Anyway, after the photographer, his name was Hal by the way, fiddled with the wires, he was satisfied that they'd give sufficient uplift for the shots he wanted. He said, "Fine that's it, I'll see how the shots turnout and let you know."

I was a bit disappointed, but happy that he'd given me $25 for the trial shoot.

He called my boyfriend the following evening and said, yeah, he'd like to book me in for a couple of sessions at $50 a session. My boyfriend suggested that we split it 60:40, so I'd end up with $60 for the session, I felt quite resentful as I felt entitled to all the money! I should have demanded the whole amount!"

"So that was the beginning of your modelling career? Did you have many further sessions?"

"Oh yeh, when I arrived for the next session. Hal had prepared the lights a little more carefully and he said he'd like to change my eye makeup some, and said he'd also like another look at my breasts. He thought he could improve on the wiring. As I'd let him see them already, I didn't see why I should object this time. He dabbed a bit of rouge, on my nipples and mixed it with a darker colour for the areolas. It made my breasts look much sexier, but it wasn't me, an alter ego.

I asked him why he was painting my nipples, and he said nonchalantly, he'd like to do a few glamour shots. I said I'd not agreed to that, before coming and he replied. "Well, I'm asking you now, do you want to pose for glamour shots or not?"

I replied that I'd not want my face to be recognised, it would be embarrassing. He said, don't worry, he'd fix the lighting so that nobody could recognise me, including myself.

I nodded and he said "Ok, can you remove your pants? I want a look at your pubic hair, it's got to look photogenic. Back then I'd let me body hair grow naturally; it looked a bit ragged. He tutted, and said this would never do, please let me shape it a little. He took out a pair of electric clippers and buzzed around for a couple of minutes and then rubbed a little powder on my skin, to stop the redness showing. He said many people like their models to have hairless pubes, but he liked the natural look. It's more feminine, not so girly and your red hair is a real turn on, although some people may think you've got menstrual blood on your pubes, that's a big turn off! He offered to darken the hair a tad to give it a browner shade. He thought that it would look better. He dusted my pubes with a little charcoal dust, and I admit it did improve the contrast and general appearance, not so suggestive of blood. When he'd done, I was a little dazed, and shocked, it was hitting me that I was suddenly in quite deep, with this guy. Here I was alone and naked with a guy who I didn't know. He seemed to be uninterested in me as a person, although I admit I was drawn to him.

He said, I really looked lovely, outstanding, he liked my remote inward look, he'd like to do a few mirror shots. This allows the viewer to see two views at once, a useful prop. He stood me in front of a long dressing mirror and angled the pose to give a frontal view in the mirror and a side angle of my back to the camera and angled the lights so that the shadows fell across my face and shadows under my breasts emphasised their depth. He knew his business, ok. We did a few poses with different views. Then he said that he'd done enough. He was quite busy, he'd see me another night, however, as I was now doing nude photography, he'd pay me double, but officially pay me the same, so that my boyfriend wouldn't become suspicious. He asked casually whether he'd notice the changes he'd made in my appearance. I replied that my boyfriend didn't know what my appearance was like normally and wouldn't know now!

"So, this is our secret, Marlene!" he said. He gave me a perfunctory kiss on the lips and a pat on the bum and told me to get dressed. He said he'd see me next week for another session, meanwhile he'd see how to make the most of photos. I asked if he'd let me see the results and he agreed.

"It sounds like you were becoming quite excited by it all, Marlene, it makes me a bit wet to hear about it, but also a little scary, as if you were being possessed by an evil demon!"

"Exactly! I was feeling possessed and sexually turned on by it all and a little frustrated that this guy who'd seen me naked and defenceless should be showing so little interest in me!"

"The following week, we used a few more props, bras half off and showing my butt, from behind in front of a dressing mirror, standard soft porn images. Then he asked me if I'd mind if he posed with me, he could use a delayed action so that he could pose at the same time.

I was curious to see how this would develop, so I agreed. The first pose we did together, was with me naked and he stood behind me wearing a pair of dark shorts with his right arm curled around my chest holding my right breast, which he squeezed a little, my nipples enlarged quite a lot, and I could feel myself becoming wet and randy as hell!

He ran backward and forward between the lights and the camera and me, adjusting the poses. I noticed that he'd an erection. Then he removed his pants, his cock was long and semi erect. He'd almost no body hair and his pubic hair was quite scanty. He let his cock touch the outside of my thigh, He said he wanted its shadow to fall across my fanny. This took a lot of lamp adjustment to get right. We really needed an assistant for such a complex manoeuvre. It needed so much thought and effort to get the angles right that he lost his erection. He asked me, politely enough, if I'd mind giving it a restorative rub.

I was so thoroughly absorbed by the situation that I cooperated without question or thought! I gave his dick a light rub holding it between my index finger and thumb, like I sometimes did for my boyfriend, who usually climaxed after one or two rubs. Hal was much cooler, although his erection recovered soon enough, he muttered thanks and took the picture. Then as I stood facing him, he took my face in both hands and kissed me hard on the lips. I thrust my pelvis forward and felt him pushing into my vagina. He then said "Stop!" He turned and opened a drawer and swiftly rolled a very thin rubber over his rigid cock. He pushed into me whilst I was still standing, I was more than ready. We both came after two or three thrusts. It was glorious! He then said, "thanks, come and see the pictures next week if you'd like, but we're done." To clarify what he'd just said, he continued, "I don't think we should see any more of each other, as I'm married and I don't want a messy relationship with a young girl, but I can find you a lot more work if you want it, with excellent fashion photographers. But from now on, it would be better for you if you kept your clothes on. As you see, it's a rapid and steep descent from glamour to hard porn and neither you, nor I should go there."

"So that's how I got into fashion modelling."

"Wow, very interesting. It's obvious from your story that once you take your clothes off it's easy to get sucked into very dark stuff, especially when there's a sexy guy behind the camera! You're vulnerable to exploitation and in that situation, all thoughts of propriety go out the window. Although probably less if he's a fat creep; then he'd have to be much more persuasive; I imagine plenty are."

"Right, let's go to the café, I'd like a drink.

"We'd better get dressed first, Marlene."

"Yes! I was completely unconscious that we've been naked for the last half hour or so."

"Yes, I've found that being naked in company encourages you to open up a lot about concealed stuff, I imagine it's how lots of spies wheedle state secrets out of politicians. We candidly reveal our sexual desires and you're right, we lose the sense of nakedness after we've been exposed for just a few minutes, like on a nudist beach. Nudity ceases to be strange and becomes normal, no longer so exciting or stimulating. It's novelty that's exciting, once we've become habituated to it, it loses its allure. 'You seize the flower, the bloom is shed,' as our national poet Robert Burns said about transient pleasure."

Chapter 10 Meeting at Pietro's café

We arrived slightly late at Pietro's, Davie was in his usual place, at the corner table inside, nursing a beer and an empty glass of grappa. J-P and Marc were seated at an outside table, unaware of Davie. I introduced Davie to Marlene and les garçons, who were intrigued by this dissolute ecclesiastic. I explained that Davie and I were old friends.

"Benvenuto a Roma, sono Davie, noviziato presso Il Pontifico Collegio Scozzese"

"Caio Davie, but let's speak English, we've had enough Italian for one day!"

"Fine by me pal, I've had enough of Italians too!"

"Here Davie, cheer up, have another drink!" I said, "Oh, by the way, Dean sends his apologies, he had to leave for home early, but said he hopes to see you when you return to Glasgow."

"He's just told me. I've just seen him with Vicky. They were going into a hotel near the Collegio."

I was unsurprised, but uneasy to hear this. "Mauro, will probably do him over, and maybe Vicky too, if he gets wind of it."

"Certainly, Mauro will get wind, as we were talking by the hotel, I saw a couple of his ragazzi running off round the corner."

"That's bad, he won't appreciate poachers intruding on what he regards as his territorial rights and will almost certainly take practical steps to reassert them."

"I agree, I told Dean that too, but he hasn't listened. I'm less worried about Vicky, she's 'family' and well in with Mauro's capos; he'd not dare to do her any serious harm, maybe a slap or two, but Dean's an easy target. He should get out of town and back to Scotland pronto!"

Just then, Luigi appeared, J-P and Marc had invited him along, I told him of my concerns for Dean's safety, he agreed that it could be serious. He asked Davie and the name of the hotel where Dean and Vicky were staying. He nodded and said he'd phone the proprietor and tell him to get rid of Dean immediately, otherwise he'd be likely to sustain an assault. He'd see that he was safely conducted to the station. An incident involving a foreign student in his hotel wouldn't do his reputation any good. Obviously, people listened to Luigi. I wondered just where he and his family were placed in the Roman social hierarchy. Where did such power stem from?

But, as Luigi remarked, when he'd returned from his call, "Better safe than sorry, is a wise English adage, meglio al sicuro che dispiaciuto, Dean's now on his way to the train station with the hotel security guard and his luggage. He'll be escorted onto the next Paris Express."

"Phew, Luigi, you're another Sir Lancelot!"

"Thank you, Louise, but Lancelot had an affair with Queen Guinevere, when he was supposed to be protecting her from such misdeeds as Dean's and Mauro's friend will probably willingly endure, so he wasn't a good guy at all; it was his son, Sir Galahad who was the good guy."

"Yeah, you're right, I wonder which one you most resemble! Did you study mediaeval literature?"

"Yes, the Arthurian legends were a major part of my comparative literature course, which I studied in Padua and then in Oxford. There are similar versions of the story in the early German, Dutch and French literature."

"So, what are you doing teaching Italian to a group of foreign kids in a language school, when you should be writing a Ph. D. thesis?"

"Maybe I'll do that later, Louise, but this autumn I'll be joining the family business; meanwhile, I'm helping my Aunt Sylvia. She needed a temporary teacher, as one of her regular teachers is expecting to give birth very soon."

"What kind of business is your family in, Luigi?" Marlene interjected.

"Production and export, of Italian specialty goods, like olive oil and Frascati wine, that sort of thing, it's quite an extensive enterprise now and they need someone who can speak English and other languages. By the way, Frascati wine comes from Castelli Romani, a region just southeast of Rome. I'll see if we can arrange to go there on one of our trips, it only takes about half an hour by train. You might find it interesting."

"That sounds like fun."

"But let's go and eat I know a good inexpensive restaurant near here, that serves authentic Italian food, not the stuff that's dished out for tourists. The real rough peasant food. I'd like to talk with Davie about his experiences at his Scottish College."

We agreed and followed Luigi through a maze of local streets until we arrive at a dingy dark trattoria. It was empty apart from an elderly couple who were sitting at a table in the corner of the dining hall, which had several long black wooden tables. We sat at one against a stone wall on which hung some dusty round Chianti bottles wrapped in wicker baskets. The place had a strong aromatic smell with garlic added.

Luigi took charge, "We'll all have the antipasta, then a plate of lasagna and Cesanese red wine, it's made here in the Lazio. It has a strong taste, but it goes well with the lasagna; be careful not to drink too much, it's quite strong." Nobody argued, with his choice, I suspected in any case, that there was no alternative, except maybe a plate of spaghetti!

"We settled down, Davie at the end with Luigi next to him and then me, Marlene, J-P, and Marc and sat on the other side, I was opposite Marc.

The antipasta was a bit overpowering smelling and tasting strongly of garlic, I wondered if it had been made on the premises, but the lasagna was delicious, strongly meaty tasting, with a velvety creamy texture enhanced with lashings of Parmigiano cheese. The rough wine harmonized well with it. I asked Marc whether he was enjoying it. He said it was ok, but it was a bit too crude for his taste, J-P also found it un peu trop, but I noted that they both ate with gusto, so thought that their French national prejudice was driving their discourse, rather than their tastebuds.

"So, what sort of dish would you prefer, Marc?"

Marc said that in summer he preferred to eat lighter food, less calorific, like chicken, or veal or salad. "We French are moderate in our diet; we eat well, but not too much fat or carbohydrate, although we do like our bread. I think in England and USA you aren't so careful with what you eat."

"Yes, I agree, we've an appalling diet. It's partially because we've had food rationing for so many years that we've forgotten how to cook. But also, with import restrictions, most of the basic ingredients of French and Italian cuisine are difficult to obtain and expensive in Britain. Agriculture is a much smaller part of our economy, than in France and Italy. That's one of the reasons why we enjoy visiting France and Italy so much, also the weather here is much better. Perhaps we'll change in time, the food at least! I hope so!"

"You're making us feel quite sorry for you, Louise. Perhaps we can arrange to send you some garlic sausage every month or so, it'll keep your swarms of admirers at bay. Maybe you can send me a delicious mutton pie, or black pudding in exchange, I know you Scotch love les boudins!" I grimaced.

"Has Marlene settled in with you?"

"Yes, we're taking her luggage round after dinner, if you're not doing anything, maybe you can give us a hand?

"I guess Luigi will drive it round in his car if she asks him nicely."

"You're right, I think we can safely leave it to Marlene to ask Luigi, he's a real boy scout, or maybe a school prefect?"

"More like a Roman praetor, although I think the praetorian guards were disbanded in the 4th century AD. I've a feeling his family are their contemporary reincarnations."

Davie was talking in Italian to Luigi about the horrors he'd had to endure at the hands of his sadistic mentors. Luigi seemed to be showing some sympathy. I caught that he was recommending Davie, to find something else to do. "There's little point in starting a profession which has unswerving values and with which you have no sympathy and which make you miserable. You're not going to change the Church's tenets in this millennium or the next! They'll simply crush you and keep doing it, so long as you show the least sign of resistance to their ways. So, if you want to help other people, why not try medicine?" He offered to help smooth things over with the College, he said he'd a few useful connections.

I completely agreed with everything Luigi was saying, and I hoped it would encourage Davie to return to Glasgow soon, as his stay in Rome was harming him. He was a shadow of his former self. Although he was the same age as us, he looked at least ten years older, lines were showing around his eyes and on his forehead, and he rarely smiled. He was dreadfully thin and pale. Of course, his excessive smoking and drinking didn't help.

When dinner finished, Luigi told us that he'd help move Marlene's luggage to our apartment. Marc and I decided to go for a walk, leaving J-P and Davie chatting at Pietro's place, J-P said he'd like to introduce Davie to the group of French novitiates, he'd met. Davie gave a non-committal nod.

"Let's take a look at the Trevi fountain, it's only a 10-minute walk, we can go via Hadrian's temple.

"Ok, Marc, if we can stop for an ice cream."

"Haven't you had enough to eat, Louise?"

"Ice cream's not food!"

"I'll take your word for that, perhaps we can share a plate?"

"I'm not sure we're on sufficiently intimate terms to be sharing plates of ice cream, Marc, besides, I like lots of it! But ok, so long as you realise that it doesn't give you any other privileges!"

"Like which?"

"I haven't decided, but at the moment, none!"

"Perhaps, I may be permitted to hold your hand when we cross the street?"

"Mmm, if you like, but how old did you say you were? I'm not your nounou!"

"Let's pretend you are, then maybe I can sit in your lap, and you can give me a cuddle, when I cry."

"Don't be absurd, Marc, that's bordering on depravity!"

"Maybe I am a little, aren't you a bit too?"

"How so?"

"Well for a start, befriending a mafioso pimp and his putin!"

"Don't be cruel about Vicky, she's quite nice, but I agree Mauro has exploited her horribly."

"You should avoid them, they're both clearly dangerous company!"

"Never mind them! How can I be sure that sharing my plate of ice-cream won't lead to serious misadventures?"

"I promise that I'll not try to sell you on the streets, unless we run out of money!"

"I'll hold you to that! This place looks promising, we can have a plate with three scoops of gelato. Which flavours do you like, I'll let you have one as long as it isn't my favourite!"

Marc asked for vanilla, as I knew he would, so I chose chocolate chip and pistachio flavours.

"You know, we've great ice cream in Scotland, made by Italian immigrants."

"Really? We rarely eat it at home."

"That's your loss! Eating ice cream is one of my greatest pleasures! As a special treat, my Aunt May used to take me to a café in Troon where we ate it together. She said it reminded her of how she met her husband, Jim. He's a photographer who seduced her with a plate of ice-cream, she says."

"That sound quite a bargain. Perhaps I should pay for this?"

"Times have changed. May got married to Jim about twenty years ago, before I was born. It was a bit of shotgun wedding, un marriage de fusil de chasse!"

"Je comprends! How many cousins do you have?"

"Two, both living in Australia. Unfortunately, May had a miscarriage and subsequently has been infertile."

"That's sad!"

"Yes, very, although she seems to be happy enough, she's a good businesswoman and an excellent photo-editor for Jim. I treat her as my second mother."

"It appears that Marlene and Luigi are becoming close friends, wouldn't you say Louise?"

"Yes, I could've told you that yesterday."

"Does that annoy you?"

"No, I like Luigi, but I think he's probably too serious minded and well-meaning for my current tastes."

"I see what you mean ok, Louise, but I suspect that he's not nearly as virtuous as you think. He's obviously been to elite schools and universities but, where does all the money and influence come from? How can he tell a hotel proprietor to remove one of his guests, and escort him to the train station, with just a phone call? Don't you find that strange? Also, he's joining a company that exports olive oil and other Italian products. What products do you think yield such a large amount of cash that it provides him with a very expensive sports car and all that influence?"

"Are you hinting that he is some kind of mafia princeling, Marc?"

"I'm not sure, I suspect his family have a lot of connections with criminal gangs or maybe far-right-wing politics, maybe both."

"You could be right, so do you think his nicey, nicey image is just a façade?"

"Possibly it's a form of behaviour he's adopted as a masquerade, allowing him to coexist with his family's activities."

"Or possibly, he's just a genuinely nice guy and you're trying to persuade me otherwise, for your own purposes, Marc!"

"What, purposes do you think these might be, Louise?"

"Let me think! Why might an 18-year-old boy want to sow seeds of suspicion in the mind of an 18-year-old girl about an older, attractive, and influential man? Surely you don't see him as some kind of rival?"

"I thought we'd agreed, he prefers Marlene to you."

"In my experience, most men are promiscuous, the exception being my Dad."

"Cosi fan tutti! Louise."

"Yeh, too right. We're all fickle, down to the bone! Or perhaps just polyvalent."

"Isn't that synonymous with fickleness."

"Not necessarily. Fickle means changeable. But polyvalent means attracted to more than one person at the same time, not the same as changing one's sole object of attraction, is it? Being attracted to another doesn't automatically equate with losing feeling for the other. Do you agree?"

"It depends on the kind of attraction, if we have only a finite amount of energy to devote to others, then if it's divided, obviously the force will be less strong towards any one of these people."

"That presupposes that there is a limit to this attractive force, maybe there is a limit to the extent we can be attracted to any individual person, but the total sum of the attractive forces may be summative when applied to others. It's like that with chemistry."

"I think that some forms of attraction drive out the ability to be attracted to another. Don't you?"

"Yes, I agree, but only if you let it happen that way. It could depend on your views on the nature of romantic love. Why should my liking Luigi less make me like you more? It isn't a necessary proposition."

"But let's say I'm sexually attracted to you and want you to reciprocate that feeling, obviously I'd not want you also to be attracted to Luigi."

"I don't think that's logical or necessarily true, I think I could accommodate you both, at least sequentially."

"But the nature of sexual love demands exclusivity of the relationship."

"Says who, Seigneur? That's simply a rationalization for your selfish patriarchal egotism! Do you have sibs, Marc.

"No, I haven't, and I remember you mentioning that you didn't either."

"But you're not used to sharing your parental love with others, so this probably is why you feel you're entitled to ask for exclusive rights over your love object's affection. I share my love for my parents with my Aunt May. Perhaps this explains why I don't feel any compulsion to demand exclusivity for anyone's affection. I'm happy that they all like me. I want nearly everyone to like me!"

"You know, you can be quite annoying sometimes, Louise. I think you're just trying to tease me!"

"Oh Marc, why should I want to tease you, you're such an adorable and clever young man, and even quite witty, sometimes, but rather naïve!"

"There you go again! I feel like crying!"

"Please don't cry, come here, I'll kiss it better!"

To my surprise, Marc lent over and kissed me on the lips. It was a vanilla kiss, quite pleasant. We did a bit of tongue work for a minute or so, but this was abruptly ended by the Café owner, who shouted, "Roma è la Città Santa. Fermati o ti caccio fuori."

We both laughed and continued our walk towards the Trevi Fountain. I let him hold me round the shoulders. How far should I let this go, I wondered. I don't want to put Luigi off, just yet; it'll require some guile.

When we reached the Trevi fountain we were unprepared for its vast extravagance and exuberance. At night it's a mass of floodlit Travertine limestone standing 85 ft tall and dominated by a central statue of Oceanus, the eldest Titan son of Uranus, the sky god and Gaia, the Earth goddess. Oceanus, who married his sister, had lots of river Godsons and daughters, the Oceanids. To either side of Oceanus on a lower tier are very lifelike horses led by hypermuscular naked grooms. On the tiers below, a triple stepped waterfall empties into pools from which fountains deliver copious streams to lower pools at the sides of the central grouping. These in turn cascade into a large pond at the base of the ensemble. It was built to celebrate the pure water supplying Rome, coming via a 13-kilometre-long aqueduct, upon which the health and ultimately prosperity of the city depended. The fountain lies at the intersection of three roads, hence the name Trevi, or trivium.

Needless to say, the piazza was heaving with tourists. To be honest, the fountain was showing its age, badly stained with a greenish mould covering several of the statues and the sides of the ponds were in dire need of cleaning and restoration. But still, a fantastic spectacle. I wasn't in the least tempted to jump into base pond, as many, mainly Scandinavian, tourists, were doing and being chased by cheesed off security guards who were wearing rubber waders. The pond water was freezing cold and despite its alleged origin from virgin springs, was heavily contaminated with green algae.

We stayed around for about 10 minutes and then returned to the Piazza Navona via the Pantheon, by now in darkness.

I said that I should return to the apartment of check if Marlene had settled in ok and Marc offered to go with me. I was quite glad that he offered, as I wasn't sure whether Marlene would be home and I'd a nagging worry that Mauro might come round, as Dean was no longer on the scene.

Marlene's stuff had been neatly stowed in the available space I'd cleared for her, although one of her cases was stuffed in a half-opened cupboard. I made a note to see if we could store it somewhere else. Marc asked if he could use the bathroom.

"Of course, but hurry up, I need to go too." He claimed his need was most urgent, so I let him go first, he left the door open, and I noted a plenteous, seemingly everlasting, stream splashing into the pan. "Goodness, Marc I said, you must have been storing that for hours. You could be one of the Oceanids. He didn't seem concerned that I watched him tuck his todger back into his trousers. Maybe he did really think of me as his nanny. He also seemed to be unaware that I was waiting to relieve myself, "I need a pee, too Marc, please leave the bathroom."

"You were quite ready to watch me, so why can't I watch you?" I told him to remove himself. It's a perversion to want to watch another person peeing you know. It's called urolagnia."

"Obviously it's a depravity we share, Louise."

I recalled, that not so long ago in St Andrews, Davie too had watched me peeing. As the matter was urgent, I decided to let him have whatever fun he could derive from this mundane activity. I sat down and peed as copiously as the fountain in the piazza, albeit not for as long as Marc, or as far. I patted myself dry whilst he watched intently.

"Happy?" I asked.

"Yes very! We've shared an intimacy!"

"I suppose we have."

"Now that I've seen your genitals, can I see your breasts? That view is nicer."

"No, excretion is a necessary physiological function, like eating or breathing, exposing my breasts is not, it might be interpreted as a provocation, which I have no wish to do, you seemed to be adequately provoked. Furthermore, you're viewing of my breasts could be considered as some kind of prize, that you could boast about to Jean-Pierre or your other schoolboy friends.

"Yes, but it would give me great pleasure and I'd let you see my penis in exchange if you want."

"I don't want, thank you Marc! And your display just now was almost an assault. In Britain we call it flashing, mostly done by retarded young men, or sad and senile old men on buses full of schoolgirls!"

"Yes, they do the same in France. Please, forgive my intrusion, it was gross, I'm sorry, I hope you'll forgive me?"

"I couldn't help feeling that he was literally taking the piss." But I nodded. "Well don't do it again. It is very impolite! You should behave yourself."

"So, you forgive me then?"

"Yes, this once!"

"Can I have another kiss then, the last one was so delicious!"

He didn't wait for my reply, I found myself in his embrace and pretended not to notice that his hands were fondling my breasts and compressing my nipples.

"Enough Marc, Marlene'll be back soon!"

"She isn't here yet!" He was clumsily trying to open my blouse.

"Careful, you're tearing the buttons off!"

"So, help me, please!" As I didn't see any point in endangering my expensive blouse, I was quite happy to let him nuzzle my breasts. So, I undid my blouse and waited to see what further mischief he'd get upto. It was quite entertaining; I'd not been with such a novice since last year in school.

We sat on the couch, and he buried his nose between my boobs, without bothering to remove my bra. It was a bit uncomfortable, but he seemed to be enjoying himself, too much, I felt.

"Here, Marc, slow down!"

"I can't, it feels as if someone else is in control of my actions, and I've a really painful erection."

I could see, "What that?" I said placing my hand on the projection distending his crotch. That provoked a dramatic response, at once a large wet patch appeared on beige trousers. He blushed bright red, his cheeks and ears and forehead blending well with his red hair.

"Oh my god Marc, perhaps you should clean up!"

"How am I going to walk home with wet trousers?" He wailed.

"No, one'll notice, it's dark, perhaps if we spill some water over them, you can pretend that you've spilled a drink over yourself, then people will only think you've only been a bit clumsy."

"So, you think being clumsy is better than having ejaculatio praecox!"

"Is that what you call, losing control, or coming too soon? I wonder, if Dean has left any of his clothes in his drawer, let's have a look."

I looked in the drawer Dean had commandeered, low and behold a pair of clean pair of shorts, that he'd left or forgotten, or perhaps he had a premonition that Marc, might have need of them!

"Here's a pair of Dean's shorts that he left behind. Why don't you put them on, and you can take your trousers to the laundry tomorrow."

"Thanks, Louise!"

"Don't thank me, send a note to Dean!"

"Ha, very amusing!"

"No, worries, I believe it often happens. It's a little embarrassing but, never mind you'll get over it. Come on, Marlene will be back soon, and I don't suppose you want her to see you, sans culottes or with these messy ones on?"

He nodded and took off his wet pants and changed into Dean's shorts, they fitted well enough when the belt was tightened.

I gave him a paper bag for his trousers, and a kiss, He said wryly, "that didn't go well, did it?"

"I'm not so sure, we got to know a lot more about each other. Now that I know that you're ultra-sensitive, I'll never touch you there, ever again!"

Outside we heard "Buona notte a domani, Luigi, Buona notte, Marlene."

I said, "Bonne nuit, Marc à demain." I don't think Marlene or Luigi saw him go. I was in the shower when Marlene opened the door.

"Hi Marlene, I'll be out in a minute, are you alone?"

"Yes of course, why?"

"Why d'you think? Did you have a good time with Luigi?"

"Interesting, he took me to his villa! We had a swim in his pool."

"A villa, really?"

"He claims it's only a small villa, but it's palatial and has a fairly substantial pool in the basement. What he calls the atrium has a few statues and busts possibly of his ancestors on pedestals around the walls."

"It sounds very grand. Was anyone else there?"

"No just us."

"How romantic!"

"Have you ever been to a swimming party in a private pool, Louise?"

"No, but I've been skinny dipping with friends on a secluded beach and as I mentioned we went to a beach club the other day, where people were naked. It must have been a little awkward. Did he ask you nicely if you'd like a swim in his pond, or did you say, "I'd love to swim in your pool?"

"After we'd taken my case round here, he asked me if I'd like to see his place. I said sure. We drove there, it's just outside the Villa Borghese. It sits behind high metal railings, there are four Roman columns by the front door supporting the porch or portico. As his parents are away, we'd the place to ourselves. He asked me if I'd like a drink or anything, I said I'd like a coke. He didn't have any and seemed to consider it to be some kind of poison brew, but I could have lemonade or beer if I wanted. I asked for lemonade, which he fetched from the kitchen. Then he asked if I'd like to see the pool, he led me to the back of the atrium, we descended an alabaster staircase into the sunken pool room. It runs along the entire width of the villa, about 25 yards, covered with blue mosaic tiles. The lighting was dim, there's a row of windows about 12 feet above the back wall, and French doors at one side leading into the garden. I couldn't see the garden as it was dark outside.

The pool room was sparsely furnished with couple of canvas chairs and a swing couch. A couple of towels were on the couch and beside it a glass table where we placed our drinks. It was a little eery, our voices reverberated, as they do in indoor swimming pools.

He asked if I'd like a swim, and I said that I didn't have a costume handy. He ignored that and stripped off his clothes and dove into the pond. This didn't leave me any choice. So, I took off my clothes and stepped down the stairs as elegantly as I could, whilst he watched. The water was fairly cool about 65ºF, it must be fed by a local spring.

It was too cold to linger without swimming lengths, we only stayed in the pool for a few minutes, he climbed out and dried himself and sat on the couch watched me as I swam a couple of lengths. As I didn't feel like swimming more I climbed out and dried myself with the other towel. Luigi invited me to join him on the couch. He put his arm around my shoulders and drew me towards him, gave me a kiss on the lips and pulled my head down to his lap, his soft willy was close to my face. I wasn't sure if he wanted me to go down on him. I haven't done that very often.

I asked him if he'd a girlfriend or was married. He said no, he hadn't and wasn't. Until recently he'd been thinking about taking holy orders but decided against it.

"That explains his interest in Davie," I interjected.

"I guess so. Then I asked when the last time was that he'd brought a girl to the pool, he said that he never had, only male friends. I asked then, which he preferred, he replied inscrutably that I was more reserved than his other friends. I said then said bluntly that was because I hardly knew him, and the situation was intimidating. He asked me if I found his penis intimidating and I said yes, although it wasn't erect. and I said, it was so close to my face. He then asked me why I didn't put it in my mouth, his friends did. I replied, I didn't want to do that. He didn't try to force me, or make love, or kiss me or do any of the usual stuff. It was perplexing and off putting. I asked if he'd ever made love to a girl before and he said he hadn't and wasn't sure where to start. I said I was getting cold, perhaps we should get dressed and go for a coffee before he took me back here. Which we did.

"How strange, d'you think he's queer, Marlene? Or maybe it was you, were you unconsciously recoiling from him, maybe because you felt a bit overwhelmed?"

"Yes I was, possibly, and yes, maybe he's bisexual, or maybe he's just not very interested in sex, he's also quite shy and strangely unresponsive and remote. As probably am I, maybe the chemistry isn't right."

"It sounds a little weird. It must have been a bit embarrassing for you. Are you planning to see him again?"

"I'm uncertain, maybe if he asks me, perhaps, we'll see."

"Perhaps he was overwhelmed and unprepared for the sudden encounter. If it's true that he's never been with a woman before, conceivably he really was unsure about how to make the right moves with you lying naked on a plate, so to speak. But, from what you've said, it sounds as if he's used to his male friends taking the initiative, whilst he's passive actor. Perhaps he might thaw in company; maybe you should suggest a pool party, most of our Italian class would be up for it. Even, Shereen, where is she staying, by the way?"

"She's alone in our apartment, until they find someone to replace me. I like your idea of a spontaneous pool party! I'll suggest it to him tomorrow when we're visiting the Pantheon."

Chapter 11 The Pantheon and the pool party.

After lunch Luigi said he'd take us on a guided tour around the Pantheon. He asked us to stay together, as we walked past the Piazza Navona and through the Piazza Sant 'Eustachio to the Piazza Della Rotonda in front of the Pantheon. This is fronted by a classical portico, with eight granite columns in a row in front and a set of four paired columns behind, all of which support the massive triangular stone pediment. This entrance fronts the main body, of the basilica, a cylindrical rotunda of the building. Apparently, all sculptures on the portico had been removed, along with the statues at the back of the portico, leaving empty niches. Pope Urban VIII had all the bronze statues in the Portico and elsewhere in the building to be melted down and used for cannon. They've never been replaced. The entrance to the rotunda is sealed by huge bronze doors, said to be the originals installed around 100 AD. The rotunda has a very impressive domed ceiling with a central aperture, or oculus, opening to the sky. This allows air to circulate and natural light to illuminate the interior. Rainfall is removed through a drainage grill in the marble floor. The dome is an architectural and engineering wonder, constructed from pumice containing light concrete mixes, designed to minimise the weight whilst retaining enough strength to support its huge weight, 4500 tons! It's the largest cement dome in the world, 142 ft diameter, and the same height at the central aperture 142ft. The dome has five concentric annular stages, with indented hollows, or coffers between each ring, making a radially patterned design and of course the oculus at the summit to further reduces its weight. There is also an embedded external supporting system of arches hidden from inside view. The circular pattern in the walls and ceiling contrasts with the arrangement of squares and circles inset on the marble floor.

Although the Pantheon was originally built as a temple to the Roman gods, it was repurposed in the early 7th century as a Christian church by Pope Boniface IV and later, in the 17th century, was consecrated to St Mary and the Martyrs. There is a saying that quod non fecerunt barbari fecerunt Barberini. What the barbarians did not do, the Berberis, who were the Pope's family, did.

I seem to remember that a similar quip made recently about Paternoster Square development near St Paul's Cathedral in London. "What the Luftwaffe failed to destroy; the London Council completed," I think by the Prince of Wales. Several members of his family were quite keen on the Nazi's, although many others weren't. I guess like the Pantheon, our Royal family are, like a curate's egg, bad in parts, some good too, I imagine.

The Church is used as a burial place for a number of notables. The painter Raphael, the composer Corelli, also Kings Vittorio Emanuel II and Umberto I.

After about half an hour of looking at the religious paintings in the many side chapels, I was bored, although it was obvious that Luigi and Jean-Pierre and Shereen were really engrossed by all this Catholic religious art and symbolism and were likely to stay for ages longer. Being a Scottish Presbyterian I felt a little alienated from it all, Marc was bored too, so we said we'd wait for the others in the Portico.

"Don't you think it's strange how easily the Catholic church has adapted a pagan temple into a Catholic Church, Marc".

"This is nothing, in Seville, or Cordoba, the Cathedrals are built over Mosques which in turn were built over churches. The reverse is true in Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia mosque was once a Church and was repurposed when the Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453. Repurposing places of worship is a frequently used propaganda weapon by a newly dominant regime. They're not just places of worship, but symbols of the overthrow of past oppressors or infidels. It's a game of one upmanship, a little sickening, unless you buy into religious orthodoxy and nationalist fervour.

"But aren't you a proud Frenchman, Marc?"

"No, not especially. My country has some very dark secrets, of which we should be deeply ashamed. They've been buried in shallow graves, and every so often, the stink of uncovered corpses is revealed; it's overpowering for a while until they're reburied, and we can pretend again that they're not there."

"Are you talking about the war, Marc?"

"What else? Britain is very lucky not to have to carry the cross of collaborationist guilt."

"I think we carry other crosses instead, like slavery and colonialism and capitalist rapacity and witch burning."

"Hey! Louise, talk like that will get you labelled as a communist!"

"Mmm, well I read your prime minister Mendès France has similar ideas. Hasn't he just made a deal to end to Indo-Chinese war? Look where colonialist wars have led France, humiliation at Dien Bien Phu and things aren't looking good in Algeria either."

"You're right, the war in Vietnam has been a catastrophe, a hopeless pursuit from the beginning, but it's too bad that Mendès France is Jewish, much of the opposition to him comes from far-right Catholic anti-Semites. De Gaulle stood aside and watched while Mendès France had the difficult job of extricating us from these unwinnable wars. That doesn't mean people like him for it, on the contrary, right-wing politicians, like Le Pen will say that we've abandoned the Christians in Vietnam to Communists and the pied noirs in North Africa to Muslims. Hardly any French people really want to give these colonial possessions up, they bring great wealth to a few powerful landowners and investors. It's also bound up with our wounded national pride from our humiliation by the Nazis and the necessity of having to rely on the Western Alliance to rescue us, then prop up our economy with the Marshal plan. Paradoxically the right wing still detests USA for saving us! Secretly they'd have preferred it if the Nazis had won the war! This would have allowed them to retain their elite status. They blame the world Jewish Conspiracy for their humiliation. They forget that the Yankees and Brits don't like Jews any more than they do!"

"Are you're saying that many right thinking French people would prefer to have influence in a Nazi controlled France, at the cost of being poorer, rather than see their countrymen prosper, and maybe having to put up with the knowledge than a few French people think of them as Nazi collaborators!"

"Yes, and both sides see the remaining Jews as the major cause of all the problems!"

"Hmm how come you seem to sympathise with the Jews, Marc."

"Good question, my Dad's half Jewish, he escaped to Tunisia with De Gaulle before the war and went with him to England."

"Does that make you Jewish, then? I didn't see much sign of it yesterday evening."

"You mean because I ate salami?"

"No, I was referring to your own sausage."

"What an observant girl you are Louise! My mother's a Protestant, and we aren't very religious at home. But how do you know about these things? Have been with many Jewish boys?"

"No, as far as I know, none, but I know one or two like you, who've Jewish forebears, and they seem to keep with that part of family tradition. I'm told it's quite a healthy practice. Maybe you should think about it."

"I'm happy the way I am, and perfectly clean and healthy, but thanks for the suggestion! But how do you have such intimate knowledge of these guys.

"When we were kids, we used to have baths together and stuff like that."

"So, it isn't from recent experience then?"

"Listen, Marc, my sexual experience isn't any of your business, just as yours isn't mine! But if you must know, no, not very recent."

At that point, the others emerged from the Pantheon, and Luigi said, how would you all like to come for a swim in my pool this afternoon. Everyone thought that was an excellent idea and I suggested that we bring something to eat and drink.

Luigi explained that we needed to walk to Corso and take the 160-bus going north to S Paolo Del Brasile. Then walk through the Villa Borhgesi to Del Fiocco/Valle Guilia, then to Viale David Lubin and his house is next door to Casina Giustiniani.

"But don't bother to bring anything, I'll supply the drinks and a few things to eat, we can have dinner later."

Shereen asked if she needed to bring a towel, and Luigi said she had no need, these would be supplied.

"Ok, I'll see you in about an hour, around 4.30pm."

We all got on the 160 bus and left at S Paolo Del Brasile, then walked through the Villa Borghesi. Which is a public park, housing a number of galleries, among them, the galleria Borghese, the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, and the Villa Guilia and a zoo. There are some fine lawns and "English style." wide esplanades. The pine-trees were the inspiration for Respighi's tone poem, the "Pines of Rome". As we passed through, we saw the famous Temple of Aesculapius, God of Medicine. After strolling through the park for about twenty minutes we left and turned into a side road and shortly arrived at the gates of Luigi's villa.

There was a bell pull outside which I pulled and Luigi, opened the front door and outer gates.

"It's a bit infra dig to have to open the gates yourself to such a grand palace, Luigi!"

Luigi nodded in agreement, "yes, the couple who look after the place are away with my parents at their villa in Lake Como. My father's unwell, so they're looking after him."

"Are you here all on your own, Luigi? Aren't you a bit lonely?"

"Not at all, I enjoy the freedom, I'm able to entertain you delightful people this afternoon without asking permission!"

"So, who does the cooking and cleaning."

"We've a cleaner who comes in on Fridays and Mondays and does the laundry. I usually eat out with friends or family, or buy some food from the local cucina, which sells delicious pasta and other wholesome dishes."

"How long are your parents going to be staying at Como?"

"I'm uncertain, certainly for another month. They are very comfortable there, it's cooler by the lake."

"All the same Luigi, it does sound a bit lonely, you should eat with us more often," I said.

"That's very kind of you to offer, Louise, but I think I see quite enough of you during the daytime! But if you wish we can eat together this evening in one of the trattorias near here. So come and see the garden."

The French windows at the side of the pool room opened into the garden, which was about forty yards long by thirty wide. It was mainly lawn with flower beds around the edges. The high surrounding wall was hedged with tall cyprus trees. There were several wooden garden couches in the Roman style with curved sides and padded seats on the semicircular patio outside the French doors. Fragrant white and yellow roses were in season, these softened the resinous tang of the pines.

"You all must be thirsty after the walk through the park, please help yourself to drink. There is some sparkling wine, which I like and recommend, and lemonade for anyone who prefers it. There's also nuts and some excellent Parmigiano cheese."

A dozen or so shining and expensive looking egg-shaped glasses and three bottles of Prosecco were standing in a large ice bucket, and a large jug of lemonade and half a dozen lemonade glasses were on a table on the patio.

"This is very kind and generous of you Luigi!"

"It is my pleasure, Marc, I assume you're all used to drinking wine, probably to excess?"

We nodded, I wondered if he was preparing the ground for a Roman orgy, it certainly was the right setting. I held my tongue; it might be fun. I was curious to see how uptight Shereen would react, after a glass or two of prosecco.

Luigi opened a bottle, it gave a gentle pop and poured each of us a full glass, it was welcome as we were all hot and thirsty, although I thought I'd probably go slow, I asked Luigi if I could also have some lemonade. He poured me a glass but didn't offer it round. He looked at me sardonically. I ignored him and started chatting with Shereen, who was sitting next to me.

"How're you enjoying the course Shereen?"

"It's going well I think, I'm beginning to pick up the conversational rhythms."

"That's good, I guess you must be working hard in the evenings?"

"Yes, there's not much else for me to do here."

"So, you haven't made any friends?"

"No, not so much, although I've visited a dancing club."

"Really, where did you find it? What sort of place was it?"

"I'm not sure you'd enjoy it much, Louise."

"Why not?"

"It's only for women."

"I don't see much point in that, who do you dance with?"

"Other women of course!"

"Where's the fun in that, Shereen?"

"You'd be surprised, maybe you should try it sometime."

"Are men excluded? What about the band and the bartenders and the security guards?"

"All women! And the owners too!"

"Did you have fun, then?"

"Not really, unfortunately I didn't meet anyone I really fancied. Mostly they're older and a bit too fond of drinking and smoking."

"So, you're looking for a clean-living lady about your own age to dance with?"

"Yes, but there's hardly any available, except prostitutes."

"You mean prostitutes who go with women? I'd never realised that there were such people. Do you think they charge as much as they do for men?"

"I doubt whether they go with both men and women, Louise."

"Why not?"

"I shouldn't think men appeal to them much."

"I doubt whether many of the male clientele that a prostitute services appeal to them much either, I'd have thought they just pretend. So why not pretend also with women? It's business, although rather specialized I'd have thought."

"Your callousness surprises me, Louise!"

"Why so, Shereen?"

"You look so young, sweet and innocent."

"Gee chucks! Appearances are deceiving! This babe is no pushover or innocent!"

"Does Luigi expect us to swim in his pond buck-naked, do you think?"

"Probably, but why don't you ask, him? I'll be curious to know the etiquette, I imagine that you won't have to ask once everyone's had another drink or two more of this stuff! It's certainly pretty warm sitting out here though. I must have a pee; I don't think it's the done thing in the pool!"

"Luigi, could you show me where the toilet is?" I asked.

"It's the first door on the left, inside the pool room. You can store your clothes there too."

"Thanks, I'll wait a little longer for that."

I went inside and sure enough there was a large loo, and a shower. Also, a cupboard with a hanging rail with lots of coat hangers.

There was also a cupboard with about a dozen clean towels. Another locked cupboard, underneath the towels, probably contained swimwear. It was tightly locked, and no key was evident. I returned to the patio and saw that everyone was become more talkative and warmer, except for Luigi, who still looked cool. He was opening another bottle of prosecco, and as the cheese and nuts seem to make everyone thirsty, everyone drank it down quickly, I was glad that I still had the lemonade. Jean-Pierre, said he'd like to swim as he was becoming much too warm. If nobody objected and as he didn't want to have wet pants, he'd swim in the nude. Luigi said at once that he didn't and besides hadn't thought any were necessary as we're all friends, and we've total privacy. He said he'd join him in a few minutes after he'd finished his drink.

Shereen to my surprise, said she'd like a swim too, but would first visit the loo. Luigi said, "Fine, hang your clothes on the hangers in the cupboard. J-P skipped into the changing room and appeared a couple of minutes later in the altogether and jumped into the pool. He was a tall, thin, hirsute muscular young man, with an impressively long thin uncircumcised dick. He could swim well too. He swam two lengths underwater without coming up for breath. We clapped when his head emerged. "Bravo Jean-Pierre! Sei un delfino."

I asked Luigi if he'd any fish to throw for him to catch. Nobody paid much attention, as Shereen emerged and dived in, slicing the surface like a knife and powering through the water like a human torpedo. She was obviously the right hydrodynamic shape, thin, lithe and small boyish hips, and small breasts to go with, she had a substantial brownish bush. Her swimming prowess was easily a match for mine, although I thought I might beat her over two or more lengths. I decided to give it a try, so returned to the changing room and hung up my clothes quickly, and ran into the pool. After swimming a length, I drew level with Shereen and said race you over four lengths."

"You're on Louise, no quarter. Do you want a diving start?"

"No let's just start from this side, where we are. Ready, go!"

At first Shereen was as fast as a mackerel on heat, but, as I suspected, she was a little out of condition, so I caught up with her at the end of the third length and didn't have much trouble staying ahead for the fourth length, but I didn't push myself, she finished only a body length behind. But her chest was heaving, she'd been trying!

"Mon dieu, Louise tu peux nager presque aussi vite que moi! Et j'ai un corps mieux adapté à la nation."

"Est-ce qu ta bite ne te tient pas debout. J-P?"

"Très drôle, Louise!"

"D'accord!"

The other three joined us in the pool. Marc, who was an average swimmer approached me, and asked why I was willing to bare all here, but not last night in my room.

"Context is important, Marc."

"I agree but explain what you mean."

"It's too cold to do that whilst standing around here. Maybe we can talk about it later, just enjoy the moment."

"It's too cold to enjoy even another minute, I'm getting out."

"You're right, can you fetch me a towel and I follow you in a minute."

I approached Luigi, who was watching the scene from the side, and said, "Thank you Luigi, this is so much fun, I've never been to a class like it. Full marks for achieving bonding, even Shareen has thawed a little.

"Yes, I saw you chatting with her before, be careful, she's quite wily."

"Why do you say that, Luigi?"

"She isn't afraid to make a scene and causing inconvenience all round, such as happened the other night with Marlene and me, which assures that she's the winner, at least for now."

"I agree, she plays games and is exploitative, but you don't have to let her have things entirely her own way, do you? You could make things uncomfortable for her. You could threaten her with a charge of molestation. If such a charge exists in Rome, between females."

"I don't know, I'll look it up. But what good would it do?"

"You could charge her for Marlene's rental, as she's made it impossible for her to stay in the same flat, or if you can, find a smaller place, move her there. Actually, I've just had a better idea! Why not suggest to Shereen that she exchanges with me. My apartment is too small for both Marlene and me to stay for a month, but well suited to a single occupant, namely Shereen! So, suggest that she moves to my place and continues to pay the rental to you. Then, Marlene and I would move to back your flat and I'd continue to pay rent for my current flat."

"Clever idea! But it might require some pressure, I'll ask my Aunt to make the arrangement, with Shereen, she can be quite assertive. I can't see Marlene objecting, but are you happy to move?"

"Yes, perfectly happy, so long as I don't incur a financial penalty. If you agree to fix it tomorrow, I'll speak to Marlene this evening and tell her that we're moving back to her original apartment."

"Ok, molto grazie, questo sarà di grande aiuto."

"Prego Luigi."

I climbed out of the pool and grabbed the towel that Marc had brought for me, he was sitting with his draped tastefully over his lap, I sat next to him and after drying my hair and face, did the same. I realised that I needed a drink and didn't want to parade around naked, so I tested how far I could push Marc,

"Marc, J'ai vraiment besoin d'un autre verre de lemonade, s'il te plait, peut-tu m'en apporter?"

"Ês-tu paralysé, après avoir montré à quelle vitesse tu sais nager et humilié la pauvre Shereen, qui pensait qu'elle était un meilleur homme que tu!"

"Penses-tu que je m'exhibais?"

"Je ne pense pas que tu puisses être aussi vulgaire et puerille que ça, n'est pas?"

"Et, bien je préférais ne pas exhiber ma chatte tout à l'heure."

"Mais je préfér largement voir ta chatte que te regarder nager aussi vite que Jean-Pierre un autre frimeur!"

"Hey, you two! You should be speaking in Italian!

"I didn't realise you spoke English Jean-Pierre, you're normally so modest."

"I speaka ze Eenglish, at least as well as Marc, I got even higher marks in the Bacc for English at least! It's just that I'm allergic to American colonialism."

"Yes, it's true you got two marks more than me in English, but what about philo, maths, literature, and history.... I forget what else?"

"OK, you're both very clever boys, now will one of you bring me some lemonade, I'm very thirsty!"

"Why can't you get it for yourself? You lazy girl?"

"She doesn't want to show off her pussy!"

"Ah, it's not much to be ashamed of, I agree it's not as colourful or well-tended as Marlene's lawn, or as prolific as Shereen's, but Louise, you are very obviously quite relaxed about exhibiting your two best features, which I admit would do credit to any Playboy magazine centrefold. I'm sure any glamour photographer would pay good money for an hour's session with you, Louise!"

"You seem to be very knowledgeable about Playboy magazine. I'm surprised! I thought they only showed pictures of young women?"

"Are you saying that I prefer looking at naked men than women?"

"No, I'm saying that I'd like one of you young gentlemen to fetch me a lemonade!"

"But what favours will you do for us in return."

"You'll be able to watch me drink the lemonade and maybe a drop or two will trickle artfully in a rivulet down my cleavage. What better entertainment, for lusty men like you!"

"Then, Marc's definitely your man, as you've evidently surmised?"

"Yes Marc!"

"Ok, I'll hold you to your promise, do you agree that if I fetch you a glass of lemonade, you'll let me lick any drops spilled from your body?"

"That seems to be a fair contract, wouldn't you agree, Louise?"

"I can't guarantee delivery on my part of this agreement without the first part of the transaction being fulfilled, can I?"

In a minute or so, Marc return with a glass of lemonade, evidently quite excited, I wondered if his tumid state had gone unnoticed? Luigi was sitting at some distance with Shereen and Marlene and involved in a heated discussion. I hoped it wasn't about their housing dispute.

When Marc handed me the glass, he deliberately tipped a few drops down my front.

"I yelled, "Marc tu es un sale bête. That nullifies the deal!"

"In what way does it nullify the agreement you made Louise? I heard you agree to allowing Marc to lick any spilt lemonade from your body, I didn't hear any stipulations about how the lemonade was spilt, or by whom, nor did I hear any conditions of which parts of your body we would be permitted to lick; I think it has trickled under the towel!"

"Well let me drink the lemonade first." I shook my boobs a little to distract them, then quickly removed the wet towel and ran back into the pool room and dived in.

Marc rampant, chased after me. But hesitated to dive after me, instead he jumped in. This had the effect of shrinking his ardour. Jean-Pierre followed calling encouragingly, "Tu ne pourras jamai lécher toute cette eau sur elle!"

"Mais je peux essayer, viens ici, laisse-moi avoir ma livre de chair."

"Listen Shylock, the agreement we had was that you could lick any lemonade that was spilt on my boobs, now there's none, only water! If you lick that, it nullifies the contract, and you'll have to pay a severe penalty. So, what's it to be Shy? Do you really want to lick my boobs? But remember you'll have to pay!"

"Who'll be my judge?"

"I think a committee of at least two, maybe Shereen and Jean-Pierre."

"I agree, what do you think Jean-Pierre?"

"Firstly, I don't think you've licked her body, and secondly any lemonade that was spilt has been washed off, so there's no case to be discussed.

"Maybe we should start again, Louise, can you go back to the couch, and I'll bring you another lemonade.

"How about, I just let you have a lick, and we stop playing this ridiculous game."

He approached me and pulled me towards him then dove under the surface, I felt his lips descend from just under my breasts which were floating on the surface and felt his tongue probing my labia and then licking my clitoris, this was too public although Jean-Pierre had gone off, so I abruptly somersaulted and grabbed his cock which despite the cold was still quite stiff, and pulled him under, kissed him on the lips. He held me tight and rubbed his genitals against mine. As we were fully immersed, I knew this couldn't last for long, so I let him continue a little, I felt him grow and start to push. Obviously, he had good respiratory control, if nowhere else, so I concluded that things had already gone too far. I swam to the surface and then pulled myself out of the pool. I thought Marc would be wise to remain submerged for a minute or so, but he was oblivious and pulled himself out with a full erection curving upwards like a priapic garden gnome, Randy?

He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the changing room. I gave him a gentle rub and he ejaculated onto my stomach. It was quite romantic, and the shower was conveniently close. I stepped in and turned the taps, warm water flowed almost at once. Marc joined me and we pressed hard together, I let him finger my clit and I started to shudder, then had a full orgasm, I couldn't remember when I'd had such a violent response. I gave a quiet groan. Marc held me tight.

"That was fun Marc, but I think I've had enough nudity for today, I'm going to get dressed."

Marc stayed in the shower for a couple of minutes, whilst I dressed swiftly, and left him to it.

I reemerged and went back into the garden. Marlene, exclaimed, "You're dressed, Louise!"

"Yeh, my Scottish skin isn't used to all this sunlight. I don't want to burn."

"Quite right Louise, sunburn can be dangerous. I've had enough too. It's six o clock, let's get dressed, have another glass of wine, and eat in the cucina.

We walked to a local restaurant in this very upmarket part of Rome. It catered for the locals wishing to buy their food readymade but also had a few tables for those who wanted to dine there.

I have veal escalope with a small helping of spaghetti. I was beginning to find that Italian food was losing its attraction. Too much carbohydrate. But the veal was excellent and good value.

The group broke up after dinner and Marlene and I returned together to our apartment.

Chapter 12 Changing rooms.

When we returned to the apartment, I told Marlene my suggestion that we'd exchange places with Shereen. This would give us more space and mean that the school wouldn't lose rent on the vacant space.

"Yes, that sounds like a good solution, this place is too cramped, not really enough room for both of us, though okay as a temporary arrangement. The key question is whether Shereen will agree to the plan? She doesn't like either of us, especially since you beat her at swimming, this afternoon! Very impressive, by the way!"

"You noticed, did you? Yes, in a sprint she's faster than me, by not as fit, so I guessed I could win over a longer distance."

"What a cunning little vixen you are Louise! So how do you propose to dislodge her from the apartment, without causing a major outcry?"

"Luigi said that he's ask his Aunt to fix it. They don't want to lose rental income, and they can't charge you for rent if you're not living in the apartment, because you've been molested by Shereen, and they don't have anyone else to move into your room. I imagine they don't want to risk exposing another girl to the same kind of treatment that you've had to put up with. Luigi says the only other possibility is to ask Shereen to vacate the room with the veiled threat of prosecution for sexual harassment if she doesn't comply. They don't want to turn her out onto the street either. But what's Shereen got to lose? This place is fine for one person, or for two intimate friends."

"I see the practicality of your solution, but fear that Shereen will see it as a loss of face or insult and say she's being harassed, why should she move, she's paying her rent, if Marlene doesn't want to stay with her, that's her affair, etc!"

"That's why they'll have to use the threat of exposing her as a sexual predator, cum rapist, unless she complies. Incidentally, Shareen and I had a talk this afternoon. She told me that she'd been to a lesbian night club, but unfortunately didn't find anyone to her taste. Either too old, or too coarse, she muttered something obscure about prostitutes for lesbians. I said I'd never heard of such a thing! I wasn't sure if she was offering to pay me for sex! It must be very sad and frustrating if you can't find anyone to suit your proclivities."

"I agree, no one wants to contemplate a lonely middle age, when life's possibilities begin to contract. Or come to think of it, when you're young, like we are now!"

"That altogether too sad, Marlene. As I see it, one should join the winning side, and stay with the winners, and extract the maximum fun you can out of life. Like today, I thought we were going to have a proper Roman orgy, but Luigi was too passive, he should've taken a lead."

"I noticed that you tried to start a bit of an orgy with Marc, but no one else was willing to join you, I agree Luigi is too introspective and inhibited, and so am I. Shereen probably isn't but hasn't the right kind of sex appeal for any of us to want to join her. That leaves you and Jean-Pierre. As you know already, Marc will do anything you want, but he won't lead an orgy, he's nowhere near enough of an extrovert."

"If you'd really like a proper Roman orgy, I could probably fix it for us, Marlene, but be careful what you wish for. But, I agree, from what I've seen of Jean-Pierre and Shareen they'd be willing participants, not sure about Marc or Luigi. But why would you want to be involved in such a thing?"

"Maybe because I've led such a sheltered uninteresting life, and I want to see what life would be outside my safe little bubble and now's a good opportunity."

"So why did you reject Shereen's advances?"

"She doesn't appeal to me physically and she's too needy."

"So, are you saying you have nothing against lesbian sex, but only with women of your choosing?"

"Possibly, I've never really contemplated it. Have you?"

"Sort of, I've been tempted a couple of times, but not really, just for a temporary fling, a one-off, so to speak."

"I'd like another shower, it's so hot, do you mind if we open the shutters a bit more."

I'd hadn't mentioned that Mauro had a ringside view into our room, and didn't now, as I wasn't too concerned.

"Ok Marlene, I'll shower after you."

I thought she was taking longer than necessary in disrobing and not bothering to shield her body from view. Mauro had probably already drawn up his armchair by the window. She also left the door open in the bathroom, which was unusual for her. I wondered where she was going with this.

When she finished her shower, she towelled herself and lay on the bed, quite close. I got up and stripped turning to look out of the window to see if there were telltale lights in Mauro's room. I could see that his reading lamp was on, but no other. Evidently, he was in, perhaps Vicky was with him.

I showered and towelled and lay on the bed.

"Shall I turn the lights out Marlene?"

"Sure, but leave the shutters open a bit, as it gets a bit stuffy."

I got up, turned out the light and returned to bed, "Is it any cooler in the other place?"

"No, very similar, although the view's better, you can see the Tiber from the window. Here, only the neighbour's window, I think I saw a man and a woman earlier."

"Yes, a guy called Mauro, he's pleasant enough to talk to, but everyone thinks he's a member of the local mafia."

"Oh, we have them in Philly and New York, not in Richmond though, the local gangsters sell drugs and run the slot machines and such like. They're into prostitution too, and I believe they also sell Italian products, like olive oil, pasta tomato paste and Italian wines. I imagine they import that kind of stuff that from Luigi!"

"Luigi isn't how I imagine a typical Italian gangster looks. Although I don't think he's a cissy."

"I agree, but I didn't look carefully at his muscles today, although he was in the pool when I talked to him."

"But you noticed that he's quite well hung, I assume."

"Yes, but as you said, nothing much stirred, unlike with Marc."

"I didn't see that, when was that?"

"When we returned to the pool after I spent a while teasing him and Jean-Pierre."

"I was mostly with Shereen and Luigi, they spent a lot of time talking about the paintings and sculptures in the Pantheon, they're both very knowledgeable. I was impressed, but rather bored.

"Didn't Shereen say that she wanted to work in the art business?"

"Yes, I think she has family connections in that business in Australia."

"I imagine the art she wants to deal with is very pricey, although maybe, since the war ended there's a lot of stolen material on the market, maybe there's another connection with Luigi."

"Oh Louise, you're a bit obsessed with Luigi, leave him alone! You've got Marc!"

"What do you mean? Marc is a young lad whose main pastime at present is staring at my boobs, I'm sure he'd transfer his gaze to yours' if you gave him the least encouragement!"

"He probably thinks of me as being an old lady. I'm twenty-three and he's what? 18 or 19!"

"Don't you think that at our age, experience is what matters, rather than years lived."

"Are you referring to sexual experiences. I've told you all of mine, more or less. At high school I was virtually asexual, there was the ritual promenade, which was a crazily chaperoned dance night with teachers watching like hawks to make sure nobody stepped out of line. USA is a very conventional place. I think you guys have more freedom."

"What about all that necking in your boy friends' cars that we read about in books and magazines. None of my boyfriends has a car, they're not old enough."

"Yeh, well at college I went for rides in my boyfriend's car, and he tried to put his hand up my skirt a few times. But I didn't let him."

"Is that what you call first base? "

"No first base is just kissing and fondling above the shoulders. Second base is fondling and kissing breasts, third base, fiddling with genitals, and fourth base, full penetrative sex, the final goal!"

"I see, so you never let your boyfriends go beyond second base in the car?"

"Yes, more or less, till I started with photographic modelling."

"Well, it's safer I guess, but I wonder if it leads to fulfilled relationships later on?"

"What do you mean?"

"If sex is so restrained or constrained by these strict rules, and norms, it's bound to carry through into married life and sex becomes a sort of obstacle race, where everything's hidden and secretive and guilt ridden and becomes a reward for good behaviour! A kind of barter system."

"Yeh, your right, and in a spirit of openness, can I touch your breasts?"

"Be my guest, but I want to hold your clitoris, not that your breasts aren't lovely, but I'd prefer to touch your clitoris, I think it will be more meaningful."

Whilst Marlene massaged my breasts and then kissed them, she stopped a minute or so after I began to massage her clitoris, I pulled her hand towards mine and made her mirror my movements. We both came quickly.

"That was very satisfying, Marlene, next time we should try with oral stimulation."

"Perhaps later. What time is it? About 9.30pm. It's quite early, shall we do some Italian revision?" Marlene sat up and said,

"Hey Louise, the guy across the street is beating his girl with a stick!"

I didn't stir I'd seen it before, but was curious to hear Marlene's reaction,

"Now he's stopped and gosh he's put his cock into her behind and they're going at it real hard with a lot of enthusiasm!"

"Yeh that's what Mauro does to all his women. Does it turn you on, Marlene?"

"I'm ashamed to say, a bit, yes. At least you're unlikely to get pregnant with that!"

"I think that's the main point, the undeclared alternative to the rhythm method of contraception."

"Some people probably enjoy it for its own sake, priests and such like, I imagine."

"If you felt like it, I could arrange for you to meet with him."

"Louise, stop it! You're giving me the shivers, how could you suggest such a thing!"

"Because I think you'd quite like to experience a bit of sado-masochism, deep down. I'm told that being beaten on the bum is a major turn on. The juices pour out. Mind you, you'd probably feel thoroughly ashamed of yourself. Maybe that would also be a turn on of your sexual response!"

"You're teasing me, you bad girl! Bend over so I can smack you on the bum!"

She tried to wrestle me into a position where she could make good with this threat, but I proved too strong and adept at wrestling, we found ourselves with legs intertwined and crotches making close contact and pushing against each other. Both of us were well lubricated, so when our vaginal lips made contact, they formed an airtight seal, like suction pads. As we pushed against each other, our vaginas expanded as the air inside was compressed. It felt almost like we were penetrating each other.

We kept at it and soon both of us become as noisy, sweaty, and smelly as rutting pigs, the pumping air that inflated our vaginas had also made us fart in unison, but we were oblivious of the noise and smell, until we after we'd orgasmed and were slightly ashamed of what we'd just done.

"I should have another shower, the place smells as ripe as an Italian cheese shop!"

"Me too, but it can wait."

"I'll just open the windows, a bit wider to clear the air a bit. Oh my god, Louise, I've just seen the guy across the road ducking under the window he's been watching us all the while!"

"Well, you were watching him doing his sado-masochist routine, so I guess he might be curious to see what games we're playing! Come on, let's clean up and get some sleep."

Changing rooms XXIX

As we were having coffee, Mauro strolled by and said, "Buongiorno, Louise, che è la tua bellissima compagna?"

"Questa è Marlene, ti present Mauro."

"What good fortune to have two such beautiful neighbours, from my point of view, certainly an improvement to Dean! How about you Louise?"

"Everyone has their good qualities, don't you think, Mauro, even you, I imagine."

"Definitely, but Marlene's good qualities are not as hidden as Dean's were to me."

"But you don't know Marlene, so how can you judge?"

"That's certainly true, we should repair that as soon as possible, how about you and Marlene joining me for a drink this evening?"

"Ok, Mauro," Marlene interjected. I was quite surprised she was interested, as I was going to give him the brush off. "We finish work about 5.30pm."

"Molto bene, Marlene, Louise sa dove sono."

"Ok, we must be off to class, see you later, Mauro!"

As we walked to class I asked Marlene, what she was playing at, couldn't she see that she was jumping into a minefield?

"I told you last night Louise, I'm looking for a bit of excitement."

"Please yourself, but we may have to bring Shereen along too, as I intend to show her the apartment."

"Yes, well we can take her along too to meet her new neighbour, it might be entertaining."

"There's safety in numbers at least!"

When we arrived at the college, Shereen approached me and said she'd heard that I'd suggested we swop over apartments. In principle, she'd no objection, although she'd like to see my place before committing herself.

I didn't mention that she had no option, but said, "great Shereen, how about coming round this evening after class and if you're in agreement, we can make the changeover tomorrow?"

"That suit's me fine, perhaps we can have a girl's night out afterwards."

"Ok, but we're going to meet our neighbour across the road first, I'm sure he'll be happy to welcome you, perhaps we should bring a couple of bottles of Prosecco, though."

"Sounds great! What's she called?"

"Mauro!"

"Ah, so not entirely a girl's night out!"

"Not entirely."

After class Marlene, Shereen and I walked back to the apartment; on the way we bought a couple of bottles of Prosecco, some cheese and salami from the local drogheria.

Shereen had a quick look at the apartment and said that it was better than she'd expected and as there would be no extra expense in the arrangement, agreed to make the change the following day.

Marlene and I were relieved that she wasn't going to make any fuss, as we'd feared she might. Perhaps she wasn't so bad after all!

I said, "Let's take the wine round to Mauro and celebrate the successful completion of the deal!"

I rang the bell, and Mauro greeted us dressed in a pair of shorts and singlet.

"Please forgive my undress, I'll be going to wrestling practise afterwards."

"This is Shereen, Mauro she's going to be living in the apartment instead of Marlene and me, as it's a bit too crowded for us."

"What a pity, Louise, I'll miss seeing you, but I see that Shereen is also very beautiful, so I'll remain a happy man."

Shereen scowled and said, "Gee thanks Mauro, but I'm not just a pretty face you know, I was captain of the women's wrestling team, back at Sydney U, perhaps you could take me along to your club later."

"My goodness, so all three of you would like to wrestle!"

"What makes you think that I like to wrestle, Mauro? Do you wrestle Marlene?"

"How strange! I thought you did, forgive me if I was mistaken."

It dawned on both Marlene and me that Mauro must have been watching us closely last night.

"As you see we brought some wine and cheese round, to celebrate the changeover."

"How kind of you, but I've already prepared some here, though. It's a cocktail I like, grappa di prosecco, less insipid than prosecco and not so strong as grappa. Try it!"

We agreed sipped cautiously at first and were pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted, especially with cheese. As we were all thirsty, we all agreed to a second glass, although I noticed that Mauro held back, I don't think he drank all the first glass either!

"I'm sorry Shereen, but my wrestling gym is for men only, but if you like we can have a bout here; I've a floor mat, we can use."

"I'm game!" she said at once, a wicked smile passing fleetingly over her face.

He quickly moved the coffee table out of the way and brought in a folding mat and laid it out on the floor space.

"I'll have to remove my blouse and skirt, but I guess you don't mind?"

"Not at all, Shereen. Please go ahead, sometimes we wrestle Roman style without any clothes."

"I wasn't asking you, Mauro, I was asking the ladies here."

"Ah, the ladies! I doubt that they are going to be offended by a bit of naked flesh."

He removed his singlet revealing his muscle-bound torso and Shereen her blouse and skirt.

They both stood at opposite corners of the mat sizing one another up. Mauro smirking a little and then Shereen stood on her left foot and pulled her right leg round and very swiftly kicked him hard in the balls. Mauro shrieked in pain and double up in agony.

"Puttana che tradisce!"

"No, it's Korean wrestling."

"I'll show you wrestling!" But as he got up, he was met with a pair of karate chops to his left and right biceps and another swift kick to the right shin. This sent him back to the floor with tears of pain running down his cheeks and immobilised arms.

"My God Shereen, very impressive! Where did you learn these martial skills?"

"Unless a young Sheila can defend herself at Sydney U, she'll be some jerk's sex slave within ten minutes. My school prepared us well before we went up."

"Could you give me some lessons Shereen, I'll be starting at Glasgow Uni in September."

"Maybe sometime later, although I'd have thought defence of your virginity was a long-lost cause, Louise! Quit blubbing Mauro, or I'll give you another kick in the balls."

"Tu, diabolo, aspetta finché no ti avaro!" With that he made a lunge and pulled Shereen down to the floor rammed his knee in her crotch and pinned her arm to the floor and spat in her face."

She tore herself from under and with an acrobatic thrust, kneed him again in the groin and then got to her feet, wiped the spittle from her eyes and places one foot hard on his larynx.

"Say sorry, you piece of Italian shit and look at you, you've peed yourself!"

"Here Shereen, calm down! This was supposed to be a friendly get together, not an Australian rules ruckus. Also don't forget he has friends and you'll be living next door! Let's kiss and make up and let poor Mauro go and change soaking trousers."

"Poor Mauro! I don't think so! I know his type. Back home they run the mollys in the downtown area near the Harbour bridge. You see that tattoo on his forearm; that shows he's one of them! Also, he's laced our drinks, so you be careful what you do and say!"

She let him up and he slunk off to shower and change.

"So, I hear you two have been wrestling? Would you like me to show you a few moves whilst the mat is laid.

Both Shereen and I were feeling a little drunk and giggly, we agreed.

"Ok take off your tops and skirts."

"I'm only wearing very skimpy briefs, and it was too hot for a bra, Shereen."

"Don't worry from what I saw yesterday no one'll mind, you look like child, Marlene!"

I stripped down to our knickers and keeping on my bra and Shereen showed us a few basic but deadly moves, kicks to the knee, knees to the groin and then chin and a chop to the neck.

Swiftly we became quite hot and unrestrained, and our knickers kept falling down. At this point Mauro reappeared without his wet pants or dry ones either.

"Ok, I'll wrestle both of you but no biting kicking or scratching. Shereen can watch and make sure there's no damage done.

He didn't wait for our agreement and caught us both in an armlocks and forced us to the ground. "Now Marlene, suck my cock, if you please."

"You utter bastard! Shereen, help me!"

"No, you didn't help me Marlene, and put me in an embarrassing position, so go suck! But let Louise go, Mauro!"

I was lying with my face in the mat in an arm lock, and Mauro, seeing that he'd an aide in this encounter, let me go.

He also let Marlene loose, but she remained kneeling, she said, "Thanks Mauro, for being kind I'll give you a little reward, with that she took the end of his dick into her mouth and gave it a few gentle tugs; she obviously knew exactly what she was about; as when she withdrew and stood up, he ejaculated at once over the mat. Quite a professional job, very well timed and neat: obviously well practised.

I was so caught up in the floor show that I didn't notice that Shereen hand on my crotch and was gently massaging my clit and at the same time was rubbing hers against my bum.

As Mauro splaffed, we both came quietly and Marlene seemed to have become very excited too, judging from the wet stains on her knickers.

"I guess you've had your Roman orgy, Marlene. Now can we go for dinner? We also have to pack our things for the move tomorrow."

As we were leaving, I heard, Mauro whispering to Marlene, that she'd be welcome to return later if she wished, he didn't sleep till late. She said nothing but may have silently signalled her acquiescence.

We're meeting Marc and Jean-Pierre for dinner, Shereen, feel free to join if you want."

"Thanks Louise, maybe another time, I've packing to do now, I'll clean up the apartment too, so that everything's tidy for you when you move in tomorrow, I'll see you later. Thanks for everything this evening, I haven't had so much fun in a long time!"

Dinner with Marc and Jean-Pierre XXX

"Lucky Shereen was with us, don't you think? Otherwise, there's no knowing what mischief Mauro might have got upto! I imagine his balls will be black and blue by tomorrow!"

"I shouldn't think he'll have sustained any permanent damage, much of the noise and fuss he made was acting and to deter Shereen from doing any further damage, I should think he'll soon recover his vigour and zest."

"You seem to have taken a shine to him, Marlene. Don't you find him totally malevolent and sinister?"

"Definitely and repellent too! But in an attractive sort of way, these sleek muscles, and those cruel tiger eyes! Also, don't you think he's quite good looking and has a strong personality, cold, reserved and calculating? He'll go far in business, given the right kind of advice; I'm afraid I'm fatally attracted to gangster types."

"Do you intend to see him again, then?"

"I'm thinking about it?"

"I'll bet you are, I hope you know what you're doing!"

"I've some experience, with his type, back in Richmond."

"I thought you said that you'd given up your seedy modelling job after the first encounter?"

"Not quite, I mentioned that Hal gave me a few contacts, I'll tell you about it later, if you're good!"

"So, you're quite prepared to overlook the fact that he exploits young women, and is into kinky sex, torture, and racketeering? Don't forget tigers often bite their keepers! He's very dangerous and you could get hurt! You can't say you haven't been warned!"

"There's Marc and J-P. Please speak in English guys, I'm feeling like I've been beaten up and am tired. Louise has been scolding me!"

We settled down to a plate of gnocchi filled with pesto and a salad, we all said that all we wanted was mineral water.

"I'd have thought that Marlene would be scolding you, Louise!"

"Why d'you say that J-P?"

"Well, you're a more flamboyant person, Louise; that might cause offence in some quarters."

"Are you saying, je suis un trop peu féminine pour tes goûts de gentleman?"

"No one could accuse you of looking other than feminine, Louise, but not everything's about the way you look."

"I agree with both these statements, but what do you consider to be feminine behaviour J-P? Passivity and acquiescence in the in the face of male aggression?"

"There you go again, Louise! A perfect example of what I've just been saying! You accuse me of adopting a patronizing attitude when none is intended!"

"J-P your inbuilt superiority complex is so deeply ingrained that you're completely unaware that what you say and the way you say it, embodies these attitudes!"

"It appears that I can't say anything that in your mind doesn't prejudice my case."

"Perhaps the same goes for you Louise!"

"Chers amis, désolé d'interrompe votre discussion significative, mais je pensais que Marlene disait que Louise la grondait! Isn't that so, Marlene?"

"Yes, you're right Marc, but as you'll have noticed already with both of them! Their conversations rarely stray from being centred on themselves!"

"Marlene, how very unkind! And untrue! I was simply trying to discourage you, Marlene from cosying up to the Italian criminal fraternity, bad enough if you play the gangster's moll back home. But here it's something that should be avoided, not cultivated!"

Marc's benign smile had disappeared, he flushed with anger, "My god, are you both still involved with your mafiosi neighbour? That guy who you thought was going to punish Dean for running off with his putain? How stupid can you get! What sort of imbecility attracts a pair of beautiful and reasonably intelligent girls like you to associate with this piece of ordure!"

"Steady Marc, you don't understand women's psychology like I do. What do you find attractive about young women? List their attractive features. No, I'll do it for you! First and foremost, facial, and bodily beauty. All the other characteristics we admire accrue from the awareness that they have this gift of attraction. So, their self-confident mannerisms and speech, open heartedness, generosity, bravery, willingness to participate in debate, sense of humour, gaiety, audacity, and arrogance, and even gait, stem from this one thing: the knowledge that men, and probably women too, admire them for their beauty, or sex appeal! Even though it's an unearned gift, its possessors treat it as their intrinsic right, as if they've really earned it.

However paradoxically, they know and fear that this admiration is based on a superficial and vapid illusion, and that creates an uneasiness, a tension. They need constant admiration by everyone, the good, the bad and the ugly to assuage the fear. In time they develop a cynical view of their most ardent admirers, who they perceive as creatures who'll to do their bidding, Marc! Whereas they are more accommodating to those who merely want to exploit them, for business purposes. They see them as a means to extend their influence on a wider group. Hence, their seemingly inexplicable attraction to pimps, pornographers, film makers and anyone who seems to have power, whether real or imaginary.

"My word, you've a very bleak attitude towards young womanhood, J-P. Neither Louise nor I can be classed as great beauties. Maybe we're attractive, but we shouldn't be stereotyped as mere bimbos! We both know that we can't and needn't rely on our ephemeral physical attributes to earn our keep and like you, we're acquiring the professional skills to do this.

However, I won't deny that at our stage in life, physical attraction helps. Your philosopher cum sociologist, Pierre Bourdieu terms it, as social capital, of which sexual attraction plays an important part. It allows one to form richer communication networks. But you must offset this advantage against the built-in prejudice our society has against women doing anything other than child rearing and home building! Guys like you think we've an unfair advantage, and you denigrate us because of it. This is on a par with excluding Jews, or Blacks or Catholics from social situations, like schools, buses, clubs, jobs, parts of towns, or as we know from recent history in Europe, from life itself!

"Well said Marlene! I couldn't have put it better myself! But all the same, do me careful with Mauro, we know he's unscrupulous and violent especially with women! I think he could do you real harm!"

"I've heard this from you and several others before and d'you think I'm not listening to what you're saying! The difference between Mauro and so-called nice guys, like Marc here, is that whereas Marc sees women, particularly Louise, as a sexual object, potential notches on his willy, or maybe trophies to be placed on a pedestal, and displayed or worshipped, depending on how mixed up his emotions are with his balls, Mauro sees women as a tradable commodity."

"Are you saying that you'd rather be pimped by Mauro than placed on a pedestal by a besotted lover?"

"Being considered as an object of adoration is as bad as being objectified as a saleable item, it's not very different, in both cases we're judged as objects, rather than people!"

"Sounds as if you might be talking from experience."

"Perhaps I am, Louise."

"I'm curious about how you intend to profit from using your social capital, surely you don't intend to stand on the pavement in the EUR district, where the ladies of the night are to be found in highest numbers, in case you're interested!"

"Thanks for that useful tip, J-P! But I was thinking more about acting on the management side, as a consultant. I'm sure, I can apply my business knowhow to marketing and streamlining the financial processes and make it more cost effective and profitable."

"I'd have thought that the business model he runs was quite efficient as it is! Namely persuade girls to have sex, for which they charge money and then persuade them to hand a proportion of that money to him as recompense for his protection and any other services he may provide, perhaps, a venue and introduction to clients."

"That's only service at its most basic and primitive. Modern business theory suggests that introduction of the 4Ps will greatly increase profitability, from which everyone benefits. The Ps are marketing: 'Place,' control the quality of the transaction venues; the 'Product:' the girls should be trained to be as encouraging and winsome as circumstances allow, and that obviously includes hygiene and health of both the girls and their clients. Then 'Price': is very important and should tested to see how responsive the market to upward variations and lastly, 'Promotion,' or marketing, finding the optimal kinds of client, for the Place and girl or Product and Price. All this takes time and money and should be regarded as a necessary business investment."

"I can almost believe you're serious and taking us for the innocent young people that we aren't, Marlene! I think there's another P for Putain!"

"But I am serious, J-P, with a little tweaking, I'm sure I could double the profits, within a couple of weeks, and everyone would benefit."

"You think you'll be able to sell this to Mauro?"

"We'll see, Marc, it'll be an interesting project, don't you think?"

"As long as you don't end up in prison, or dead, or both!"

"How d'you think you'll sell this to Mauro?"

"I think it might also be worth seeing if I can also rope Luigi into a scheme I have. I think he might be interested in making connections with Mauro. What do you all think?"

"I think you should stick to learning Italian and leave the cosa nostra to their own business, which they seem to do reasonably well without your business skills, no matter how sophisticated you consider them to be!"

"Thank you, Marc, I didn't expect anything else from you. I'll keep your sagacious advice in mind!"

"I agree, a collaboration with Luigi is an interesting proposition, but remember he's already fully aware of Mauro, when we had dinner together and he extricated Dean from being done over by Mauro and his helpers."

"Yes, I'm sure Luigi's aware of the seamier side of Mauro's activities, and frankly I doubt whether there is any other side. But I don't see Luigi as being an innocent or uninterested in extending his business beyond encouraging his entire language class to take part in a nudie pool party, either. Clearly his moral compass is erratic, he might be interested in using his pool for more profitable purposes than merely corrupting his young and impressionable students. I think Mauro might come in useful in supplying the entertainment for any of Luigi's friends who might be interested in heterosexual amusements."

"Interesting idea, Marlene! But why confine these parties to heterosexuals, why not include a more mixed grouping, I'm sure they exist in the sophisticated Roman circles in which he moves."

"Do you think these types would enjoy sharing their space, J-P?"

"I'm not sure Louise, one might have to compartmentalize some of the activities, but eating, drinking and convivial conversation shouldn't be a deterrent to anyone."

"These are valuable insights, J-P, I imagine it might be an inducement to Luigi too, what do feel?"

"I think you're probably correct, Marlene, but tread carefully!"

"Do I understand aright that you intend to manage a bordello in Luigi's parents' home, with help from your mafiosi friend, to pander to a crowd of rich Roman perverts with a bunch of prostitutes,"

"Yes, Marc, don't you find it an intriguing idea!"

"I'm lost for words, Marlene!"

"What about the practicalities, where are these rich Romans coming from? And the girls and presumably boys and are you going to have J-P and Shereen along to share in the fun!"

"Mere details that can be sorted out later, Louise, but I'm sure both Luigi and Mauro have hundreds of contacts they can tap."

"Well, Marlene that'll depend on whether you can persuade them to agree to your scheme! I'll be happy to come along to see how it goes, although I don't expect I'd be able to afford it! You'll charge the earth I presume?"

"Not at first, Louise, we must assess the price sensitivity of the market, a key element of any business enterprise."

"You'll have to pay Mauro's expenses and Luigi's for food and cleaning obviously, these'll have to be covered by your rich Roman perverts. Also, I think you'll have to provide music, as background and sophistication. Do you play any instruments, guys? I came here with an orchestra and was leader of the wind section."

"Marc's an excellent jazz pianist, and can play well by ear too, I play cello and guitar."

"Do you have your cello here, J-P?"

"No, but I do have my guitar, we'd need a singer and percussion. Do you sing Marlene? I suspect you sing blues numbers back home?"

"Quite perceptive of you, J-P, I do sing a bit and was in a cappella group at Virginia Tech, but all the same, I think we should hire local musicians, this is probably what the locals would want, don't you think, I should think that Luigi or Mauro can rope in a few. You could supply an alternate group, when the pro's need a break and we'd need to rehearse, pity that Dean's not here, he has experience playing in dance band."

"When are you going to raise this with Mauro and Luigi?"

"I'll try it out with Mauro later this evening, and if that works with Luigi, tomorrow or the next day."

J-P then said he was going to meet some of his new acquaintances in a bar, and Marc raised his eyebrows at me asked me casually if I'd any plans, if not perhaps we could do a bit more exploration. I agreed but suggested we go back to my apartment as I wanted to do a bit of Italian revision. We could test each other on vocabulary.... he nodded, Marlene joined us as we strolled back, probably for the last time.

When we reached the flat, Marlene, said she wanted to wash, so Marc and I decided we'd wander off to another bar and leave her to it.

We found a café and sat at a table, "Did you know Marlene, was planning this stunt?"

"Of course not! I think she's nuts, but I doubt that anything will come of it, except that Mauro, might enjoy beating her on the bum for her impudence in suggesting that she knows how to improve on his racketeering business. I hope she doesn't enjoy that too much!"

"Yes, I agree, I also hope she doesn't get into serious trouble, but I don't think we really know enough about her background, or for that matter, Mauro's or Luigi's, so there's a possibility that Marlene might have better understanding, than apparent. She's hinted that she's associated at least with the margins of this kind of thing in USA."

"Yeh, I was very surprised, perhaps she's just playing a game, and want's a bit of fun? Maybe it's just a ruse to persuade Mauro and Luigi to maraud her knickers?"

"No, I think the longer game is to allow Marlene to raid their moneybags! I think this is likely to be a staged plan, like Hannibal crossing the alps, first get hold of the Iberian peninsula, then make friends with the Catalonian Gauls and later the Northern Alpine Gauls, then with a flanking move to the North, borrowed from Alexander the Great's Indian campaign, conquer the Romans outside Marseilles, by catching their allies in the rear. After that encounter, Hannibal's main army was able to cross Rhone, with little further resistance. This allowed the Hannibal slower moving main force with his treasure, horses and elephants to advance to the Alps whilst covering his flanks and rear with auxiliary defence forces. Then came the slog across the alps before the reaching plains of Lombardy were they defeated Scipio's army at Trebia with better tactics and elephants. This allowed the Hannibal's army to cross the Apennines and stage another battle at Lake Trasimene where the Roman army was surprised and defeated again and 6000 escaped but were surrounded, more than 25000 men were killed or captured."

"Ok, enough Louise, you've obviously studied the Punic wars very well, but what if anything, has this to do with what Marlene intends to do."

"She's using similar tactics to Hannibal, first enlisting an ally, Mauro, by showing him that it is in their mutual interest entrap to Luigi and thereafter bend him to her will. I don't think she's in the least interested in running a brothel, but it could be a useful means of obtaining contacts and an opportunity for little blackmail with Mauro as enforcer, to infiltrate herself into Luigi's powerful friendship network."

"I think your classical education is probably leading you astray, I very much doubt whether Marlene's education is at all as extensive, much more likely that she has learned similar strategies in business school, namely growing your business by searching for the weaknesses of your rivals and exploiting them, ruthlessly."

"What do you think Mauro's and Luigi's weaknesses are Marc?"

"I think Mauro's weakness is that he underestimates how a woman can employ guile, deceit and duplicity to deceive him into thinking that she is enthralled by his machismo, and she will probably use her undoubted sexual attraction to entrap him. Once this is achieved, she'll bend him into approaching Luigi with her ridiculous plan, and maybe they will use a little blackmail, as I suspect he's a closet homosexual, although probably doesn't want to admit it to himself even."

"Yes, I agree with this, but also I think Luigi is involved with some kind of felonious activity, probably tax evasion or something like that but maybe connected with some malfeasance."

"You mean illegal abuse of power, like maldistribution of government funds."

"Yes, that sort of thing, it's very common in Italy, the government's been corrupt since before the war and the Nazis, then the Allies bribed and bullied the Italian government to collaborate, so it's probably quite difficult to find anyone with any kind of fortune who's not completely compromised and liable to blackmail. I'm pretty sure Marlene knows this too and she probably means to take advantage of it, if she can. But it could be dangerous, so she's going to worm her way into Luigi's network by using Mauro as both the means of entry and a launchpad to apply her own skills."

"You obviously think highly of her, Louise."

"Yes, I do, from the little I've seen, she can be duplicitous and is willing to use her body and mind to obtain what she wants which in this case is advancing her business career."

"Don't you think we're maybe ascribing motives and abilities to Marlene that just aren't anywhere else but in our imagination?"

"Yes, mundanely it's possible that she fancies both Mauro and Luigi and can't make up her mind which to favour, also don't forget, she's probably had a few disappointments with her recent romantic life and is compensating, by grabbing at every opportunity presented during this period away from home."

"So, you think she's just looking for a summer holiday romance, like any other normal girl, Louise?"

"It's possible that she's pursuing both options at once, why not? Aren't we all looking for a bit of excitement, Marc?"

"Up to a point, yes, but I draw the line at cozying with the cosa nostra."

"Nice alliteration, Marc! But all that proves is that Marlene is more adventurous and maybe broadminded than you, and maybe less snobbish too!"

"Perhaps you're right, please forgive me, but I don't wish to keep company with pimps, extortionists and thugs, it is remiss, I know, and you may call me a snob, or a square, but I imagine your advice to Marlene at dinner was sincere and you also think that Marlene's behaviour is ill-judged, and you're teasing me, again!"

"Yes, but your attitudes are those of a middle aged, middle class, bourgeois, not of an audacious student, seeking to overthrow the established order."

"You're right about that Louise, my family has seen too much of people who want to overthrow the established order, to know that no good will come of it, particularly not to the people the audacious revolutionaries pretend to support. They almost always end up as the victims. Look what Stalin, did to his own officers, after the revolution? What did he do to Defenders of Leningrad? To the entire Polish intelligentsia? La Révolution est comme Saturne, elle dévore ses enfants. You English are very fortunate not to have been beaten in warfare and not to have endured a recent civil war and see how people turn against each other driven by fear and self-preservation."

"Is that how it was for your family, Marc?"

"Not exactly, but survival involved harsh compromises."

"You mean collaboration with the Nazi's?"

"If you mean not opposing them, then yes! Along with 99% of the French, Belgian, Swedes and Hungarians. I grant you the Austrians, Swiss, Spanish, Norwegians, Dutch, and Italians, Baltic States, Bulgarians, Rumanians, and Greeks, supported them wholeheartedly until the United States, stepped in to save us all."

"When you're in the hands of a monstrous enemy, like the Nazi's were, all you can do is pretend to give them your support or take the consequences. That's not what my Dad did, he escaped to Tunisia with De Gaulle and fought with the British in North Africa, till France was liberated."

"What about your mother's family? How did they survive?"

"The way everyone else did, by keeping a low profile. My mother's father was a butcher in Auxerre. She met my father in Paris before the war and I was born at the beginning of the War, when he was in Tunisia."

"So, you're mother brought you up by herself till the end of the war! That must have been tough!"

"It was tough for everyone! But yes, it was tough, but she lived for most of the time in Auxerre with her parents and my Aunt. As my grandfather was a butcher, we didn't starve."

"Let's go back to the flat so that I can pack my stuff."

Chapter 13 Ground work

I'm so pleased you came Marlene! I was afraid my coarse behaviour might have repelled you, it was the situation. Things got a little out of hand. I'm suffering for it in more ways than one!

"I can imagine, Mauro, I hope you haven't sustained any permanent damage!"

"I hope not too, we'll see later, perhaps. But meanwhile tell me about yourself, what're you doing here in Rome, learning Italian, but you seem to speak it quite well already! You're only pretending to be a novice! Not like the others I've met, these French lads, Louise and that the she devil, Shereen, who are only beginners. "

"Yes, my mother's parents in Philadelphia have Italian connections, and when I was at College in Richmond, Virginia Tech, I'd had some Italian acquaintances too, so I've picked the language up, but informally, I've never really had lessons."

"But why are you attending the language class?"

"My College, Virginia Tech offered travel scholarships to students who wanted to study abroad, so on the spur of the moment I applied and was given quite a generous amount to attend the course. It's good for me to learn how Italian should be spoken from real Italians! Perhaps I should be in a more advanced class, but the easy-going pace suits me, it leaves me time for other things!"

"What kinds of other things, Marlene?"

"Well, I'd like to extend my business connections and see if I can extend the business I've set up on my own. I'm a professional business consultant, by training and I've done a bit of people management for some friends in North Carolina."

"What kind of business?"

"A high-end escort business."

"I'm astonished! You really surprise me! How did you get into that?"

"It's a little complicated, I was working as a fashion model for a photographer, doing photoshoots for catalogues and the boss asked me if I knew any girls who'd like to earn some money as escorts for some well-heeled young guys who were members of a sports club he also ran!"

"What sort of sports?"

"Tennis and swimming for women and children as well as shooting and cards for men."

"The guy knew I was at college and suggested that I could ask around to see if any of the better-looking girls were interested. He said he'd pay me commission on any earnings they made.

I agreed to ask around, although it had to be approached carefully, girls are reluctant to commit to that kind of thing. It can be dangerous, and the girls I knew wouldn't want to go with just any creep, they'd want to be treated with respect, like the ladies they are."

"How interesting, so how many girls did you have working for you?"

"It built up slowly, but I was in a girls' choir and a basketball team, so had lots of contacts outside Virginia Tech as well."

"At the end of my sophomore year, I was managing twenty girls and bringing in about $200 per week commission. The owner was making about $1000 after expenses."

"What kinds of expenses were involved."

"Accommodation and protection mainly. But also making sure that the girls turned out to a high standard and initially instructing them in the rules of the game, and how to increase the income stream."

"What sort of ways?"

"I arranged with the various hotels and restaurants for commissions on any business our escorts brought along, not much, usually 5-10%, depending on how much was spent. Also, by showing the girls simple ways to keep customer loyalty that improved cash flow. Nothing complicated, but worth doing. Everyone was happy about the arrangements, the girls, the clients, the hotels, restaurants and the club of course too!"

"I'm impressed! Can you tell me about some of the ways you get the girls to persuade their customers to return. That is a problem, my clients rarely want the same girl."

"That's one of my trade secrets, another is making sure that charges are high enough to make the deal worthwhile for everyone, but not so high that clients feel dissatisfied or resentful."

"I see, so you were also in charge of the money?"

"Yes, soon after I started supplying girls, I realised that the business was a shambles, disorganized, unsavoury, and dishonest and had to be properly reorganized! I said that it would have to be controlled using modern business principles with accounting practice.

I spent some time setting this up, it also doubled the income for the girls who aways had to be kept happy and increased mine quite a bit too. Without their cooperation the business would die overnight!"

"I'm impressed; I wonder if you'd like to give me a hand. I've had a few problems recently with some of my girls. Maybe I'm not handling them right, it needs attention. If you can sort out the mess, I'll make it worth your while."

"Ok, first, we must find out what the problems are precisely, then we can come up with some simple solutions then we move on to making these situation sustainable. I'll need to meet your girls, see the places they work and see the details of how much they charge, your cut and expenses etc. Also, maybe I should look at your clients, see how they behave, to prevent unacceptable behaviour.

"How're you going to do all that?"

"I'd like to talk with each of the girls informally to develop routines to make the experience they deliver something better and are more comfortable with. Happy girls make for happier clients. Also, maybe you should think of incentive schemes for both clients and the girls, like come next week for a reduced fee, come back every week for a month further reductions."

" If you can increase to the profit to $1500, I'll let you have $250, ok?

"Ok, it'll do for a start. Perhaps, we'll see what arrangements we can come to with the girls. How many are there available?

"Five at present."

"Only five? Not enough, you can't make a decent living from that.

"I don't really have either the time, or the clients for more."

"All that's needed is little organization to improve the management of the girls and clients. I'm sure there's no real shortage of well qualified girls. Do you know of a good comfortable clean hotel where you can hire three or four rooms at good weekly rates? If you can find ten girls and the fifty clients willing to pay $60 or $70 a session, I can come with you and look at the rooms and facilities and arrange favourable rates. It could work if each girl does four or five session each per week. That would generate a net income of £3000 per week. Then you could give the girls $150 each per week and leave about $300 for expenses and $1200 for you and me."

"But I only charge $30 at present."

"It isn't enough! You need to find more up market clients, It means you're unable to pay the girls enough, they should have at least $30, and really it should be $50 per session; with the right girls and if you go with the right class of tourist, you could probably charge $100 per session."

"Finding a few more girls isn't a problem, but getting a regular supply of clients might be?"

"If you find the right hotels, you'd have a ready-made client supply on the premises. Do you know any managers or concierges in up-market hotels where middle aged tourists or businessmen come for two or three days at a time. If you persuade them to direct any likely men in your direction, arrange a convenient meeting place and an appointments system. I could help with that. Once it was started you could do it mainly by phone. The inducement for the clients, is that they would be getting up-market girls and safe comfortable surroundings for their liaisons."

"Stop Marlene, how do I know you're not just making this up as you go along?"

"If you want, I'll show the simple stratagems the girls you employ need to adopt to ensure client satisfaction and inclination to return! First, how much are you willing to pay me?"

"For what?"

"Whatever you want. What do you need?"

"First, I want to fuck you!"

"That's wonderful, there's nothing I'd like to do more at present, but regrettably we have to sort out the business aspects first. You really excite me Mauro, I'm attracted by your strong body, I can't wait to stroke your chest and other manly parts. But before we start, my fee for the session is currently $50 as we're using your premises, and all the money is going to come to me."

"You mean you want paid for this evening. Of course, after the humiliation you put me through earlier, I deserve at least $50 as recompense for loss of dignity and being forced to commit an indecent act."

"Forced! You were gagging for it."

"No Mauro, you spiked our drinks and then physically held me on my knees so that I'd no option but to do your bidding, I was frightened that you might rough me up. So, it's $50 or I leave."

"Ok, I'll pay it."

"That's wonderful, now we can relax, can I unbutton your shirt?

"Of course, but I'd prefer doing it to you!" With that he removes her shirt, unhooks her bra, and begins to fondle and caress her breasts which have a surprisingly large volume, spread out like fried eggs, rather than balled up like poached, very satisfying to clasp. She runs her hand over his chest and lets it rest on his abdomen, with a finger placed under his belt.

"Can we move to the bed, and please take off the rest of your clothes, I want you to see you naked

"Marlene acquiesces without demur, she removes her skirt, but keeps on her panties, "Do you have protection, Mauro."

"No, I don't, sorry."

"Well how are we to avoid me conceiving or catching anything else?"

"They're illegal in Italy, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too, but unless we can have safe sex, we don't have sex. A pity as I'd was really looking forward to having sex with you, you're so strong and manly I'm very excited."

"I think I might have one or two in a drawer somewhere!"

"If you find them, maybe I'll stay a bit longer, otherwise the deal's off."

Mauro pulls out a packet from the drawer beside the bed. Despite feeling intense annoyance at his sociopathic behaviour, she lets him continue after he has covered his distended member in shiny rubber.

As a reward for obedience, she takes the rubber between her lips making sure to wet it thoroughly, then takes it her hand and squeezes gently. He eagerly inserts it into her wide-open aperture, the wet rubber plug slides in easily up to the hilt, she contracts her vagina squeezing him. The natural contraction is helped a little by deliberate contraction she makes with her pelvic muscles. A simple trick but very gratifying, the muscular sheath grips him tightly. Mauro gasps with surprise and pleasure, and he starts to move his pelvis rhythmically, Marlene does the same, but after every two or three thrusts, pauses and contracts her pelvic muscles. After a few cycles Mauro comes, more quickly than either would have wished, but for Mauro, it was outstandingly satisfying, he'd never experienced anything as gratifying.

"Oh Mauro, that was wonderful. You're a marvellous lover!"

"That really was wonderful Marlene. Can you teach my girls how to fuck like that!"

"Yes, it's quite simple, only a little practise needed, but it's not only about the act. The preliminaries, where the client is brought to a state where he's prepared to pay, slightly more than he wants and afterwards to make sure he wants to return, are equally important. No matter how mediocre his actual performance has been, he can be made to think it was wonderful, after appropriate words of gratitude are spoken providing, they sound sincere. The client should leave feeling, affection and appreciation and with a spring in his step. "

"I agree! But how are we to achieve this?"

"You find inexperienced, but nice-looking girls, I'll meet up with them, give them a motivating talk and maybe listen to what they've to say afterwards. If you can find the girls, we can begin. Also, you must find rooms in a hotel with a convenient laundry and cleaning service and make sure we can tap into a wealthy client stream. An oversupply of clients will be good, it'll do no harm to have a waiting list!

"I agree with all that. A friend, Vicky, will be amenable and she has many useful contacts.

We agreed to meet in a couple of days when Mauro said he'd try to make the arrangements.

On returning to the apartment, Louise was eagerly inquisitive. I gave her a brief account, omitting details about my past experiences in Richmond, which might be a tale for another day. Judging from her silence she was probably a little jealous of my success. She's still very innocent, better off with Marc. Interesting though that she already knew Mauro's friend, Vicky. Let's see what develops. But I must work on Luigi, soon as I can't see much hope of Mauro finding high end clients without him moving up a class or two in the Social Register. Luigi might be more susceptible to Louise's charms. Maybe I should use her as a lure. He needs to acquire some confidence, before I give me another try, perhaps I can arrange a date for them. He can give us a hand with our move tomorrow.

Chapter 14 The move.

When we arrived at class Luigi said he'd arranged for a taxi to assist Shereen move to my current place and for Marlene and me to return to the schools' apartment, so that everyone could resettle with minimal fuss. They would do it that evening.

Shereen arrived at our place by taxi that evening about 5.30. Marlene and I had packed our cases, we told Shereen that we'd left the door open, and that the keys were on the table, and departed. Marlene mentioned that she'd leave me to settle in alone as she had go out, She didn't say where.

Resettling didn't take long, as there was plenty of storage space, and Shereen had left the place in immaculately clean. A cleaner had replaced the bed linen and towels. I was wondering by 6.30pm what I'd do with the rest of the evening, when Luigi, knocked, he said that he'd come round to see that we were settling in comfortably. He was surprised that Marlene wasn't there, she'd mentioned that he should come round to check out the apartment. I didn't think anything of it, although wondered vaguely if she'd planned it. I thanked him for his consideration and said, "as you see, everything's fine, we've both much more room now to hang our clothes." I opened the wardrobe to show him, I also apologised that I couldn't offer him anything, except water. He said that he hadn't expected to be entertained but if I hadn't already fixed something, would be delighted to take me to dinner. As I hadn't, I agreed. But perhaps I should put on some dressier clothes to match his elegant attire, would he mind if I changed?

Surprisingly, he said, "Yes, the people I'd like to take you to visit prefer their guests to look clean and well dressed."

"You sound like my mother Luigi! What would you like me to wear? See what you think appropriate in my wardrobe whilst I have a quick shower."

"Any clothing you wear detracts from the view of you I saw yesterday at my home!"

"Naughty boy Luigi, although I'm surprised, I didn't think you were interested in my body!"

"On the contrary, but I was distracted over with this embarrassing business with Shereen and Marlene and some other awkward family business which required my attention and still does.

I undressed in the bathroom, and let him rummage through my wardrobe, not that extensive.

When I'd finished showering, I realised I'd have to emerge wearing only a towel. "Ah, if the towel had a purple stripe, you could be mistaken for a Roman senator, circa - 509 BC! "

"I don't recall that Rome ever had any women senators."

"True, but I'm sure they'd have made an exception for you!"

"Thank you, and I'm sure I'd have made an excellent job of it, let's see what you want me to wear."

"These are what I'd have chosen too," he'd chosen my silk blouse, which I'd borrowed from Mum, I thought she wouldn't mind me wearing it and a floral cotton skirt.

"Luigi, you've excellent taste, but do you want me to go out without any underwear?"

"I thought you'd better choosing that than me."

I decide to play along a little more, "Ok, I have several bras, which one do you think'll go best with the blouse?"

He chose the lace fringed one and matching knickers. "Very good, ok do you want to watch me get dressed, or what?"

He looked genuinely shocked, "I'll wait in the living room of course." I was relieved, as I didn't feel able to sustain this game, he was too much of an unknown, I needed to learn more about him.

"My goodness, how sophisticated you look with proper clothes! Do you have a jacket? It might be a little cold, in the car. I fetched a pink jacket, also borrowed from mum, she wouldn't miss it, it was a bit too lightweight for a Glasgow summer. We walked round the corner to the Luigi's Fiat sports car.

"J-P and Marco mentioned that you had a sports car, they're very envious. My dad would be too, he's an auto enthusiast."

"Really, what car does he drive?"

"A Rover at present, but he says he's going to buy a Daimler this year, it's better for the image of his firm. Not too ostentatious, but prosperous and solid looking."

"In Italy, we're not shy about ostentation, looks are important here, and for me too, it's important that my companions should be well turned out and beautiful."

"So why didn't you ask Marlene, she's better looking, don't you think?"

"As you know I've been out with her already. I think your more vivacious and perhaps more likeable. She's a little remote."

"Perhaps you are too, Luigi? Marlene is likeable though, once you get to know her, very adventurous and ambitious. Where are you taking me, we seem to be heading towards the southeast."

"Quite right, we're going to visit my cousins in Frascati, my family owns some properties in the city. They're expecting us. It'll be a good test of your Italian! It'll only take about half an hour to drive there. I hope you didn't forget to put on your knickers as it's very windy when go at speed, and I prefer not to be distracted when I'm driving. "

"You managed not to be too distracted the other day! So, what's the hurry?"

"I promised not to be late for dinner and by the way, yesterday you were messing around with Marc and J-P, so I couldn't give you the attention you deserved!"

"You could have joined us, but instead you were fully preoccupied with Marlene and Shereen."

"So, you noticed?"

"Not really. By the way you're wrong about Marlene, I think she is just a bit shy, but she seems to have picked up Italian very quickly, without seeming to try, she's easily the best in the class."

"Yes, I've noticed that too, she occasionally speaks colloquial Italian, a little like the cosa nostra do in Calabria, I wonder if she's any connections with the 'Ndrangheta, they have several branches in USA, especially on the east coast. Do you know?"

"No, I don't Luigi, why don't you ask her yourself?"

"Well, it's nothing to be proud of, but it might explain her tentative enquiries about business opportunities with my family firm."

"Because she's interested in doing business doesn't necessarily means that she has mafia linkages! But since we are talking about these guys, does your family have any business links with them?"

"I suppose that's a reasonable question, although insulting. Indeed, we're in the same kind of export trade, Olive oil products and wine, and both of us have been in the business since the 18th century. However, they became closely allied with the USA during the last war and helped them defeat the Fascists, both here in Italy and in USA and consequently have greatly prospered since then. My family has been connected to the Borghese family and the properties in Frascati were built by a distant relative in the 17th century, Cardinal Scipione Borghese. The family tended to favour the Royalist and Papal factions since then, until now. In this century it has led to unfortunate associations with fascism and right-wing politics. However, it also meant that after the war, although we were on the losing side, we've been protected to some extent, from communist and the mafia vengeance.

We've been able to hang on to our properties and business, so far! But we've had to tread very carefully along a narrow path between Scylla and Charybdis. So, you see, I'm anxious to stay away from little mafiosi like your evil friend Mauro and possibly your new friend Marlene! Unfortunately, this means instead we have to stay close to the very reactionary right wing political group, who control most of Italian industry and finance, amongst which is Fiat, from whom I obtained this nice, but very unreliable automobile at well below the market price, practically a gift, for my graduation. I think it's previous owner was pleased to get rid of it!"

"Is it going to get us to your cousin's and back this evening?"

"Who knows what we may have to do if it breaks down, and where we'll spend the night, but it'll be fun, carpe diem. There are lots of small villages with hotels where we can stay if the worst happens."

"Careful, I may sabotage it..."

"Shouldn't think you'll need to! D'you hear that noise? It means the engine's overheating and burning oil, fortunately we've only five more minutes to go till we reach my cousins' place."

We arrived at in a complex of houses belonging to the Villa Parisi- Borghese. Luigi's cousins had a floor in the west wing of the main villa, Mondragone a series of rooms with magnificent views over the extensive gardens. The view from their main living room was over a crescent shaped semi-circular lawn with large flowerpots containing fuchsia. The villa has some fine mosaic floors and frescos and decorated ceilings. However, the living quarters where the Luigis's cousins lived were much more modern, decorated in art nouveau style with which I'm familiar, as we have lots in Glasgow. It's still very popular, if you like metallic statues of thin naked women with bobbed hair, bending over backwards and exposing their boobs and pudenda to anyone who cares to look, whilst improbably holding a lampshade or fan, either in front of, or above, their heads. I guess it was the acceptable face of soft pornography in the 1920-30s, mass produced to be sold in upmarket stores. I find it mannered and kitsch, produced for the burgeoning middle classes and in the 1930's, available in all high-class department stores, but now found mainly in dusty antique shops, and the houses of my parents' friends.

The cousins were older than Luigi, between 30-40, having no children on their own, they treated him as a sort of surrogate son. Luigi's cousin, Paulo Biaggi was married to Maria, a tall, elegant lady, with black bobbed hair and a long bottle green silk dress that emphasised her height and slender figure, quite an art deco piece herself. She also smoked cigarettes with a long black cigarette holder. Paulo was also tall, a rougher version of Luigi, they seemed to get on well.

They also seemed pleased to see me, Maria mentioned that it was nice to see that Luigi also had girlfriends! I grasped the implication.

The centre of the room was taken up with a large round highly polished rosewood table, there were four place settings, a large bronze candelabrum stood in the centre with seven candles. I had a vague feeling I'd seen something like it in Glasgow, when our school had visited a synagogue, as some kind of gesture towards ecumenism, it had some sort of Jewish religious significance. But these folk were very definitely Catholics.

I explained that I was visiting from Scotland and studying Italian in Rome under Luigi's tutelage and he had very kindly asked me to join him. I hoped they didn't mind. I think he wants me to see something of Italy's high society. I smiled. They laughed loudly but said judging from my Italian, Luigi must be an excellent teacher! I agreed, saying his classes were very enjoyable. A very pleasant contrast from formal schooling.

They asked in what way informal? "Oh, we visit restaurants together for lunch, and he's taken us on trips to see sites of interest, like Pantheon and he's also invited us to his parents' beautiful home for a garden party."

"How many are in your Luigi's class?" Maria asked casually.

"Five, two French boys, a young American lady, an Australian lady and me."

"Yes, it's a very elegant traditional Roman villa, the family are very lucky to have kept it. It was requisitioned by the American Army during the war, as an officers' club. It was only returned about five or six years ago; as they were reluctant to give it back. But we had friends in the church who leaned on them. It turned out they were using the pool for all kinds of debauchery. Nude parties with both men and women! Shocking don't you think?"

"Do you mean the mixed sex bathing or the nudism, Maria?"

"I approve of nude swimming, but not licentious immodesty. Especially not in the holy city of Rome! We persuaded my dear friend Eugenio, the Holy Father, to put in a word to the American ambassador!"

"My word Maria, what a clever ruse! How long after the Pope talked to the ambassador did they take to move out?"

"Only a few weeks, Eugenio is such charming man, too bad he's now in such poor health! I fear he may be succeeded by a non-Italian with more populist views, the rumour is that it could be a Pole! Whoever heard of such a thing? I don't think the Curia should allow any non-Italians to be Pope, do you Louise!"

"I believe there's been an English Pope, Adrian IV, 1154-1159. His name was Richard Breakspear and was born in St Albans outside London. He spent time in Scandinavia before becoming Pope. It was said that he was a strong disciplinarian, nothing liberal or populist about him, Maria!"

"My goodness, you know your church history, not just a pretty face, then! Did you go to a convent school?"

"Many admire my figure too, Maria, although yours is enviably slim!" I smile. "And no, the girls' school I've just left was predominantly Presbyterian, but there were also a few token Catholics and one or two Jewish girls."

"So, you think it reasonable that the Roman Catholic Church should be ruled by a foreigner?"

"I'm not a Catholic myself, but I thought the Church claimed to be a universal church that extended special favours to Italy on the basis of its origins and development. But isn't the Vatican supposed to be another country? Also, I assume that the salvation it promises to the baptised is not meant to be exclusively for Italians?"

"Are you mocking just me, or the Church too, Louise?"

"Maria, calm down! For goodness' sake, she's only said what is obviously true, the Church is a Universal Church and is open to all baptised Christians. Luigi, please say a benediction so that we can dine. I'm starving, doing real work, unlike the rest of you!"

"Benedic, Domine, nos et haec tua dona quae de tua largitate sumus sumpturi, per Christum Dominum nostrum." Luigi muttered hastily and then added in case Maria thought he was being perfunctory, "Mensae caelestis participes faciat nos, Rex aeternae gloriae. Amen."

"Thank you, Luigi, very nice, I take it you're not a practicing Catholic, Louise?"

"You are correct in that assumption, Maria, my family belong to the Scottish Presbyterian Church, but I have several Catholic friends, one is currently a novitiate at the Il Pontifico Collegio Scozzese."

"Oh, I know that place well, it's very well thought of here, it does not hold with current liberal tendencies!"

"So, I gather from my friend. He finds it difficult to reconcile their overt teaching with the current need for the Church to adapt to the changing world, particularly in what is termed the developing world, in Africa, South America and Malaysia whose populations are exploding! Much to their detriment. Yet the Church insists that contraception should prohibited. My friend thinks this is an inhumane and dangerous policy, which can only be seen as one decreed by a group of celibate males, oblivious to real material needs of the congregations they minister too."

"I think you'll find that the Church's main concern is with their immortal souls rather than their temporal needs, so the more baptised souls that die in the arms of the Jesus the better!"

" I don't think many in Scotland would agree with that policy, Maria, and probably not many Italians either. I believe the birth rate here is declining steeply, I doubt that this is due to abstinence from marital sex."

"Unfortunately, that's true. Even in Catholic Italy, the birth rate is decreasing. In Europe only Ireland and Poland have birth rates that exceed deaths. In Africa, the birth rate is double that of Ireland, eight per thousand women per annum. "

"So, do you think that Roman Catholic church should aim to curtail women's education to keep them obedient to the Church's teaching and boost the birth rate?"

At this point, the hors d'oeuvres arrived. Artichoke, with an anchovy dip. Accompanied by fingerbowls of lemon water. Fortunately, I was acquainted with this sophisticated, but daunting dish. If I hadn't been, I'm sure I'd have made a complete mess of it and been humiliated. This might have been Maria's devilish plan. I broke off the tender leaflets, dipped them in the sauce and sucked them daintily, as etiquette required. Everyone ate in silence, it was an absorbing and laborious undertaking, I mused that no wonder Maria was so thin if she served this dish frequently!

A carpaccio beef dish with cabbage salad followed. This resembled eating rubber with wet paper laced with a vinegar dressing. Then a small plate of ravioli with a cheese sauce and finally a fruit salad. No wine was served, only sparkling water.

"You may think it surprising, Louise that we produce Frascati wine, so much that we have to distil it for brandy, but except at the weekends, do not drink it," Paulo grumbled. "Maria thinks that we should set an example to the lower classes by abstinence."

"It's good to practise what you preach, don't you think? Our church has ordained that one should not smoke on the Sabbath, but few seem to follow this teaching, definitely not my parents. I don't smoke on any day, so probably the fact I don't on Sunday, isn't regarded as virtuous! But Paulo, do you eat lunch at home?"

"I see where this is leading Louise, I think you're dangerous to know! And by the way, it's not I who preaches! What is your intended profession?"

"I'll be starting my studies at Glasgow University this September to become lawyer."

"Do you find the Law interesting?"

"Yes, you know Scottish Law, unlike English law, is very much based on Roman laws."

"Do you know of any differences between English and Scottish law?"

"Yes, there are several important differences relating to criminal law, for example, the age of legal capacity in Scotland is 16, whereas in England it's 18. Also, the accused in Scotland has no right to elect for a trial by a judge or jury. And, there are 15 members of the jury, in Scotland, whereas in England, only 12. Also, in Scotland, we require two independent sources of corroborating evidence, to find a person guilty. Perhaps the most important difference is that a verdict of not proven is available to the jury in Scotland if they cannot agree on either a guilty or not guilty verdict."

"Here in Italy the age of consent is 14, except when one participant is in a position of authority, for example a teacher like Luigi, with you, I suppose."

"So, Luigi's safe, I'm eighteen!" I laugh and Luigi blushes.

"Was that an offer Louise?" Paulo asks, smirking.

"To whom, Paulo? You, Maria or Luigi, or all of you at once?"

"Ha, Ha, you've some cheek, my girl!" Paulo mutters, Maria flushes angrily.

"That remark was very impolite!"

"How so Maria, Paulo suggested that I was making some kind of sexual proposition to you all. It wasn't at all my intention! I'm shocked that you should think such things, it reflects more on your prurient imagination than my imagined bad behaviour!"

"Louise, I'm not used to being spoken to like this by anyone, far less some schoolgirl that Luigi has decided to bring along to my dinner table, for his amusement! I'd like you to apologise to me at once!"

"In the interests of civility, I apologise, I didn't mean to distress you, I was simply informing you that I'm above the age of legal consent in both Italy and Scotland. But did not mean to imply that I'm offering to have a sexual liaison with any of you this evening, although I won't rule out that eventuality at some later date. Why should I?"

"Ladies, please this is becoming very silly, it's giving me indigestion, why don't we have a glass or two of wine to settle our stomachs and put us in a more sociable mood. Yes, I know Maria, it's not the weekend! But I think we need to welcome our visitor and after today I would like a drink to relax. Would you like a glass or wine, Louise, does the law allow it?

"Thank you, Paulo! Ironically, the drinking age in Scotland is 18, whereas sex is permitted when your 16. However, drinking is permitted with a meal as long as the minor doesn't pay for it themself and as we've had a tasteful meal, I think it would probably be permissible. I've already had quite a few glasses in Italy without anyone objecting."

"Yes, although it is illegal to sell alcohol to minors in Italy, there is nothing to stop them drinking it if someone else if buying! That certainly applies here, Paulo has an excellent cellar, I strongly advise you to accept his kind offer, as will I!"

"Thanks Luigi! I'll ask Nuncia to bring a bottle of the recent superior vintage." He rang a hand bell, and the maid appeared and after a minute reappeared with an already cooled opened bottle of the white wine without any label on the bottle. Paulo served me, then Luigi and himself a full glass. It was dry and slightly acidic, very pleasant, I would have liked to have it with a bit of cheese. Fortunately, Paulo seemed to be of the same mind, he rang the bell again and asked Nuncia to fetch some cheese and biscuits. "This soft cheese goes very well with this wine!"

Luigi and I affirmed our appreciation of the wine and to the special concession to the normal constraints of the midweek diet granted to us. Maria had said she wouldn't have any, but then, seemingly reluctantly changed her mind and filled her glass to the brim and gulped it down. I wondered if she might have a problem, not only with me, but with alcohol. Perhaps she fancied Luigi and was jealous.

After we'd finished the bottle, Paulo decided that he fancied a digestif and rang the bell again, and asked Nuncia to bring a brandy bottle and some glasses.

It was a bottle of Vecchia Romagna

"I've never tasted brandy before, although a few days ago I had some grappa. Do you make it here too, Paulo?"

"Yes, we make brandy from our surplus stock of Ugni Blanc grapes, but not here. The grapes are sent to the distillery in Bologna. The company that makes the brandy isn't doing well at present. Unfortunately, we may have to sell it to a larger company who will market it more effectively. As you can taste for yourself, it has a spicey and vanilla taste and smells of honey. Sniff! It also has a beautiful colour too. This comes from the oak casks it's matured in for about three years."

"Only three years? Isn't that very young for a mature brandy, my father, who prefers whisky says that French brandy shouldn't be drunk unless it's at least 15 years old, except for the stuff he loves to ladle over the Christmas pudding which probably isn't even one year old!"

"Your father's obviously a connoisseur, Louise. But I suspect the brandy he's referring to is Napolean Cognac brandy, made by Courvoisier, Hine, Hennessy or Martell, all of which need much longer than ours to reach maturity in the cask. A young cognac is only fit for puddings as your astute father has observed. What is his profession?"

"He's an accountant in Glasgow. But I think he'd prefer to be a professional golfer!"

"Does he spend a lot of time playing then?"

"Yes, a great deal, every weekend and on Wednesday afternoons and during holidays, at least once a day. He also goes away for weekend competitions and tours."

"Sounds as if he's a bit of fanatic! He must be very good?"

"I suppose so. But maybe it's an escape from my mother."

"Not from you then Louise?"

"That was uncalled for, Luigi! And no, he often says that he has four great loves, his accountancy firm, his golf, his car, and me, in that order and usually when my mother's in the room!"

"So, it's a family joke?"

"Perhaps, I'm not sure; my Dad's very self-absorbed and doesn't communicate his feelings, except when Mum's has spent too much on dresses! Then his feelings are very explicit!"

"Does your mother have a lot of dresses?"

"Yes, she likes to be fashionably dressed and have something new to wear when she goes out dinner with Dad every Wednesday evening, or when she goes away for the weekend to my Aunt when Dad's away playing golf."

"They obviously have a well-regulated life and apparently are quite well off."

"I wouldn't say well off, but Dad's quite keen to enlarge his firm."

"So will you go into business with him when you qualify as a lawyer?"

"I'm not sure, I'll see if I can be an advocate at the Scottish Bar. These are the lawyers who defend alleged criminals in the High Court, or divorcees or white collar crimes, like embezzlement, fraud, or malfeasance. It's a bit more exciting that accountancy, but unless you're at the top, much less profitable than being a tax lawyer, in which I will train too."

"Tax law is quite mathematical and technical, isn't it? Do you like mathematics?"

"Yes, I do, and yes, it is unusual for girls - but that's mainly because of male prejudice against women. I don't think women are naturally less accomplished than men as mathematicians. What do you think, Maria?"

"Yes, I agree, although I'm very interested in Church business, it's a very male dominated, especially here in Rome. This makes me uneasy sometimes. After all, more than half of the congregation is women! We must find alternative spheres of influence to make our presence felt. "

"Like where?"

"Teaching, leisure business, commerce, for example Luigi's and Paulo's aunt, Sylvia, who owns and runs the language school you're attending and several properties she rents out as student lodging."

"So, I guess Sylvia is your fathers' younger sister?"

"Actually, she's his sister-in-law and widow to his brother who was the son of my late grandfather's mistress, she decided to go into business for herself, instead of joining the family firm, which isn't profitable enough for all of us. We're looking to Luigi to develop new export markets instead of wasting his time teaching and thinking of going back to University!"

"So, viticulture isn't profitable, Paulo?"

"Unfortunately, not at present. It needs a lot of capital investment in our land, new buildings and machinery and much of the business can't easily be mechanized. It also requires a lot of seasonal labour. This is expensive here, compared with France, Spain and Portugal with their much bigger acreages. Mussolini introduced reforms which meant that the agricultural workers were unionised. We also have to compete with the other Italian wine makers. The Veneto Soave and Pinot Grigios around Trentino and Gavi wines from Piedmont and nearer at home, Orvieto, They are constantly eroding our Roman markets. Also, the South Americans and South Africans and Americans are becoming big producers. They'll soon be major competitors unless we prevent them with trade barriers."

"Is wine your only product then?"

"No, but it is the biggest and most profitable. We also make olive oil and Pecorino cheese, although most of our cheese manufacture is on our sheep farms in Sardinia."

"So, if you also made pasta and tinned tomatoes and passata you could cover the entire range of Italian plant-based food."

"We do have a tomato cannery outside Naples and Semolina from our farms in Tuscany, all very unprofitable at present too. They badly need modernisation but that requires capital investment which is not available. We keep applying for government subsidies, but our Government seem only have ears for the automobile, office machines and textile industries in the North."

"But Paulo, you've just told us that you've a winery supplying a significant amount of the wine drunk in Rome, outlets for your surplus wine producing brandy, in Bologna, olive groves for oil production, a cheese factory and sheep farms in Sardinia also cereal farms in Tuscany for pasta production, a tomato canning factory in Naples and you claim you need more money! How can that be? Also, I don't understand how you can do all that. Such a diverse conglomerate should need tens of managers to oversee the individual units, to say nothing of financial controllers and investment managers!"

"You're right! Over the years my family has invested our wine trade profits in diverse acquisitions agricultural properties producing a wide range of traditional Italian goods. They were cheap to acquire during the war and immediately after the war and also during the 1930s, The financial depression hit Italy badly, but our firm benefited from Mussolini's subsidies for grain production. He encouraged land reclamation and conversion of vineyards to wheat production. We used the money to drain some marshland areas we owned particularly around lake Trasimene, which as you probably know was the site of Hannibal's great military victory. The land was used to plant a few grain fields but also increase our vineyards acreage. We got rid of a lot of olive groves, as olive oil has been a financial disaster; Olive oil prices have dropped by more 50% and still haven't recovered. It isn't worth harvesting the olives! So, now we've interests in wine, spirits, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, cheese, wool, and lamb. This has landed us now in big organizational problem. All these businesses are labour intensive, requiring specialized skills. This labour cannot be transferred between the wine growing areas in the Lazio and the canning industry in Naples or the distillery in Bologna. And you are also right, it is far too complex for me to cope with alone; I need a team of competent and honest experts and finance directors. The one attribute honesty, without the other, competence, is worse than useless. We've relied on a family members, but we are no longer as fertile as we were, we're quite a small family. Regrettably, now with my uncle, Luigi's father, being old and infirm, we need to recruit young people with good financial and business sense who will rationalize the business and expand our export markets."

"I'm not yet trained in business organization although I've learned a bit from my Dad, but I can see that if you're rivals spot your current weaknesses, they'll aim to take advantage of you."

"Too true, Louise! What do you suggest we do?"

"I think you should try to rationalize but keep the complimentary units that are most profitable and sell off or lease the others to the highest bidder. This could raise enough capital to modernise and improve the central product, namely the wine, oil and cheese and let go the the rest and maybe also pay your workers a bit more to retain their loyalty and encourage them to improve on their traditional skills, sending the most able on training courses."

"Good suggestions, this is exactly the discussion we're having at the moment. But you've condensed the problem to its essentials. Thank you. You should come again and visit the winery. Maybe Luigi can be persuaded to bring you again."

"You are very kind Paulo, but I don't think you should pre-empt Luigi, I'm sure there are many beautiful, clever, and perhaps more experienced young women who could fill the role better than I. I can think of at least one."

"I think Louise's referring to another student in my language class, she's an American business school graduate; also, very able and speaks colloquial Italian, good looking too, in a contrasting way to Louise. But I fear she may have connections with the USA branches of the 'Ndrangheta, but I'm unsure."

"We certainly don't want that. The trouble we've had in Sardinia with the shepherds stealing our sheep and the losses from our cheese factories should be a lesson, to say nothing of the incompetent management in the canning factory!"

"Although she has dark inclinations, I don't think Marlene's a mafia shill, what she's looking for is business opportunities to develop an import franchise in the USA for the types of products you have. I don't think you should be too fearful at the moment. Why not meet arrange to meet her in Rome?"

"What do you mean by dark inclinations Louise?"

"I'll tell you later, let's say they're a little weird and surprisingly unconventional. It's getting late, shouldn't we be returning soon?"

"Yes, we should be leaving. Thank you for dinner, dear Maria and Paulo."

"Thank you for bringing your interesting and clever friend. Perhaps you can persuade her to return soon, along with your other interesting student, Luigi."

"I'll try Paulo."

Chapter 15 Business plans

When Luigi and I set off, I vented my suspicions. "I think I'm the dupe in an elaborate plan you've hatched! You want me to deliver Marlene to you, to persuade her to get into bed with you literally, also maybe metaphorically, and giving you, business tips during your pillow talks and later to develop sales of your families' products in USA."

"You give me too much credit. Louise and perhaps also not enough. I'm perfectly capable of making a proposal of the kind you've suggested to Marlene on my own! And I've some reason to think that it might prove successful if I had the inclination. But I don't think the chemistry is right with her. A pity, she's a lovely looking lady. No, I'm not at all devious, I invited you along because I wanted your company and thought you'd enjoy the experience of visiting my cousins in their imposing residence and I hesitate to say this, but I also find you very attractive as a woman, albeit a young one. But I'm not so old either!"

"Perhaps, not Luigi, but it might be a little awkward if we became an item, don't you think?"

"I've no idea, we wouldn't know unless we tested it. If the sky falls, then we'll know it's bad idea, but on the other hand, what if the earth trembles?"

"When was the last big earthquake in Rome, Luigi?"

"They're quite frequent, small ones are almost a monthly event."

"There's another monthly event I wouldn't want to miss, if you get my meaning, Luigi!"

"I understand, surely we can take care not to interfere with such occurrences!"

"How much experience do you have with that kind of care, Luigi?"

"Enough to take care of things, but can I ask you about Marlene, what's she up to?"

"I think she is much more familiar with the more professional aspects of sexual congress than I first thought, she probably wants to run Mauro's business more profitably to test her business theories, for to her financial benefit. This also involve organizing an orgy or two in some Roman villa, I thought at first that she was joking, but I'm now I'm not sure."

"Was she going to ask me if I'd let her use my home as a bordello!"

"Yes, I think your swimming party might have given her the idea, to turn it into money earner, if you could persuade your rich friends to pay a fee, to pay for the services of the local sex slaves. Good opportunity for blackmail too later I should think, if the Mafia wanted to turn nasty."

"Well as you've heard earlier from pious, Maria, it won't the first time our pool has been put to such use! I've no moral objections to using it again for similar purposes, it might be fun, but I do object to anyone else but me charging for its use!"

"So, you wouldn't object to Marlene organizing it and paying you for its hire?"

"No, but I wouldn't be at happy about the Mafia being involved, and that's hard to avoid when dealing with 'slave girls'; but I don't think she'd be interested in using street girls, far too dangerous, maybe worth further investigation."

"I don't think she'd be interested in running a brothel for long, maybe for the kicks, and to obtain a little capital, but I think she could be a useful person to assist in your family business and would jump at the chance of some kind of consultant job if you offered it to her. She's knowledgeable, ambitious, ruthless, amoral and quite astute. Also, I'm sure she'll drop Mauro when it suits her!"

"You're surprisingly pragmatic about this Louise, don't you see her as a rival?"

"In what way, Luigi? Do mean because I'd want to keep you for myself! That's not possible even I wanted it. I'll be going back to Scotland next month. Whereas as far as I know Marlene has no fixed timetable. If you want to sleep with her as well as ask for her business advice, I wouldn't object."

"So are you saying that you're not interested in sleeping with me."

"I'm not sure, I prefer to make love to people who want me and aren't doing it because they want to prove something to themselves. I'm not sure you want me. "

"So, you think that I'm a closet homosexual?"

"Are you?"

"Well, I've had homosexual experiences, but I'm not exclusively attracted to men. I'm very much attracted to you. Are you attracted to me?"

"I'm a tactile person, I don't find much satisfaction in declarations of love or affection, I prefer deeds and I too have had homosexual experiences, and urges. I freely admit it, but I'm heterosexually orientated, definitely! "

"So, you're saying something like demonstrate to me that you want to make love, are you?"

"If that's how you wish to express it, yes!"

"That's not possible at the moment as I'm driving!"

"So, stop now!"

"What here? We're coming into central Rome, would you like to come to my place for a drink?"

"Do you want more to drink, or is that a code for something else that you find difficult to say, Luigi?"

"Yes."

"I don't like ambiguity so late at night, perhaps you should drop me at the flat."

"If that's what you want, I will but I'd much prefer it if you came back with me for a while."

"Why Luigi? I don't feel like a swim at this time of night."

"Nor do I, Louise, but I'd like to make love to you."

"What do you mean by 'make love to me?'"

"I'd like to hold you in my arms and kiss you on the lips and then if you permitted, your breasts and maybe your thighs and stomach. And I'd like you to do something similar for me."

"I'd like that too! Let's do it! But please hurry up, I'm desperate to go to the loo!"

"Ok, hold tight for a few more minutes. Unless you want me to stop at a public lavatory."

"No, go on, but make it quick!"

They reached Luigi's villa without any leakages of oil, brake fluid, petrol from the car or urine, much to Luigi's relief regarding the car fluid and Louise for the latter, although her need wasn't as urgent as she pretended. A useful distraction.

Once the car was parked in the garage, she was let in via a side door and Luigi showed her the room she was looking for.

When she emerged Luigi called from a sitting room cum library which she hadn't seen previously. He asked if she would like any tea, or coffee or water, or wine. "No thanks, Luigi, I've drunk enough. By the way, was the wine we drank this evening the same as sold in the shops, or a special reserve for the patron?"

"I'm not sure, Frascati wine is usually drunk within two or three years of harvesting, but maybe we were drinking wine from the first press. The second press can be a rather bitter as it contains a higher percentage of tannins. I'll enquire if you wish, would you like to ring Paulo now, or shall we leave it for another time?"

"I didn't realise you had a taste for sarcasm."

"I wasn't being sarcastic, I genuinely don't know whether Nunci was taking pity on you after being harangued my Maria, she can be difficult at times. She is rather embittered by being infertile I think."

"Maybe she's not the infertile one, has Paulo been tested."

"No idea, perhaps you could ask him next time you see him."

"There you go again! But being childless isn't the end of the world, is it? My aunt May is infertile, due to a miscarriage and she seems to have accepted her fate without becoming a religious crank."

"Maybe Presbyterians are less dependent on their priests for moral guidance, than Catholics?"

"Maybe, although there is a strong streak of fanaticism in Scotland too. Mainly based on hatred of Catholics, rather than love of the Church or Jesus or Mary or the apostles or saints or priests of whatever rank you might think worthy of adoration."

"Now, who's being sarcastic!"

"I wasn't criticising your religion specifically. I think all religious leaders want to keep their congregations dependent on their guidance. Fear of death and damnation being a big part of the driving force, Making people feel guilty about sex and humiliating them for having sex urges, which the leaders pretend they don't feel themselves.

"I don't think that's necessarily true the nature of celibacy is self-denial. It wouldn't be a sacrifice if they didn't feel desire in the first place."

"But the odd thing is that they want everyone to feel the guilt in the same way. I don't wish to burden myself. Do you? Obviously, sexual guilt isn't the only driver, natural disasters and poverty are also handy weapons used by the Church to maintain loyalty. The four horsemen of the apocalypse, Zelos, Martius, Limos and Thanatos, namely conquest, war famine and death are among of the Church's best servants. Also lets not the fifth horseman, Fear."

" A bit too cynical, Louise, people need succour in times of hardship, from whatever source and the Church is there to provide it. What's wrong with that? I've been brought up in a milieu which is close to the Papacy, so we are very much involved with the inner workings of the Papal organization, as Maria indicated."

"Does that mean you believe all that stuff about infallibility and transubstantiation and Mary's virginity etc."

"I don't think I wish to discuss that at present, what I want to do is look at your breasts."

"So, what do you want me to do, undress for you? The ritual normally is that the gentleman proposes, and the lady signals her assent, if she's willing, also there are usually preliminaries, before you get to second base, where the woman allows her breasts to be touched, as I learned recently from Marlene. In USA, they treat sex as if it were a baseball game! Before you the batter, attain second base you must come from first base. "

"If I'm the batter, or whatever, you have to pitch the ball so I can hit it and run the bases, if my hit is hard enough and accurately placed, I can score a home run, whereby I run through all the four bases in a single hit, or play."

"We'll have to see if you're a good enough batsman then."

"I'll take that as a pitch!" With that they fell upon each other and in no time Louise's blouse and skirt were lying on the floor and Luigi was engaged in vigorous nipple suction. Louise found this pleasant, gratifying even, but soon grew bored. He show no signs of wishing to continue to the third base. Perhaps she should push things along a little; she stealthily explored his crotch to see if there was anything palpable. There was, plenty! but easy does it. She pretended that it wasn't happening, but inevitably if played too fast, or hard, would lead to disappointment, at least for her. What to do?

"Do you have a bed we could do this on, this couch isn't very comfortable."

"Are you suggesting we move to another base?"

"Exchanging a couch for a bed for could be regarded as a sideways move, not necessarily an advance.

"My bedroom is upstairs, come!"

Louise gathered her belongings and followed to his bedroom on the first floor, it was of moderate size, rather monastic, plain white walls and dominated by a large crucifix above the bed, and a signed picture of the Pope. A small boy was standing beside him, and like Eugenio clothed in a white surplice. The photo was signed, 'To my dear young friend Luigi on his twelfth birthday, Eugenio Papum.'

"Have you seen him recently, Luigi?"

"This year, March 2nd."

"How come you remember the date so well?"

"We've the same birthday and have often celebrate it together with prayer and discussion followed by tea and a biscuit. As you know the Pope, famously is an ascetic. That's certainly true of his abstemious lifestyle. He avoids such luxuries as cake and wine. But has been generous in his advice to me and help to my family, as Maria mentioned."

"What kind of advice?"

"About becoming involved in the Christian Democratic Party. The CD exerts a strong clerical influence on Italian politics, particularly in opposing leftist policies which are very strong in Italy, but also against fascism. It's a coalition of left, right and centre political ideas guided by Christian principles."

"What sort of Christian principles?"

"Towards more egalitarian ideals, like with land reforms, redistributing land to the peasants, introduction of national health service and provision of low cost of municipal housing. All of which I agree with. To give Mussolini his due, he introduced some of these policies in the 1930s. The Churches main interest is to make sure that these policies aren't hijacked by the communists or neofascists. Of course, there's a lot of opposition to these liberalizing measures from the traditional right-wing groups, landowners, right wing groups within the Curia and the Military."

"What do you do for the CD?"

"I've been appointed to Aldo Moro's circle as an advisor and go between with the Pope's private office. Moro is currently Minister of Justice. He's a very astute politician and quite popular, which is unusual for politicians unless they are demagogues like Mussolini."

"So, you are a sort of Papal apparatchik, do you get paid for this?"

Luigi looked quite shocked at the suggestion. "Good heavens no, working for the Pope is a great honour, no one would be expected to be paid for giving service to the Church! I'll have to earn my living by working in the family firm."

"I see, but I guess you have access to lots of commercially sensitive information which could be useful if you used it to your advantage."

"Perhaps so, but you need to be more experienced in financial and legal affairs than I to take full advantage of this kind of information."

"Mmm, I suppose you should start studying these things by observing carefully, how the Papal office and the Minister's office works in practice. You'll need to acquire some background in commerce and finance, it might stand you in good stead for your business too, don't you think?"

"How come you sound quite knowledgeable, about these matters, Louise?"

"I've told you, my Dad's an accountant and he gives advice to businesses, and since I was about twelve, he's taught me about financial matters and markets, and I like mathematics."

"Still, I've an uneasy feeling you know more than I, which I admit, wouldn't be difficult!"

"I'm sure you're being unnecessarily modest, Luigi."

"I'm afraid not, I've spent most of my time studying comparative literature, theological studies, European history, politics and languages, and almost no time on maths and sciences or commercial studies."

"But you've spent time in the family business with your father and Paulo, haven't you?"

"Very little, I've mentioned that I thought I'd be priest till quite recently, but Eugenio told me a couple of years ago that he didn't think I'd enjoy being celibate very much, he thought I'd do better in politics and business."

"So, you've spent time at university being educated for the higher ranks of the priesthood, but your good friend decided that you didn't have the right stuff to become a bishop or cardinal? Are you disappointed that you won't be a Monsignore or whatever?"

"No, I wouldn't like to live a life of subterfuge, pretending to be someone that I'm not. If thing's work to plan, I can have a family and still work for the church in an influential position."

"Ah, I see, the Pope has decided that your family needs to have successors to look after the future of your family business and incidentally the Papal business too. And as Paulo and Maria are infertile that leaves only you to father heirs! At least legitimate heirs. Well Luigi, I'm a Scottish Presbyterian, without any religious beliefs, in case you're wondering. I don't think your pal would approve!"

"I think we're a long way off that dealing with that problem, don't you? Here we are yakking about my family problems whilst lingering on second base!"

"Don't you think it's getting late, perhaps we should postpone further play for another time?"

"Well let's give it another half hour, shall we? There's something I need to do."

"What's that?"

Luigi pulled Louise closer, his tented trousers pushed uncomfortably between her legs.

"You seem a little uncomfortable Louise? Your willy is sticking into my leg!"

"Sorry can you move your leg?"

"Perhaps you could move your willy?"

"I'd prefer it if you moved it, I don't want to remove my hands from your breasts."

It was a transparent lie, but Louise acquiesced she pulled the zip inserted a hand and gently pulled the warm rigid cock free from its covering layers. "You seem to be pretty excited Luigi, what do you want me to do with it?"

"Whatever you want."

" I know what I don't want!"

"What's that?"

"I've told you already, I don't want to take any chances with you in fourth base, so we can remain in a holding position. That'll keep us happy for a few minutes, if we do it right."

"Sorry, this may seem shocking to you, but I've never done this before with a girl, can you show my what to do and where."

"This is a little weird Luigi, so you've never made love to a woman, girl before?"

"Not until I tried with Marlene the other day and we both froze with embarrassment."

"Well, I don't think it was from lack of experience on her part! I thought guys like you hired a professional hooker to show you want to do?"

"I've never felt the need for that kind of instruction."

"You mean your experience has been exclusively with men or boys?"

"I suppose so."

"I assume you don't need an anatomy lesson, take off your clothes and I'll remove my knickers."

Once that was done Louise directed him to her pubis, "Now before you come you might wish to make love to me you do it my stimulating my genitals as I'm sure you know. You can do this with your fingers, or lips or tongue. Usually in that order, starting from the outer regions and slowly spiralling inwards, I'll keep hold of you and signal my approval by hand, but not too much in case you come too soon. Sorry to be so outspoken, but once learned you are unlikely to forget."

I thought Luigi might be a bit squeamish of full blown oral stimulation, but not a bit of it, once he got the hang of it and I had pointed out the sensitive areas, he worked on them with enthusiasm, and I found myself responding with gusto. After I climaxed, I reciprocate the favour which he enjoyed with surprising enthusiasm and wholeheartedly. I let him ejaculate over my belly. I suggested that if we had another encounter, perhaps he could get hold of some condoms. He said he'd look into it as soon as possible, as he'd very much like to move to the next stage.

"I should be getting home Marlene will be wondering if I've been kidnapped."

"Ok, but perhaps you'd like a shower first?"

"Good idea, you think of nearly everything Luigi."

Chapter 16 Marlene and Vicky.

I was late for my meeting with Mauro, when I arrive at his place I was greeted by his girlfriend, Vicky, a good-looking girl with dark hair, nice figure, and good complexion. Ideal material, for my purposes. She said that Mauro had had to go out, but he'd meet us later and he'd outlined what my plans for his business were.

I explained that I wanted her to introduce me to her acquaintances who'd be interested in acting as escorts for rich tourists, and essentially who were presentable, dressed well, had a pleasant manner, nice table manners, knew their way around Rome and were interested in making good money on a regular basis. I would like to meet about ten or so and hopefully be able to select at least half a dozen. They shouldn't be experienced in this kind of trade, as I wanted to teach them how to go about pleasing the clients and making them want to see them again and I also wanted them to have a fresh look, not like a professional hooker.

Vicky was honest, she said she only knew three or four girls who were well suited, but they would probably know a few more, so it could snowball quickly. She said that she'd want Mauro to assure the girls that they would be secure from physical violence and their identities fully protected and wouldn't be robbed or mugged.

"I agree with these, conditions, Vicky, and for every suitable girl you recruit, I'll offer you 50% more pay for a week. So, four girls, means 50% extra pay for four weeks, at four sessions per week, you'll get $180 per week for four weeks. And you can tell your friends that the same deal applies for them. But remember that I make the final selection, so if the girls you choose are unsuitable, no extra pay! Does that sound fair?"

"Yes, but what if there aren't enough clients willing to pay?"

"We'll have a rota, anyone available can register for a particular days they're free and if there's is a surplus number of girls, then the job will go to the first registered. I'll keep the register. Maybe later I'll show you how to work it and if I'm busy, you can be my deputy. When I've seen your recruits, I'll talk to you and them and explain how I want you to behave with the clients and the various techniques I want you to adopt to ensure that the clients look forward to returning as soon as they can afford it! It's not just a question of lying back on the bed and expecting it to be a thrilling experience, magic doesn't happen without work."

"Mauro also said that we'd be sent to meet the clients at a meeting point, and we'd do the business in a decent hotel room."

"Yes, he gave me a couple of addresses to visit this evening, would you like to come with me? We can take the bus and maybe have a drink afterward. We're going to a good area near the Termini train station, the Via Flavia. It has good clean bedrooms and a lift. Mauro has already talked to the manager, but I haven't met him yet. I think it's very important to cultivate these people and be on good terms and make sure they like you too, although maybe not be too friendly, that could lead to trouble! But of course, what you do in your spare time is your business. Also, if you haven't got a bank account already, I can help you with that."

"No I haven't, I've never had enough money to need a bank account."

"Well, it would be better if you had. Your earnings will be paid directly into your account without you having to handle cash. It'll be safer. You can of course be assured that the money will be paid, as I'll be handling it. From a business point of view, it'd be best if everyone banked at the same branch of the Banca Populare as me. In this way I can make all the money transactions between the clients, the hotels and Mauro as clear as possible, everything will be transparent. If the client leaves you a cash tip or gift over and above the fee, that'll be your affair. All the other fees will be paid without you having to worry about collection or finding a private safe place to keep it! I've already got an account there. It pays about 5% per annum on the money held in savings. So, for every $1000 you hold in your savings account for a year, you'll earn $50. Not much, but saving is a good habit, it teaches you the value of money and it'll come in handy when you need it!

You'll only be responsible for your clothing and hygiene, both of which must be of a high standard, as we're dealing with a sophisticated clientele who should feel be happy to accompany you to a restaurant or in the street if they feel like it. By the way, when you introduce yourself to the clients or the hotel guys, don't use your really name! Choose something simple or common and classless, like Monica or Sophie and don't tell them your real address! You don't want unwelcome visitors I imagine! Shall we go and introduce ourselves to the hotels? Don't forget to smile and look happy and bright as you do now!"

Marlene asked to speak with Mauricio at the reception desk at the hotel. They were led to a windowless office beside the reception desk, where Mauricio was poring over an accounts book and making entries into a mechanical calculator, a Brunsviga, then turning the handle and looking unhappily at the bottom line. He sighed and swore quietly, "I hate this fucking machine!" to no one in particular, "so much work and if you make the slightest mistake your answer can be wrong by a factor of at least 10!"

He about 35 dark hair, average height, oily skin, but intelligent looking and kind, not wearing a ring. He didn't look happy. But brightened when he saw us. He raised his eyebrows when I said that Mauro had arranged for us to meet. "I wasn't expecting such sophisticated and beautiful young ladies for this kind of arrangement."

"Why so Mauricio?"

"Call me Morry, I imagined someone older and more experienced looking."

"Listen Morry, this is business we're talking about and that's my training, and if you like I can show later I how to use your calculator more efficiently. I understand that Mauro outlined what we have in mind. We'll charge our clients a straight fee of $60 for the room hire and all that goes with it. We will want rooms in your hotel on a weekly basis and we want the rooms to be serviced promptly after each use. As agreed by you and Mauro, we'll pay for weekly hire of the rooms at a 60% discount on the rack rent. However, we'll encourage our clients to ask for room service de-luxe on top of any fees paid to us. This will be yours less a small commission of 5%. The girls will receive $30 per session and we take a commission of $15 for the administrative costs. We may alter the prices and fees when we see how the arrangement works. I'm hoping we'll be able to arrange initially for 15 sessions per week, 30 hours."

"As you realise Marlene, at present soliciting isn't a crime in Italy, although vigorous efforts are being made to make it so. But we should be discrete, the girls and clients should not draw unnecessary attention to themselves otherwise it will diminish the reputation of my hotel. However, I admit for me that your scheme has many attractions, as it will allow us to utilize our spare room capacity and if you can bring in this kind of high-end business, we'll make sure that we'll provide the necessary catering and other services you require."

"That's very good news, Morry, what I propose is that we start out by testing on trial basis how the well the scheme works. I want to confirm that things are running smoothly, and the girls are being treated respectfully, by you and your staff. They must always be treated as ordinary hotel guests. However, after check-in I suggest they are simply guided to their rooms. Any nuisance problems from the clients will be dealt with promptly by Mauro. However, as the girls will all be trained to provide a pleasurable experience which our clients will wish to repeat, we don't anticipate any real problems from the clients. We will of course provide a commission to you for any clients that you direct towards our service. The commission will depend on the amount of business. However, to avoid accidental meetings occurring, we'd prefer it if the service we provide is only to clients who are not residents here, in case they have families staying with them."

"Yes, I see that could be awkward, but we have a couple of other hotels under our management, nearby with similar facilities to this, so we could easily make sure that this doesn't happen."

"That's a very good suggestion, Morry, it's a pleasure to meet someone with your grasp of the underlying business problems. Perhaps you could let us look at the rooms that would be available."

"Certainly, I'll show you myself. Also, we have few rooms with small pools or Jacuzzis, perhaps your clientele might find this a pleasant option wishing to extend their visit for a bit longer. Maybe your girls could encourage this?"

"That sounds like an extremely attractive idea, what do you think Sophie? Do you think that you could cope with that?"

""Yes, it might be very successful, but it'd depend on the client and their needs. It could be offered as an inducement for a second visit, to add a little fun and spice."

"Good idea, Sophie, if I may say so, I'll show you how to operate the controls sometime if you like, we could add in some aromas to make it almost a spiritual or sensual experience."

"That sounds wonderful, Morry. We'll obviously have to arrange special terms for this extra facility. Probably involving extra time, don't you think and extra laundry for towels and aromas etc?"

"Yes, Marlene perhaps we could have a trial run to see how it might work?"

"Are you inviting us to take a dip with your Morry, I think Mauro has mentioned that the girls do not come free to hotel staff. They're here strictly business, not provide fun for you! But on the other hand, I will not personally be working with the clients, so I might give it a trial to see how it could work."

"Oh, I see Marlene, you're the manager of this enterprise, not a participant!"

"Yes, I'll be far too busy organizing the schedules and controlling the money to have time to be at the front end, so to speak."

"What a pity, but perhaps I can show you a room with a Jacuzzi?"

"What do you think Sophie, would you care to take a bath with Morry and me?"

"It's very tempting, especially if you and Morry join in, it's very warm and humid this evening, it'd be nice to cool off, how long would it take to arrange, Morry?"

"Oh, not long I can have some drinks and nibbles sent up to the room, so that we can all relax. You'll see it's a lovely room and you have a roof top view, not overlooked by the way, so no embarrassment from onlookers unless they're in a helicopter!"

"Ok I had another hotel to visit, but we can postpone it for another evening I think, how does it fit in with your plans Sophie?"

"Oh, I didn't have anything special this evening, I'm sure Mauro will be happy to see me later."

"Ok here's the key, I'll join you in a few minutes. Take the lift to the top floor, it requires a special key to gain access to that floor."

"Sounds very grand, Morry!"

"I assure you it is, Marlene! Don't be shy about using the pool, there's plenty of room and towels are available."

The lift took us to the hidden 6th floor, only accessible by turning the special key in the keypad in the lift. The lift opened and we walked into a corridor with three doors labelled Abelard, Byron, and Casanova. Our key was for Abelard, a 12th century Parisian theologian and philosopher who wrote many letters to his lover Heloἵse d'Argenteuil his 16-year-old private pupil, she fell pregnant and gave birth to a son Astrolabe. Héloἵse's uncle and Abelard's Canon ordered that he should be castrated for his crime. This brought their physical relationship to an abrupt end, he was forced to become a monk and she a nun. After they embraced their celibate lives, they wrote letters to each other.

"I'll call you Sophie when Morry comes back. Do you know about Héloἵse, Vicky? She was a famously good businesswoman and philosopher and was blunt about marriage, comparing it unfavourably with prostitution. She thought that women marry mainly for money and status and not the man, 'holy matrimony' is a hypocritical pretence, at least prostitutes are honest, they do it for money without any charade of love or holiness. We should look on Héloἵse as our guiding light."

"I agree, Wow! what a lovely room and look at the pool, half outside and half in the room, its big enough for three or four. I'm very tempted to take a dip, shall we Marlene?"

"Ok, why not? Let's live a little and have a bit of fun!" With that they stripped and stepped into the pond, which was quite warm."

"Do you mind if Morry see's us Marlene?"

"Not at all, I imagine he's probably listening to us right now, aren't Morry? By the way Sophie, you have a gorgeous figure, so slim and well developed in all the right places! The guys will go crazy for you!"

"Your not bad looking yourself Marlene, you've an athlete's physique, if you wanted to hire yourself out, you could make a fortune. Beautiful red hair like yours is quite rare in Rome, except amongst the Jews, I believe, but there aren't so many around anymore, most were deported during the war, and they haven't returned."

"Why d'you think they haven't come back?"

"Not sure, perhaps the rumours are true, that they were killed, but I doubt it, who would do such a stupid and cruel thing, for no reason? It doesn't make any sense, does it?"

"I suppose not, but in my country, black people are treated very badly, simply because they've black skin, what's the difference?"

"I've had enough of this conversation, its too depressing. How do you think we should go about it using this room to make extra money?"

"I think you should undress first and elegantly step into the pool like you did and then beckon him in with a sweet smile and remind yourself that at least he'll be clean! Once he's in the pool, I suggest you come up to him and rub your breasts down his chest and stomach like this and then give his cock a little kiss, nothing serious. That should set his juices flowing big time. Under no circumstance should you let him fuck you unless he's wearing a condom which we'll supply unless you're wearing a coil or a cap!"

"I think you've set mine flowing too Marlene, can I try it with you?"

Without waiting Vicky rubbed her breasts down Marlene's front and then stuck her tongue into Marlene's clit.

"You're a bad girl Sophie, I've a good mind to smack you on the bum for being so impudent, bend over."

At that moment Morry arrived with a tray with a bottle of prosecco and a plate of prosciutto some Parmesan cheese and biscotti. So Vicky, alias Sophie, was saved from being beaten on the bum, as least for the time being!

"I see you guys are having fun, I hadn't thought to bring a lash, but I guess my rosary will do if you want to enjoy a bit of contrition for your lustful thoughts and deeds. How'd you feel about me joining your party?"

"Why don't you open the bottle first and we can have a little drink and some munchies, I'm quite hungry!"

"Excellent suggestion Sophie, stay in the pool and I bring you a drink. Can I say that you both look stunning, I'm almost overcome. You add splendour to our little shelter from the world. What a sight for sore eyes and mine have been very sore these last few hours with poring over these long expense sheets. It's enough to drive me round the bend. "

"Enough business Morry! Join us in the pool!" With these words of encouragement, Morry shed his clothes and displayed himself, he was of a stocky build, had a short, but wide and nearly black willy with impressively large balls to match. "My god Morry, you remind me of my uncle's bull, back home in Pennsylvania!"

"I'll take that as a compliment, Marlene but I must say that you look extremely womanly, although maybe from a distance you could be mistaken for a reddish heifer. Can I see if those udders have any milk yet."

"As I haven't calved yet it's unlikely."

"Let's see!" with that he tried to suckle one Marlene's nipples, but she slipped out of his grasp and sliding down his front whilst moving her breasts from side to side like a performing seal produced a spectacular enlargement and his willy changed colour to a deep puce.

"Can I touch it, Morry?"

"Sure, Sophie feel free! But let me touch you too." With that he slipped his hand into her slit and gently rubbed whilst she lightly stroked his engorged willy."

"You'll drive me mad with desire, but before we go any further let me put on a condom."

"Very sensible Morry, you're a gentleman!"

"A man anyway, as you can see." Morry inserted his covered willy without delay into Marlene's wide open and fully primed vagina."

"And I can feel too!"

"Ok Sophie, I'll demonstrate the house technique for giving the client the fuck of his lifetime. You don't just lie back and let the guy do all the work as most women do, I believe. My god Morry, you're such a tight fit, you feel so big inside me! Now watch! As I clench my buttocks, my vagina will give him a squeeze, a welcoming embrace. And I do it again as he withdraws. It's saying please don't leave, come back! My goodness I think he's come already, what a shame, maybe you can do it with Sophie in a few minutes and we can see how you cope with a big boy!"

"Thank you, Marlene, that was a truly shattering and memorable experience, there's no doubt I'd give a lot for a repeat performance as soon as it can be arranged."

" I found that you've greatly extended my experience too. I hope I'll recover soon! But, I think you might do Sophie an injury unless she's really well lubricated."

"After watching you and Morry, there's no need for further lubrication!"

"Still maybe you should practise with a smaller guy, or at least with a smaller willy!"

" I think I know who you mean Marlene. All the same I'd like to get together with you Morry, your dark skin is so exciting and sexy!"

"When the G. I.'s were here just after the war, the girls couldn't get enough of them, and it wasn't only for the nylon stockings they were so generous with. It made the local guys very jealous and caused quite a lot of trouble. That being said I'd really like to get together with you too Sophie, you seem to be a really nice person."

"It's interesting what you say about the excitement the black GIs caused here, Morry. Back home in Virginia, and even in Philadelphia, if a white girl were to be seen going with a black guy, it'd cause a lot of trouble. Despite that, some girls persist, dark skinned willies are sexy, to some at least! I guess it must add an extra transgressive thrill."

"Do you speak from experience Marlene?"

"No, I've never been with a black guy. Where I come from that would be far too dangerous,. I'd be frightened of being beaten up and the guy would be too, at the very least! The white community in USA feels very strongly about that kind of thing,, especially in the South. They call it miscegenation; a term invented during the American Civil War, by the Democrats to discredit the Republicans. It unleashes all kinds of ugly emotional prejudices and deep-seated anxieties. I reckon there are enough black girls to supply the needs of black guys, and vice versa, so why start an unnecessary race war by looking for trouble?"

"Well, I assure you the girls here don't have the same prejudices, do they Sophie?"

"We don't see many black skinned Americans in Rome anymore, not since they all went home in 1946. My mother told me that the Pope sent them on their way, he didn't like them mixing with the locals."

"I didn't know that! Although it's common knowledge he doesn't care what happens to the Jews! Said the Vatican shouldn't become involve in politics!"

"Listen Marlene, most Italians during the war, were concerned about saving their own skins; they hoped that by sacrificing the Jews, they'd be treated well by the Nazis; they were wrong of course! The Nazis treated everyone badly, but the Russians weren't any better. So, I'm anti-Nazi anti-communist and anti-Catholic!"

"Well at least you speak your mind Morry, that's seems to be quite rare around here!"

"Yes, generally, we're very hypocritical, the prosperity of your trade speaks volumes about Italian hypocrisy!"

"Well let's hope so, but hypocrisy isn't confined to Italy I assure you."

"That's probably an Italian import to generous country. We Italians all adore Uncle Sam, and believe you're all God-fearing, generous people."

"You're taking the piss, Morry!"

"Perhaps Marlene, but I'm a serious businessman and I can see that we can do business together. But I've some more to attend to. We can fix the details of the money transfers and communications between you, me, Mauro and clients and the girls in detail at our next meeting. Also, if you can show me how to use that blasted calculating engine, I would be very grateful. I'll even buy you dinner."

"Why thank you kind sir, I'll bring the detailed plans to our next meeting. By the way you, didn't tell us whether you're married."

"Why do you want to know, Marlene? Sophie is a bit too young for me unfortunately, and I guess you don't plan to stay in Rome for very long?"

"I've no fixed plans, I aim to set up an export business, but would like to keep an interest in this enterprise we're setting up for as long as possible. But you haven't answered my question?"

"Ok, technically I'm married, but have been separated for several years, my wife left me for another unlucky guy, and I haven't heard from her since she emigrated to USA."

"So why don't you get divorced?"

"In Italy, divorce for Catholics is practically an impossibility. If my wife decided to divorce me from USA, then I'd agree to it, but I can't afford to take her to court at present. Satisfied?"

"I'm sorry, Morry, it must be hard for you."

"Not really, I don't have to pay alimony and we haven't any children and I have my own house and friends and I like making new friends, particularly ones like you and Sophie!"

"I feel we're friends already, don't you Morry?"

"Yes, definitely, but listen I've several hotels to run, now I must leave you, although I very much look forward to meeting again, soon."

After Morry left, Marlene and Vicky decided to call it a day, Vicky said she'd encourage her girlfriends to meet up with Marlene at the weekend. Marlene told her that she'd see as many girls as she could recruit at the weekend.

Chapter 17 Louise and Marlene

Marlene was surprised and jealous when Louise told her about her last evening's activities with Luigi, she hadn't dreamed it would progress so far. "What are you going to do about Marc?"

"I'm not sure, I like him a lot, but I also like Luigi, however, I'm pretty sure Luigi is looking for a long-term relationship, not just for sex but also as a business partner and companion and I'll be returning to Glasgow next month, so it won't work, whereas you'd be ideal for him, except that I think you intimidate him. He's less daunted by me because I'm younger, I guess, he feels more in charge, more dominant. And I let him feel that. However, if you don't feel much enthusiasm for Luigi, his cousin Paulo, might appeal to you more. He's married to a religious zealot, who, believe it or not, is close to the Pope! The whole family relies on their historic papal connections for financial favours and every now and again they do some business for the papacy. Anyway, at present the firm is in disarray, they have lots of businesses, but none doing particularly well and they're being squeezed. Paulo is worried about the future of the business and as there's no one else he can trust, that's why probably unwillingly, Luigi is being dragged in. I think if you can meet up with Paulo you might be an even bigger hit with him that I was, the only thing is you'll have to be very discrete about running a brothel.

"Are you're suggesting that I cultivate Luigi and become his brother's mistress too!"

"Yes! I think you can manage that. I could persuade Luigi to introduce you to Paulo, perhaps when he takes us with the class to visit to the family winery, next week. By the way, I think Luigi would be quite relaxed about you arranging a Roman orgy at his pool, so long as there's decent share of the profit for him. I must say I was a little shocked, at his seeming amenability to your idea. I thought he was a goody, goody about money and sex, but it shows what religious aristos will do when monies tight. However, he wants to keep Mauro at arm's length. He doesn't want to become too closely entangled with the mafia."

"That's a laugh, the entire economies of Church and State are practically run by them already, as I'm sure he knows very well! But you're saying that for the time being you want to keep both Luigi and Marc on your hooks, although you don't mind sharing, until I've become friendly with his cousin Paulo?"

"A threesome with Luigi might be fun, it could also break up or down his inhibitions Wait till you see his bedroom. We'd have to share it with a photo of his very good friend Eugenio Pacelli looking pious and a humungous crucifix. No wonder the poor guy's practically impotent! With Holy Father Eugenio cheering us on, it would almost be a foursome!"

"I was only entertained in the pool room when I was there, you've obviously breached the citadel gates, I assume the geese didn't honk but maybe plenty of groans of appreciation, you're good at them! Perhaps it would be less awkward if we had him round for a drink at our place, maybe you could invite him, and I might join you? We could also discuss the potential business arrangements."

"I'll ignore your crude remarks for now! Your suggestion sounds like a workable plan, maybe if I invited him round and we discuss his business plans and I suggested that you might be useful in handling some of his firm's organizational and financial problems, then I could suggest that I ask you to join us. It turns out you've just had a shower and are wearing your sexy revealing semi-transparent peignoir it might progress from there.

"Have you been eyeballing my wardrobe, Louise?"

"No, I'm sure nothing you've got would fit me, and besides I haven't had any opportunity yet."

"As it happens, I do have something like that. It's a little brazen, but it might do the trick. Do you have anything flimsy you could wear."

"No Marlene, I'm just out of school, although Aunt May has a whole collection of sexy stuff which she wears for her photoshoots. But, I'd look ridiculous, I'm sure I can be alluring enough though without too much difficulty."

"Are you saying that I'm not sexually attractive?"

"No, not all, Marlene! You're stunningly attractive, so much so that you frighten Luigi. To put it bluntly, he feels shy and impotent with you! We must find of way of dispelling his fears. As we've already seen, a blatant naked presentation isn't the best approach, it's inhibiting. We'll need a more subtle version of the dance of the seven veils, where the overt agenda isn't transparently sexual. We'll need to be gradually enticing, in such a way that he doesn't realise that's what's going on; gradually revealing, with seemingly accidental displays of cleavages, mine and crotches, yours, but nothing overt and not too much and only for a tantalizingly short time, now you see it, now you don't; did I really glimpse her cunt?"

"You seem to know what you're talking about, Louise, where did you learn these arcane skills?"

"It probably came naturally, bred in the bone, maybe because of the conflicting nature of my upbringing; my apparently asexual puritanical paternal family, contrasting sharply with my mother's side. Although they're outwardly conventional, she and her sister, my aunt May, actually are sexually liberated and louche. Both sides can only coexist by averting their eyes to what's going in plain sight! It works reasonably well, but there's a fault line between the two, into which I've been implanted."

"Strangely, we've a very similar mixed up family dynamics, my Dad's a quiet academic, who's completely absorbed in his work, and seemingly unaware of my Mother's involvement with her Italian family's barely legal enterprises in Philly. The police turn a blind eye, because the family are big community donors, especially to Police and Church charities and one of my uncles has a special secret relationship with Cardinal Spellman, the Archbishop of New York. Something everyone knows, but nobody talks about. It sounds like the situation between Luigi and the Pope, but maybe these things are too dangerous to talk about."

"We both seem willing to apply our physical attraction and intellects to our advantage without being overwhelmed by excessive emotional commitments."

"I agree; my mother thinks I'm cold and calculating, heartless bitch. She thinks that I should be besotted with some boy or man, like she is with my Dad. However, my uncles have taught me that love is an optional bonus. Sex is separable from love. Friendship and respect are easier to handle and equally important. But one's sexual attraction is a form of capital, that should be used wisely, unsentimentally and to maximal advantage. If it's hidden in a safe deposit box, unlike money in the bank, it amortizes quickly!"

"I don't look on sex in these rather stark financial terms, maybe because I don't think I have as much sexual capital as you, but also I think I can do better by being smart."

"I see no reason why we can't be smart and sexy. It's the only way that young women can advance in our male dominated world. We must act while we hold a few trump cards."

"Ok for a start, let's see if we can make a man of Luigi and something for ourselves too!"

Chapter 18. Luigi's evening

I'm so happy that Louise invited me round to her apartment for 'drinks', she's a very pretty girl, also kind, clever and common-sensical and was a hit with Paulo, if not with Maria, who's notoriously hard to please; though even she seemed impressed by her openness and obvious intelligence. Louise's no prude either about sex! Still, I don't want to become too involved, she's young, lives in Scotland, and is a Protestant. Unless I can persuade her to drop everything and stay here with me there's not much future in pursuing a relationship with her, fun for the next few weeks but not much more than that. She understands that too, I'm sure. Also, I can't see her being interested in a distant relationship for the next three or more years, even with visits back and forth during holidays. A pity, I like her, specially her Rubenesque breasts, so comforting, soft, and malleable. Also, there's the little matter of money. If I got married, it wouldn't be respectable to continue to live at home with Mother and Father, or just Mother, when poor Papa passes, although God knows it's big enough. She'd need to find a job and before that a proper training in law and business.

She'd probably be better off staying in Scotland, pity, but there are other nice girls around, like Marlene. That hasn't gone well so far, I froze the other night when we were alone, that 'Grande Odalisque' appearance, tall with alabaster skin and heart to match; magnificent, but frankly terrifying, we just don't quite connect. But she could be useful, Louise says she has a good business brain and good at organization, perhaps she'd interest Paulo. She could certainly help with the export trade which is doing dismally at present. We definitely need a smart and ruthless intelligence in the business, Paulo can't cope, and I don't have enough experience to be much use. I'd prefer to liquidate the business and stay for a while in University, I also really like small group teaching, then go into politics with the CD. It's been good fun leading a class of bright students as they are, except for the fearsome Australian Shereen. Such a relief that Louise sorted the accommodation problem for me, I dreaded having to deal with it myself, and we can't afford to lose the rental income; especially now that we'll have to pay for Dad's hospital treatment which may last for months without a good outcome. We have to raise capital and rationalise the business, but Paulo's too cautious and averse to making the bold decisions necessary to prevent us sliding into insolvency.

The other worry is that dear Eugenio is becoming unwell and he's 80; Cardinal Montini may want to bring in his own young friends to assist him with the CD, so I'll have to work on that rather than in the business! We really can't afford to lose our connections with the Vatican, otherwise we might as well sell up. It's all becoming too much. I'll try and forget about it with a fun night with Louise, maybe she'll be even more forthcoming. I hope so it's so frustrating not having proper sex and I daren't go back to the boys, it's becoming too risky.

I'll leave the car round the corner, don't want to draw attention to my presence. The cheese and wine I've brought should make the evening a bit more relaxed.

"Hi Luigi, come in! Gosh thanks! How generous, I didn't have time to buy anything, and cheese too! Scrumptious, I'll get a plate and glasses. I think Marlene's in, would you like me to invite her too?"

"Not specially, Louise, but if you feel in need of a chaperone, maybe later. "

"I think she's having a bath night anyway. But I mentioned to her about your cousin's business problems, and she said that she would be happy to help. She mentioned that at her business school she'd made some case studies of conglomerates that had run into problems to similar to the those which Paulo alluded to. Businesses all being controlled by a remote executive board, but with little direct contacts and also with marketing problems. She seemed to be interested, maybe you should talk to her?"

"Oh, Louise I really can't face a business discussion this evening all I want is a quiet drink with you here on the couch, come here!"

Louise falls into his arms and they kiss ardently and without any delay he opens her blouse and transfers his lips to her cleavage."

"Hey Luigi slow down, I want a drink and a civilised conversation, if all you want is a sex object, I'm sure you can find several in the street, at quite reasonable prices."

"It's not just about the sex, Louise, although I'm very attracted to you."

"Really? You surprise me! What else is there, apart from sex that attracts you to me?"

"I like you a lot."

"Why because you like sucking my breasts and rubbing your willy over me?"

"I definitely like both of these things, don't you like that too?"

"Mmm yes, but I also would like to have some kind of sensible conversation with an intelligent handsome man, I'm not just a human spittoon!"

"Of course, you're not! But you must admit that your body's anatomically designed to be an importer. Just as I'm constructed to be an exporter."

"Yes, but I don't want just to be your quick shag, as we say in Glasgow. Making love should be a more considerate and prolonged affair, not some dry entry into your ledger book of sexual conquests!"

"I don't think it'll be at all dry!"

"Ok, I agree, an inapt metaphor. But you understand what I'm saying. I don't want to feel like some kind of toilet, to be used for quick relief, then you push off to find someone else."

"Listen Louise, do you really think I'd have taken you to visit my cousins if I thought that way about you? Of course, I've a very high regard for you, as a wonderful, lovely intelligent person!"

"You're only saying that to get into my knickers, aren't you?"

"Yes and no! Yes, because you obviously want some kind of reassurance that I'm not treating you as a common street girl and no, it's not only because I want to get into your knickers, as you elegantly put it, and by the way I do, but also because I'm very much attached to you."

"But not just me, you're also very attracted to Marlene, aren't you?"

"Honestly yes, I find Marlene attractive, but she seems aloof and unapproachable, whereas you're neither of these things."

"Why don't I ask her to join us for some of this wine and cheese and we can discuss some of these problems along with your other difficulties."

"If you insist, but I'd really prefer to spend the evening just with you, instead of being a pawn in your games."

Louise had already knocked on Marlene's door, and asked her to come for some cheese and wine. Marlene came in wearing a silk negligée and a towel round her head, she said she'd just finished washing her hair.

"Hi Luigi, I didn't realise you were here, otherwise I'd have put on some more clothes, but you've already seen me in even fewer clothes, so I won't apologize too much. Where shall I sit Louise?"

"Oh, lie on the bed, but have a glass of this lovely wine that Luigi brought and a bit of cheese. So nice to eat cheese without biscuits like we do in Scotland, not so fattening."

"I don't worry much about having biscuits with cheese."

"She's hinting without any subtlety at all that she's has a slimmer build than me, what do you think Luigi?"

"I think you are both very beautiful in your own different ways! You Louise have a wonderfully attractive full figure, whereas Marlene has a model's classical athletic build. Does that make everyone happy?"

"But you don't think I should eat biscuits with the cheese you brought?"

"If I didn't want you to eat cheese, I wouldn't have brought it, would I?"

"Oh Louise, do stop going on about your boobs. Which seem even more visible than usual! Have you been poking your nose in the cupboard, Luigi?" Luigi blushes, but pretends not to understand the implication of this remark.

"No need to look in your cupboard as I've just brought the cheese along for us to share."

"Very funny, Luigi. Did you see Louise's bare cupboard and decide that it needed closer attention?"

"Oh, very well, sure I like looking at Louises breasts, they're very attractive, don't you agree?"

"Only as part of the ensemble, I doubt if they would be, if they were disembodied."

"Lots of our ancient sculptures have lost their heads or arms or legs and their breasts can still look attractive. Think of the Venus de Milo in the Louvre."

"You've chosen to wrong girls to start on with that art shit, Luigi you should try that stuff with your friend Shereen!"

"Hey Marlene, what's got into you, you're not usually as aggressive?"

"Perhaps I'm feeling a little jealous that you find Louise so much more appealing than me!"

"I've just said you're a classical beauty. What more do you want?"

"But you find Louise more attractive, all the same!"

"Not exactly, I think she has a warmer more responsive personality, you're more aloof, perhaps shyer and seemingly more remote."

"Come off it, you couldn't get a hard on when you were with me before, how he's been with you Louise, any evidence of erectile dysfunction?" Luigi blanches and then turns bright red. Louise decides to play the defence attorney. "No, Luigi compares well on that score at least with several I could name, perhaps it's you're Gorgon stare that has a withering effect. What d'you think Luigi?"

"I don't think Marlene looks in the least like a Medusa, Louise."

"Let's see what happens when she looks at your willy Luigi?"

"What a suggestion! Louise, surely you're not suggesting I display myself to you both?"

"Why not? Marlene is for all purposes, naked apart from a see-through gown that leaves nothing to the imagination, you can see her tits and pubes in all their scarlet splendour and you've already exposed my breasts, and were about to remove my knickers, so it's your turn."

"You girls really play hard ball, don't you?" Nevertheless, like a good sport he removes his trousers and pants and exposes his semi erect willy, then decides to remove his shirt and shoes, as it seems less absurd to be fully naked than standing in half dressed in his shirt. But having done this, he is completely deflated.

"See, told you, she hexes you, Luigi. I can fix that though. Sit on the chair Luigi and watch Marlene!"

Luigi sits on the armchair and Louise sits on the side arm and removes her blouse and then lowers a bra strap, "Can you help me undo my bra clips, Luigi?" Luigi obliges, she turns casting her bra to the floor, then she stands and sways her hips which causes her breasts to swing to and fro. Luigi is mesmerized, eyes fixated, watching the pendular motions of the nipples, then she gives a slight tug to her knicker elastic and lowers one side over her left hip. "I need a little more help, Luigi. Can you pull the other side? My goodness what's happened to you Luigi, you seem to have grown. No more signs of erectile dysfunction. Go and lie on the bed between us Luigi."

Luigi walks over to the bed, as though in a trance and lies beside Marlene, and Louise joins them.

"I daren't look in case you subside again, Luigi!" Marlene chuckles.

"Luigi, perhaps if you put your arms around both of us it might be cosier. Are you ok with that Marlene?"

"I guess so."

"Have you ever done this before, Luigi?"

"Of course not, I'm sorry that, I don't have a bifid penis."

"I doubt it would be much use if you had, for now why don't we just have a nice chat?"

"First I'd like Marlene to take off her dressing gown it's scratching my skin!"

She obliges, "Your nether hair has grown a bit since I saw it last, Marlene."

"Probably, does that worry you?"

"No, I prefer it like it is now, it makes you look more adult, a real woman, not like a statue, or a hairless mannequin, but it hides your vagina, Louise's blond pubic hair is easier to see through, especially when she's excited, her clitoris pokes out of its nest like a hairless mouse pup, pink, moist and restive."

"Perhaps a little camouflage is a necessary ingredient in woman's sexual attraction, don't you think?"

"Yes, it gives you an advantage over men, the naked erect phallus is an unambiguous signifier of arousal and interest."

"Maybe so, Luigi, but men are deceptive, they can fuck without feeling any involvement with their mate, they can disassociate their minds and bodies, whereas women, whose bodies are being penetrated, are more involved; they risk much more, so have to be much more responsible and mindful than men."

"Sometimes men are penetrated too, Marlene."

"Yes, but they never have to fear being impregnated."

"Maybe not. Do you think it's just fear of pregnancy that makes women less promiscuous?"

"Perhaps, but not entirely, women are more emotionally involved in sex than men, they take the commitment more seriously."

"So are you saying that you don't want to have casual sex with me, Marlene."

"I wouldn't be happy about taking part with you in a meaningless enactment of love. I'd like anything we did to be part of a passionate and caring relationship, not some cavalier activity, that demeans us."

"Wow, Marlene, that's serious talk. Perhaps, I've misjudged you."

"In what way?"

"I assumed that you had an unsentimental attitude towards your sexual partners."

"Do you mean I do it only for some kind of gain?"

"Yes, that's what I've surmised."

"Well, to be honest, I have done that, but that kind of relationship can be compartmentalised into a business folder, I don't want that kind of superficial gesellschaft relationship with you, it has to be meaningful."

"How can it be with the three of us together?"

"I didn't say I want an exclusive relationship with you Luigi, but not a casual one, not a one night stand. Louise is younger and has an interest in expanding her range of experience, I've seen and done a lot more than she has and realise that I don't want a trivial relationship, with you."

"That sounds a bit pious to me Marlene, what about your new friend Mauro, what kind of relationship do you have with him? Is he one of your business relationships?"

"Yes definitely, Louise, although we have a surprisingly large amount of common experience. As I said I don't say I want an exclusive relationship with you, only a serious one, not trivial!"

"So, to put it indelicately, Marlene, you're willing to fuck me, only if I take you and it seriously and but your willing to let me fuck Louise casually. I wonder if I can manage to fuck you both simultaneously but in different ways. It seems to be quite a gymnastic and psychological feat to be serious with only one of you, whilst fucking both."

"I think you're wrong Luigi, how you treat or think of an individual is a subjective perception that has to be viewed in context. Suppose for the sake of discussion, we have a threesome and say you fuck Marlene per vaginae and me, per os; there would be a qualitative difference in all or our experiences with each other. You and Marlene at one end, could have a deep meaningful relationship whilst I could have a superficial one at the other end. What do you think, Marlene?"

"It's probably feasible, for you, but I think it might be more difficult for Luigi to achieve the dichotomy in involvement simultaneously. He might lose track of what he's doing, in trying to satisfy us both deeply and superficially."

"Well, we could try it out. If you sit on top of his willy, Marlene and start the ball rolling, so to speak, then I'll let Luigi give me some oral on my clit whilst I sit on his face, but only for a few minutes, but then we could change positions, otherwise he might suffocate! Then you lie supine with head downward and Luigi's changes to the prone position whilst his willy remains in situ, but now his head is above my clit instead of below, and my legs are curled over his back. This will allow him to breath more easily."

"Very imaginative, Louise, have you been reading the Kama Sutra?"

"No, but I'm quite good at geometry and topology."

"We did geometry at school, but what's topology?"

"It's to do with the properties of geometric objects that remain preserved during stretching or twisting or bending without tearing or opening additional holes."

"I see, I understand why you might have taken a close interest in the topic, it sounds just the thing we need for this evening! Are you willing to give it a try, Marlene?"

"Ok, just this once, but if we are going to go per vaginae, you need to wear a condom, did you bring one Luigi?"

"Yes, I brought a box imported by mail order from USA,"

"How long have you had them, Luigi?"

"Quite a while, why do you ask, Louise?"

"You didn't tell me before."

"I didn't think I'd need one last time!"

"I see!"

"Well, you do now, Luigi go and get a couple."

"You're anticipating a second round after the interval are you, Marlene?"

"I think it would be only fair if Louise and I changed positions, later, don't you?"

"Let's see how we manage with the first half!" He hopped off the bed and extracted the packets from his trouser pocket, setting one on the beside table and without embarrassment, rolled the rubber onto his stiff member. It glistened and jerked like a trout jumping for a fly.

"Ok Luigi, lie back while I prepare you for entry." With that Marlene sat up and took the silver fish in her mouth, making sure that the surface was well lubricated, then without further ado, slipped it into her wide-open vaginal orifice and let it slide up to the hilt as she sank down onto her haunches. She closed her eyes to focus on the moment.

"My turn now, I'll let you explore my sensitive moist mouse with your searching proboscis. I'll try not to suffocate you; not there, a bit higher! Ah that feels so good! Not too hard, gently, slowly. How are you doing Marlene?"

"It's a bit remote down here, all I can see is your bum and every now and again your anus. It's opening and closing like a fish's mouth as Luigi gobbles at your clit. But, I think he's devoting too much attention to his tongue work and not enough to his cock. Can you move your pelvis little more vigorously, Luigi? Not too much otherwise you'll come before we get started!"

Luigi obeys Marlene's instructions, they all find a rhythm, Luigi pumping upwards, with Marlene rising and descending on the silvery shaft in inverse synchrony; whilst Louise rocked her hips gently as Luigi's lips compressed her clitoris. Louise soon began panting and found herself rocking more vigorously, whilst Marlene apparently was no longer so blasé either, she too was beginning to push harder on the downstroke and she could feel her vagina contracting spontaneously. Luigi calmly maintained the tempo with his riders. Soon both girls were groaning unreservedly, they both climaxed with little screams, whilst Luigi still kept pumping and licking like a Swiss automaton, oblivious to the girls' whimpers and groans the bells, whistles, and steam emitted by the more sophisticated variety of these robotic Swiss mechanisms.

Louise pulled away, allowing Luigi freedom to finish the job with Marlene, he pulled her down onto his chest and holding her buttocks in both hands and they both went at it like a frenzied reciprocating steam engine till Luigi climaxed with a groan and arching of his back in a full body opisthotonus. As if he'd succumbed to a tarantula's bite. They fell apart, sweating, panting and exhausted. Louise observed her companions topological and tribological exercises with interest, concluded that she'd successfully achieved her goal, although she reflected ruefully that she'd probably lost at least one sex partner for good.

"Gosh I need another shower after that, I smell like a civet."

"What's a civet?"

"It's a catlike African mammal whose perineal glands secrete a musk oil that gives off a strong odour. In dilute form it's used in expensive perfumes. It has the effect of making the smell linger in the senses. The human female unfortunately also secretes a similar musk like secretion from her sweat glands which are stimulated by the sort of activity we've been engaged in."

"I doubt if our smell would go be welcome in any kind of perfume, expensive or, but the smell certainly lingers! I'll open the windows, if you don't mind.

"Thanks Louise, we've all have been sweating a bit, perhaps we should all have a shower and clean up."

"Good idea, Luigi, you go first."

"Ok Louise, I'll be quick." He left to have a shower taking his clothes with him.

"I thought that worked quite well as an icebreaker, didn't you Marlene?"

"Yes, thanks, you're very generous, I'm not sure I'd do as much for you."

"I guess it depends, I like Luigi, but I'm not in love with him; but I think you are maybe. Are you?"

"Not sure, but he's an excellent lover!"

"That's not nothing. It's quite rare, don't you find?"

"With patience and persistence, they can usually be trained to perform to match our tastes. Luigi only had to be encouraged a little and you did that beautifully, it wouldn't have happened without your help. All the same I'd prefer not to repeat the threesome arrangement, I hope he can be persuaded to make love without your help in future!"

"As you wish Marlene, if you're in love, I won't stand in your way. But I think you might find his cousin Paulo even more to your taste. After we've had a shower, let's reserve the remainer of the evening for business."

When Luigi returned after the shower clothed, Louise left to take a quick shower, and I was left alone with Luigi. Luigi, held me tight and we kissed. He whispered that was a lovely experience I hope we can continue seeing each other more normally. I felt an immense sense of relief. Because I was sad that somehow, we might have blundered our way out of a wonderful friendship. I think he felt that too. I wondered whether he realised how much we owed to Louise's selflessness. When Louise returned after her shower, Luigi and I were still standing close like lovers with his hands resting on my naked bum and my crotch grinding into his.

"I hope I'm not interrupting a second coming, guys!" she said cheerfully. "If you want another shower, Marlene, it's free now. I think I'll put on a dressing gown, I'm a little cold and I don't want to make Luigi feel like the odd man out, so to speak!" She titters and slips on her dressing gown taken from the wardrobe and tidies her clothes which had thrown on the floor. Marlene reluctantly pulls away from Luigi's grip and retreats to clean up.

"I'm glad you've got over your hang up with Marlene, Luigi, but I hope we can remain as close friends. Obviously, we needn't feel any obligation to fuck, but if you feel like it, maybe I'll agree, so long as Marlene doesn't mind. I suspect she still has entanglements with Mauro, which she may regard as a business arrangement. I guess we could arrange to have a business arrangement as well."

"You mean you want me to pay to sleep with you?"

"My God, of course not! How obtuse! I meant that we can continue as fucking friends, but not lovers, that's all."

"I've never heard the term, 'fucking friends,' but I like it, and the concept too. Let's see what transpires shall we? I'd like to take both of you back to see Paulo, in Frascati, I'll introduce Marlene as a business consultant who could give us some useful advice. Do you think we should offer to pay for her?"

"It might depend on how much work's involved, though not initially, especially as I imagine you'll be sleeping with her!"

"Perhaps we should take the train to Frascati together, there's not enough room in my car for three. I'll try to arrange it for the weekend, are you free?"

"If Marlene is presented to Paulo as a business consultant, you needn't feel obliged to take me along, it might be a bit of a drag, unless you invite the whole class? I'm sure the boys would be intrigued to see your family seat. Shereen and Maria might take to each other as well."

"Yes good idea, I'll suggest it to the class tomorrow. But what're you saying Louise, d'you think Maria's a lesbian?"

"I've no idea, I didn't think of her as one, I just thought that she might take to Shereen, as they're both art lovers, keen on religious icons and imagery and all that goes with that sort of thing?"

"Like having photographs of religious leaders and other religious symbols on the bedroom wall?"

"I haven't been into Maria's bedroom, but it wouldn't surprise me if she had. Does she?"

"Why d'you ask?"

"I didn't bring it up, you did! We don't do much that kind of stuff in Scottish Presbyterian homes. Although I think most Catholics do, its emblematic I guess, a signifier of loyalty."

"Is Shereen a Catholic?"

"I've no idea what her religion is, but I know she's a lesbian and a proficient swimmer and kickboxer, knows about art, is Australian, and she quite fancies me, but I haven't got round to religious discussions with her. Does my Prod background worry you, as you're a confirmed Left-Footer?"

"I seem to remember that to you 'Left-Footer,' is a derogatory term for Catholic?"

"Yes, it's a derogatory term we Prods give to those who didn't support Protestant Ulster, during the 'troubles' namely the Irish civil war. The right foot is considered to be the best foot to start a march with for Protestantism, so left footers are considered as the main opposition, namely Catholics. I was being ironical, I take no part personally in the pernicious sectarianism which is the curse of my city and led to civil war in Ireland and probably will be a running sore for the next century, until we can come to terms with these atavistic religious differences and not continue to stoke hostility by senseless propaganda, and that goes for both sides. I used these terms because I sensed that you're trying to rile me. Are you?"

"I don't know Louise, maybe."

"Why, Luigi?"

"Because I sensed that you were attacking me indirectly, by impugning Maria."

"Yes, I was being a bit rude about Maria and her joyless piety, but I don't think you're either joyless or pious, quite the opposite. So, can we still be friends? Or would you prefer to cut me loose?" Louise starts to weep silently, and Luigi, realises he has gone too far and holds her to his chest. Louise cries some more, at this point, Marlene returns from her shower and tries to comprehend the scene.

"What's going on, why are you upset, Louise?"

"Oh, it started as a misunderstanding, Luigi thought that I was being rude about his religion, and he was cross, but I wasn't attacking him, but I pushed back a little and that made him even crosser. Would you agree with that summary, Luigi?"

"Yes, but it was silly and I'm sorry that things became a little strained, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Louise!"

"Well in case anyone cares, my mother's family are Catholics, some in the US mafia, but Dad's isn't anything. His people call themselves, Episcopalians, but they're a mixed bag of Puritans, Quakers, and even a few Jews, who've wormed their way into the gene pool somehow. By usual route, I imagine and there's a native American too, way back, what you'd call a Red Indian, Louise."

"Is that how you got your red hair, then?"

"Most amusing, I've heard that joke before, often from my maternal cousins, who like to tease me and other stuff, they're a crude lot. Now can we stop all this shit before I give you both a smack, like I do to my cheeky cousins. Can I hear from Luigi about his families' business problems, Louise gave me a briefing, but I'd like to hear it direct from Luigi, so that I can give a view, if I'm asked."

"Louise has a pretty good grasp of the problems; she has a very good analytical mind for business, very quick on the uptake of the implications too. Our family has, over many years, acquired several businesses cheaply, in widely separated parts of Italy, from Naples in the south to Bologna in the North and Sardinia in the west and around here in the Lazio area, the centre of our business. We started off as a vintners and producers of good quality table wine and are now major producers and suppliers of Frascati wine, mainly to Rome, we export some too, mainly to Italian communities in USA. Unfortunately, our winery urgently needs modernising, in all parts, from tending the vines in the fields, to harvesting the grapes, to wine production and its marketing. It takes a lot of capital to modernise the plant and successful marketing. Our competitors are doing this more successfully than us at present, so soon we will fall behind. Additionally, we have a pasta factory and grain and tomato farms in and around Naples which we bought cheaply but no longer profitable, as labour costs are rising and the methods, we use for wheat production and flour milling are labour intensive. We have labour problems, because we pay starvation wages and probably the local managers embezzle a good proportion of the product and money from sales.

We have sheep farms in Sardinia which we acquired to produce milk for Pecorino cheese. It's a hard, salty, and delicious and you've been eating it this evening, very nice, but costly to produce and not profitable as it has to be matured and stored in clean conditions, so can easily be lost to both internal and external thieves. Additionally, we have a bottling plant and a share in a brandy distillery in Bologna which somehow runs at a near loss, probably because of inefficiency and embezzlement from the local managers also the workers in the North are unionised and keep going on strike at the wrong times for the business. So, in summary our businesses are all widely dispersed, labour intensive run by people mainly on starvation wages, except in Bologna and we don't have enough capital to modernise or renew the machinery and furthermore there aren't enough directors with the necessary skills or energy to correct the defects or effectively market the products. My father and his brother used to run it with tight control, but my uncle died a few years ago and now my father's sick and incapable of working and my cousin Paulo's overstretched and a bit depressed too, I think, so they want me to step into my father's position, but I haven't had sufficient business training. My training is in ecclesiastical law, and history, which actually is quite useful, as we've been accorded some protection by the Papacy, for services we've rendered in the past. They lease us our properties here in Rome and Frascati and the land in Sardinia too, at very low rents. "

"Yes, I see you have problems. The first thing and most urgent thing you must do is stop the leaks of funds due to embezzlement. You need to examine the books and behaviour of your senior personnel carefully with a good accountant and a financial crime investigator, a forensic accountant some call it, and find and eradicate the causes and if possible, recover the money and or prosecute the thieves. Then appoint competent and honest replacements. This should be relatively easily done, but it must be done at once and mercilessly and rigorously Look for the old family retainers who you have trusted for years, almost certainly they're on the take.

You should see if you can raise some money from your friends in the Curia, Luigi. You obviously have connections there, maybe you could offer them shares in the business and a percentage of the profits. They'll probably be willing to help a loyal boy like you, whose family has fallen on hard time and is willing to drag the business into the twentieth century. I could help you make a case, but I'll need advice about what machinery needs to be replaced. I'm sure there are lots of experts around who can give advice. But first you must stop the leaks. Then you need to appoint honest and loyal and ruthless business executives. This will take at least a year, I should think."

"I agree and Louise has already made similar suggestions. Although she didn't go as far as saying that our senior staff should be investigated for fraud and larceny. We have an accountant, who's been with the business forever, should we use them?"

"Definitely not! You should have them investigated too! Accountants have been known to be dishonest and who knows better how to waylay the money stream!"

"Yes, my Dad says that most accountants are lazy dozy fuckers, he has a low opinion of his colleagues' competence and integrity."

"I'm afraid that's also true of CPAs in USA, especially in the South! And speaking from experience, they're likely to be in league with the other major culprits. I would put them high on the list of suspects."

"So do you think we should trace the losses by sidestepping our accountants?"

"You need to find some experts in criminal accountancy. I imagine the Curia has some useful contacts that you can tap. If not, I may have made some contacts in the hotel trade who might be useful. Where does your accountant operate?"

"Their main office is in Frascati, they've been old friends of my father and late uncle for many years. I could introduce you if you wish."

"Not a good idea, this will have to be done surreptitiously without raising their suspicions. Also, we must gain access to their bank accounts."

"How do we do that?"

"There are ways, basically bribery, or coercion. We find a bank employee who has knowledge of the account and offer them a reward to turn over the books and if they're unwilling, threaten them with exposing them as being an accessories to fraud. If they think there's something fishy, it usually works,."

"I see, well only one bank in Frascati, handles the accountant's business and ours too, We will need to find an employee we can lean on in the Banca Popolare."

"That's very fortunate. I bank with a branch in Rome, I've already established friendly relations with one of the ladies there. I could easily ask her if she knows of anyone in Frascati who'd be useful. I have tomorrow to see her anyway about some other business."

"Ok, why not see if you can get a name? Then we can proceed?"

"I'll try tomorrow." But now I need a sleep, I've got Italian lessons tomorrow and important business too."

"You want me to leave, do you? Marlene?"

"Stay with Louise if you want, but I need some sleep."

"Ok, see you both tomorrow."

Chapter 19 Marlene's visit to the Banco Populo.

I've a busy day, I'll have to miss my Italian class this afternoon, and make an appointment to see my banking friend Giulia, nice girl about thirty, don't think she's married, she seemed intrigued by my business plans. Perhaps I can use her for other matters. She might be interested in supplementing her salary which I'm sure is poor. Not much more than a teacher, and it's a responsible job. Being a woman, she's little chance of promotion, unless she has a protector looking after her. She might be interested in meeting Mauro, she's not model material, but she'd make an excellent escort. I'll ask her if she'd like to meet for lunch. I'll try to fix it now.

"Hi, Giulia, nice to see you again, I was wondering if we could arrange to have an informal chat sometime soon, perhaps over lunch, it would be so nice to get to know you."

"Thanks Marlene, I'd love to, normally I can only take an hour or so for lunch, but the bank's not too strict if we're meeting a client and you've a business plan, I assume and are paying for lunch! But we can go somewhere where they accept my lunch vouchers, so it won't cost much extra."

"Nice of you to think of saving me money! Ok you choose a quiet place where we can talk without being overheard and I'll meet you there. It might be best if we're not seen leaving the bank together."

"We can meet at a small place I know, "Pietro al Pantheon", not far from here."

"Ok, I'll see you there, bring a notebook too, it'll be a business meeting, with food."

I was looking forward to explaining that I wanted to open multiple accounts for my girls, also arrange a cash account for the clients. I hoped she wasn't going to be a too concerned about the moral issues. I didn't imagine she would be, especially as the turnover is likely to be quite substantial. I also wondered if she could tell me about their Frascati branch.

When we met, Guilia seemed a little preoccupied, it turned out she was having problems with her widowed mother, who was sick and who she supported, she'd had to go to hospital and she'd be visiting her later that evening. I said I hoped she'd get better soon. Guilia shook her head and said, no her mother had breast cancer and all she could do was find her somewhere to be looked after and given palliative care. She probably had about six months left. It would be a financial drain, on their resources. She was trying to negotiate a loan from the bank. She had an uncle who lives in Frascati who might help a bit though."

"Your family comes from Frascati? That's interesting. I was going to ask if you knew anyone who worked in the Banco Populo there. It's for a friend, whose family lives there."

"Yes, I know quite a few of the employees there, in fact I started work there, but was promoted to the branch here in Rome after I passed my banking exams."

"Really what a strange coincidence, were you sorry to leave, Frascati."

"No, not at all! I detested some of the senior men, they were always trying to put their hands up my skirt, or fondle my breasts and they were very careless too and not above taking bribes to overlook the obvious discrepancies in the accounting practises of some of the old accountancy firms responsible for the books of the local firms."

"So, they're sleazy bastards, are they?"

"Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a bit of fun, but only with men I like, and I didn't like them at all, nasty bullies!"

"I see, did you complain to the manager?"

"That would have been a complete waste of time, he was worse than most, whenever we were alone in his office, he used to expose himself to me!"

"Why did he think he could get away with that kind of obnoxious behaviour?"

"I guess because my family's quite poor, my mother's a widow, so they thought that I can't afford to complain in case I lost my job!"

"Did they ever ask you to sleep with them?"

"No, not sleep with them, but they often suggested we spend the lunch hour in the safe room."

"And did you ever go with them?"

"No, that was probably why they kept pestering me, I wanted to keep my virginity for my husband."

"You're married?"

"No, I was engaged, but I broke it off, when I discovered that my fiancé was having an affair with another girl, the swine!"

"Did they know this at the bank?"

"Unfortunately, yes, Frascati's a small town."

"So, it must've been very uncomfortable for you?"

"Extremely, it put even more pressure on me to have sex with the deputy manager, who's married and has two children and a deacon in the Cathedral!"

"Do you know anything about the Biaggi family business, they are a local vintner, but have numerous other businesses."

"Yes, I do, they are an old Frascati family, well thought of in ecclesiastical circles, I believe, but they are very old fashioned and rely far too much on the expertise of their accountants who I'm sorry to say, are not as prudent as they should be with their clients' money. Not just the Biaggi's, but other's too."

"So, the accountants are incompetent and dishonest or just incompetent?"

"I think more dishonest than incompetent, but also, lazy and they take short-cuts and unfortunately the deputy manager covers their backs as they're good friends and they buy him handsome gifts at Christmas."

"I see, we'll come back to these guys later, what are their names? In case I need to meet them sometime."

"The accountancy firm's senior partner is an old swindler called Stefano Cremona, and the deputy bank manager is Alphonso Lucca. They should both burn in hell! I hate them both."

"My goodness Giulia, it's obvious you need a drink. Let's have a bottle of white wine, what do you like?"

"Frascati will do me, it's what we like to drink here in Rome. But what do you want from me, I'm sure you don't really want to know about my miserable past in Frascati. Things are much better here in Rome, people are kinder and more respectful, and I've been promoted, despite bearing the terrible burden of being female, attractive and single at the age of thirty!"

"Are you lonely Giulia?"

"Not exactly, I've friends, but I would like to meet men I feel comfortable with and respect, I'm no prude though, I'd welcome a sex partner or two. I'm sure you have no problems finding intelligent lovers?"

"I do ok, but I'm setting up an escort agency for well off tourists who want to meet, bright and presentable young women like you. I have four of five girls at present whose earnings I want to put into escrow accounts. Do you have experience with that sort of thing?"

"Interesting you should ask that; it's not commonly used for prostitution, as most of the girls are too ignorant and poor to have bank accounts. But as living conditions in Rome are improving it's becoming more common. These kind of arrangements are usually employed by estate agents and the like, who want to hold large amounts of cash until a deal is completed. But in principle there's no reason why these types of account shouldn't be used for this purpose. I assume you want each girl to have an account and for you to hold their incomes in escrow until they have fulfilled their part of the transaction."

"Exactly so! So, you're willing to arrange for about five accounts to start with, I'm anticipating having about 15 to 20 altogether. They'll probably want to put at least some into savings accounts of their own. The arrangement should bring in a number of new accounts, which in time may accumulate a few thousand dollars. I hope so, anyway."

"What commission will you take Marlene?"

"Not much, 10%, but my employer will take 20% for provision of protection, and accommodation and suitable clients."

"Where are the clients coming from?"

"Hotels, with which I have an arrangement and who will also provide the accommodation and information exchange."

"I see, so what do you intend to do with the information?"

"Increase the size and resources of the network."

"Sounds interesting, How much will the girls earn per session?"

"$30 at first, but I hope to raise it to $50 once we get going."

"Phew, very interesting. That's way above the going rate here in Rome you know?"

"Yes, but I aim to provide a high class of service for high class clients."

"How interesting, and you say you can provide security and decent accommodation too?"

"Yes, are you interested? If so, you can come to my opening meeting this weekend. All the girls have to attend to learn the rules."

"I'll give it a thought. I'd like the extra money and providing the number of sessions is limited to one or two a week it might be good for me."

"Very good, but don't you have a boyfriend, mightn't he object?"

"Unfortunately, I haven't found anyone since I broke up with my last boyfriend and it's been two years! I'm afraid, I'm on the shelf."

"That's a shame Guilia! A lovely talented young woman like you shouldn't be wasting her best years alone. I've met someone recently who might suit you. He manages some hotels and he's about the right age for you too."

"So, as well a running an escort agency, you're branching into marriage broking, are you?"

"I don't think so, too complex! Sex is one thing; there are certain skills I've learnt which make the relationship more successful. Men like to think they are the dominant partner in a consensual relationship, but it is the woman who shapes this relationship, only if the sex is satisfactory will the bonding really succeed. You must make him think he's doing a great job, even if he isn't, but also you must train him to satisfy you. Simple rules, but they need to be applied. I'm really talking about the escort business, but I think the same rules also apply to lengthier relationships."

"You're very sure of yourself Marlene, even though you're quite young and unmarried!"

"Yes, I developed the method over a year running an escort agency in Richmond. It proved very successful and profitable for me too."

"So why did you stop?"

"The guy who owned it, died suddenly and his family decided that they didn't want to carry on. So, I was dismissed, with a handsome leaving present. But I don't want to spend my life doing this. I want to grow an export business between my connections here and back in USA."

"I see, you intend to use your skills to expand your capital, which I see from your bank account with us, is already substantial. By diversifying, you want to grow it a lot more. I guess your connections are with the Biaggi family in Frascati, am I right?"

"Yes, I'm friendly with some of the family and I'm hoping to help them out of their current difficulties. It's obvious that the business is in danger of foundering, unless urgent remedial action is taken. The current owners are too naïve and inexperienced to do it effectively. They need someone with the right kind of skills to rescue them."

"So, you hope by helping them that you'll also help yourself?"

"Yes, why not? I like Luiggi and I think with the right moves I could materially improve their welfare, but I'm not naïve enough to think that they will be remain grateful, unless they bring me into the business as some kind of partner, and that means raising capital as well as repairing the leaks."

"How do you propose to do that, I imagine we're talking about a lot of capital, many thousands of dollars?"

"The firm has close connections with the Papacy and CD. The Papacy leases properties to them as well. It would make sense for them to support a going concern. If I can demonstrate that the business can be put on the right track, by preventing fraud, modernising the plants, and developing their export markets I think they'd be willing to invest in it."

"Yes, I agree, but a word of caution, the Banking affairs of the Curia are not all clean! Before you expose fraudulent dealing, it might be worthwhile checking where the embezzled money is going."

"You mean it might be redirected to the Curia? I doubt that! But, if it's true, then we should find out. We might be able to use that kind of information. I'm sure the current Pope wouldn't want to be associated with fraudsters."

"You don't think that's what the whole organization has been doing since day one!"

"I see, like me, you're a cynic Guilia! I like that in a banker. We should get on famously. Unfortunately, the Biaggi family are very devoted believers, I'll have to disguise any suspicion that the Papacy mightn't be strictly kosher, if you understand my meaning."

"Yes, not all the Roman Jews were wiped out by the Fascists."

"I know that, were there any in Frascati?"

"Yes, my father was a Jewish atheist communist, he was arrested but he saw to it that Mama was safe, I was born just after he was killed in prison in 1942."

"Do many people know this?"

"None in Frascati, as far as I know. Officially we're as Catholic as the Pope!"

"So why are you telling me, Guilia?"

"Here is Rome it isn't so important; many feel guilty for what was done to our people."

"That doesn't mean they'll welcome you back with open arms, I imagine?"

"Quite so. Especially not the current Papacy, for all their moralising to the contrary. It's all for show, they haven't really changed. I haven't either! Do you like my crucifix, my father bought it for me, when I was born. He told my Mama; it'd protect me. So far it has!"

"Well, if you don't tell on me, I won't tell on you! Guilia I think we can do business. I intend to obtain a loan from these guys for at least half a million dollars and at very low interest to modernise the Biaggi business, but I need to have my own role in the deal underwritten by a consultancy agreement and fees. Do you have any experience with that kind of arrangement."

"Of course, I can fix that. But I advise you first to sort out Signors Cremona and Lucca. Do you know anyone who might be able to exert a little pressure on these guys."

"You mean the mechanical sort?"

"This is Italy, Marlene!"

"I'd thought I'd get away from that sort of business when I moved from the States, but yes I'm well acquainted with a tough guy and he has friends who would be willing to help for a very modest fee, and maybe with a little payment in kind on my part."

"I understand about payments in kindness. But be very careful, Italian thugs enjoy inflicting pain too much, they often go too far, and that might have unpleasant repercussions."

"Yes, I'll see to it that they only employ sufficient pain to do the job and nothing too showy. By the way do you know where Cremona and Lucca live, it might speed things up if we can visit them at home?

"You mean you intend to go yourself, isn't that a bit dangerous?"

"Not if it's done right and unexpectedly. Which of them is most likely to crack under pressure?"

"Stefano Cremona the accountant definitely, he's a well-respected member of Frascati society and big in the church and friends with the bishop. He lives in the Viale Bonaparte. Lucca lives on Corso Italia in a more modest appearing house, but appearances are deceptive."

"My goodness, what a help you've been! I owe you! Next time we meet I'll introduce you to a friend of mine. I'm sure you'll get on well."

I'd arranged to meet Mauro and Vicky to find out if they'd found enough girls and to tell them about the banking arrangements. I also wanted to discuss the Frascati project.

Mauro was alone when I arrived, after a preliminary fumble in my blouse I told him we had important business to discuss. I asked him if he and Vicky had found any girls yet and a source of clientele. Mauro was pleased with himself, he said he had seen about six surprisingly good-looking girls who were interested in meeting me at the weekend, also that there would be no shortage of clients. We should circulate the girls' photos so that the clients could select whichever they wanted.

"Good idea, but it should be well done, we need to prepare a catalogue with good photo-art. Not tacky. Was his photographer friend any good? Could he prepare the brochure quickly. We should go for moderately alluring, but not too revealing. Now can we discuss some interesting new business?"

"Ok, what d'you have in mind, Marlene?"

"I had an interesting discussion with our banker this morning. I took her out for lunch. She's a nice, lonely girl who may be interested in doing a bit of part time work for us at night.

"You mean as an escort? She's game for that? Really?"

"Yes, I told you, she's sad and lonely and would like a bit of excitement, she's also interested in the money, junior bankers don't earn very much. Anyway, she mentioned that she was from Frascati, she worked in the Banco Populo there and hated it, because she was harassed. She revealed that deputy manager runs fraud scams with a fraudulent accountant, considered to be an upright citizen, but has been robbing the Biaggi family business for years.

"Ok, so what? Most accountants are bent and so are bankers. We don't trust them at all. But they, like everyone else, have got to make a living."

"Yes, I understand that, but preferably not at my expense, or my friends. But I see a big opportunity, if I can fix this for them, to take charge of their exports to USA and that could be very useful for your business too, I imagine."

"Yes, I see that, so what can I do to help?"

"The deputy bank manager should be persuaded that it's would be in his interests to expose the crimes his accountant friend has been committing and we could persuade the accountant to refund the money, otherwise his banker friend will report him to the Financial Police."

"How're we going to persuade them to do that?"

"By pretending that the other guy has confessed, and you'll beat him and his family to a pulp if he doesn't repair the damage with interest for the trouble he's caused us."

"Who's us?"

"Who do you think, Mauro?"

"Ah, I see, I beginning to like this. Do you think we'll need back up?"

"Possibly, It may be useful to demonstrate that we could do him a lot of damage. He may have a bodyguard, or some kind of security perhaps a dog. But if we meet him at his home it shouldn't be a problem. The same treatment will do for the banker. I have their addresses."

"I've learned that one should never go into something like this unprepared for potential problems. If they do have bodyguards, they'll have to be neutralised."

"I agree, I'll ask my friend if she knows whether they take security precautions at home. My plan is to meet these guys after I visit Frascati next week with my language school. I'll talk the matter over with the firm and suggest that I find out whether there are any leaks, without telling them exactly of my suspicions. "

"So maybe next weekend we can take a trip together to Frascati with your backup, unless you have friends in the Frascati who could help?

"That's not a problem I've friends I can call on everywhere in the Lazio. My guess is they'll fold at once, maybe make a mess of their trousers and cry a bit, but I'm sure I'll have a fun afternoon. I think you should come along to ask the questions though. This is your game."

"I agree, but we should try and keep the mess to the minimum."

"I disagree, we need to shock them out of their middle-class secure dream, show them what the real world is like and what the future's likely to be, unless they cooperate. I'll smash a few bits of crockery and maybe a bit of their cherished furniture and give them a few slaps, but nothing too damaging. We don't want repercussions."

"Definitely not, we want to leave without any comeback from the police, but with proper guarantees of financial restitution. Pursuing them through the courts would be costly and time consuming and it wouldn't profit us at all. We must find out where the money chain goes too who else is involve, it probably involves more than this pair of thieves. We must take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way, don't you think?"

"Yes, I see lots of opportunities that we might exploit, Marlene, but now I see another opportunity for exploitation. Can you remove your skirt?"

"I thought you'd never ask, Mauro! But slowly and I don't wish to be beaten this evening. Let's just try normal. Can we do that?"

"Ok, the thought of breaking some valuable porcelain in a respectable middle-class home has really turned me on, it will be interesting pickings I think."

"Don't get too excited, Mauro please, control your passion for later, you've a job of work to do now!"

Chapter 20 Meeting the escorts.

I'd arranged with Mauro and Vicky that we'd all meet in a room at Morry's hotel, on Sunday afternoon, I had told Vicky that I wanted to see them all smartly dressed. I also sent a note to Guilia inviting her to join us if she wished. I was a little nervous, I thought it might be good to have Morry join with us later, perhaps we could make use of one of his pool rooms as a way of getting better acquainted and was pleasantly surprised that he agreed. He said he thought that one of the rooms could easily accommodate about half a dozen people, a suite with a day room three large couches. He said he would supply some cold drinks and wine.

We all met in the hotel lobby at 3.00pm Vicky was a good as her word, she had brought along five other girls, all very presentable, and nicely turned out, without too much make up and clean and cheerful, some quite giggly. I introduced myself and Mauro and Morry who would be the liaison, between us. At that moment Guilia appeared. I welcomed her and said that Guilia would be an important link in our financial dealings with the clients, the hotels, and their bank accounts. She nodded her assent and smiled. She was obviously a little older than the other girls, and a bit more reserved.

"Ok, ladies, Morry here has arranged for us to meet in one of his most luxurious suite, so we can relax, get to know one another and make friends."

"I'll take you to the room, but I want to make some arrangements about security with Mauro, we'll join you later."

"Thanks Morry, I'll need that time to get acquainted with the ladies to inform them about what our business expects them to offer and how it will work and what we will offer them in terms of rewards, security and anonymity."

"Yes, from everyone's point of view security and anonymity are very vitally important. I'll talk to you all about that later."

We were taken by lift upstairs to the larger pool suite. Morry opened the door, bowed, and left us. The suite was larger than the other, it had a large salon area with three four-seater settees covered in sky blue velvet and arranged in a semicircle around the pool which was much larger, than in the small suite. The room was decorated elegantly, with pastel blue wallpaper with white embossing and a light ivory carpet. There was a separate bedroom with a large bed and pool with enough room for eight or ten of us to splash around and cool off. I noticed there was a stack of towels available, should anyone wish to have a dip. As it was very warm and humid under the skylight, I thought this would be welcome, and give me an opportunity to inspect the goods on sale.

One or two of the girls looked a little overwhelmed by the opulence of their surroundings but they all settled down, a little nervously. "Ok, ladies, welcome to our escort business, it's very hot in here don't you find? I suggest we have a dip together in the pool, what do you think Vicky?

"Yes, I agree Marlene, why don't we have a dip in the pond, it looks very inviting." With that she calmly removed her dress, bra and knickers; a couple of the girls blushed but the rest smiled, all followed Vicky's lead and within a minute their clothes were neatly stacked in piles, well out of the way of the splashes from pool.

"What lovely bodies you all have, so curvaceous and sexy. Ok let's introduce ourselves I'm Marlene and I already know Vicky and Guilia, but I don't know the other five, as we will want to preserve our anonymity, I suggest you adopt new names, noms de guerre when working for us so to speak, so you be Arianna, Bella, Claudia, Daniella and Elisa, so I'll address you by these names from now on, so Vicky can be Veronica and Guilia, Gemma. Guilia will take your real names and addresses for banking purposes but won't divulge these to the clients. I'll talk to you individually. I guess you're mainly friends of Vicky now Veronica, and if I do any work, I'll be Mia, but I'm quite busy doing other things, so meantime call me Marlene so that I don't lose track of myself.

"You all look wonderfully young and healthy, I hope you're all over the age of consent, I'd prefer it if you're over 18. Although what we're doing is entirely legitimate and legal here in Italy, still it calls for some maturity and experience and my clients might not like it if they're seen going with what would be underage girls in USA. So, is everyone over 18, I'm nearly 24 by the way, ancient! and I think Giulia, Gemma is a bit older, have all the rest of you left high school?"

All the girls nodded, and I assumed that they weren't lying. "So, what do you do Arianna?"

"I work as a salesgirl in a dress shop in central Rome."

"Very good, so that accounts for your lovely dress, and I'm talking about the one you wore when you came in, not the one you got for your birthday, which is even more glorious! Perhaps you'll be able to get us some discounts, we'll all need to buy new dresses and attractive underwear to keep the clients happy. Could you fix that Arianna?

"Certainly, although I'm not the owner, I get commission on sales and by the way we do sell several lines in sexy underwear, although they're not displayed in the front window!"

"I love your lovely golden blond hair, which doesn't quite match your black bush. That may not matter for your day-job, but you should adopt a uniform colour scheme for this kind of work as the full picture will be on show and very lovely it is too. How about you Bella, what do you do?"

"I work in the same nursery school as Vicky, now Veronica, we've been friends for years."

"I see, and do you also know Mauro?"

"Of course, he knows everyone!"

"Well, I guess you've no illusions about the business he runs; however, we're going to raise the tone and fees considerably from his regular business, have you in fact worked for Mauro? By the way you look very like Vicky, Veronica, the same lovely milky white skin and lovely long body and glorious black shiny hair, are you related?"

"Yes, we're cousins! And yes, I know Mauro and have worked for him occasionally, but I feel uneasy about some of the things he gets upto!"

"D'you mean chastisement?" She nods blushes and her eyes fill with tears.

"I see, well there's going to be some changes in the ways you'll work for me and that must be understood. No one here will be forced to do anything they're really uncomfortable with, including bondage and other forms of sadistic and humiliating entertainment. If the client insists, then we'll add a premium and you'll be rewarded accordingly. So, what do you do Claudia?"

"I'm a beautician I sell perfume and makeup in the best store in Rome, Rinascente it's not far from here in via del Tritone."

"That's wonderful! Have you studied the perfume preferences of Rome's men and women!"

"Of course, we all like Lanvin's Arpege and Max Factor's Hynotique and the young people like us, like Soir de Paris by Bourjois; the blue bottle's very popular, it smells of bergamot, jasmine and vanilla; it's quite an enduring smell and very romantic."

"Obviously we should study of these things, you could educate us all, Claudia. I imagine these perfumes aren't cheap?"

"Definitely not! A 30ml bottle will set you back about $15-$20. We sell lots of it at a discount during the holidays. Rich young men want to buy it for their girlfriends. They imagine it will gain them extra advantages. I'm sure they're right!"

"So, if your clients want to offer you a gift, we now know what to ask for! I gather, you've also worked with Mauro, is that how you know Veronica?"

"No, we go to the same church and sometimes we meet after confession for a glass of wine and a giggle about the infatuated old priest, who loves hearing about our sins and would be give us absolution for anything we confessed to, as long as we keep holding our hands in his lap!" All the girls laugh loudly.

"Well, I see that you know a lot about keeping powerful vain men happy, that's very much part of the job, but here they pay! What about you, Daniella, what do you do?"

"I'm a medical student in my second year of studies, but I'm a little bored with it. In the first two or three years, we study mainly science, anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, the lectures are very dull and I long to be allowed to meet with patients in the hospital."

"Don't you have lots of exams to sit then?"

"Not really; here in Rome we simply have to attend lectures and then at the end of the fifth year we have a final oral exam where questions on anything and everything can be asked from any part of the class. It's a completely stupid and archaic system. Many girls, and boys too, pass by cultivating friendships with the examiners and the arrange to be asked easy questions, or ones that they've prepared the answers for!"

"My goodness, so have you made friends with many in the Faculty, Daniella?"

"One or two, but it's better to wait till you start working in hospitals, then there's more opportunity to become acquainted at close range with the examiners."

"I'm a little shocked, I didn't realise the university system was so corrupt here, still I imagine you learn quickly about people."

"Yes, you do! But I'd like to make a bit of money, my allowance from my father doesn't allow me to have any fun and I like fun. Also, in Rome at least medicine is very nepotistic, after I qualify there's only a small chance of finding work as a doctor, unless I find a mentor. Many medical graduates have to work abroad to gain any clinical experience."

"I didn't know that! You should come to the States, once you've passed the qualifying exam you will be guaranteed a job that pays well, I believe. Anyway, your expertise in physiology will come in handy. Have you studied sexual physiology?"

"Of course, that's the first chapter almost everyone reads! Surprisingly, little is known about women's response to sexual stimulus, very few serious studies have been done. Although a recent report on it by an American called Alfred Kinsey was published in 1953, which is quite interesting."

"Yes, I've read it too, interesting, and useful. We'll try to apply some of the lessons we've from it the business. But you obviously look after yourself well, not a spare ounce of fat anywhere, you've lovely pert breasts and which make a nice cleavage to look down when you're wearing a low-cut dress and very sexy black areolas, which I'm sure the guys go wild for, so say nothing of that nicely shaped bush and your lovely oval face, with that impish smile. You're a real doll I could go for you myself, if it wasn't so expensive!" They all laughed with the exception of Daniella, who looked sheepish and shy, no doubt unused to compliments of this nature from women,

"And how about you Elisa?"

"I'm a postgraduate student studying biochemistry at the University of Rome, and I too would like to earn some money and have fun during the evening, as a change from my daytime work, where we work on vitamin deficiencies. I love the work, but it's difficult to get rid of the smell of rat urine. I need to take lots of baths and have to use perfume a lot too."

"I think you're kidding us, Elisa! But I hope you'll be able to find time for at least two evenings a week?" Elisa smiles ruefully at this, nobody without experience of animal laboratory work knows what it really entails, but perhaps it's better that way.

"I don't see why not? Most girls spend at least that amount of time with their boyfriends, doing it for free!"

"So, you can show off these luscious curls, not just on your head by the way, and those wondrous melons, they rival those of a friend I've met here in Rome, but you're a little taller and your hair's a little darker, you might think of lightening it a little, with mild hair bleach, what do you think?"

"Mmm, I wouldn't want to change it too much, or anything dramatic, my friends and colleagues might notice and start asking questions? But perhaps I could lighten it a little at a time over a few weeks. No one notices gradual changes."

"Well as they say, all work and no play makes us girls into old maids. Ok ladies, now we know a little about each other, let me tell you about the clients you're likely to meet and the organization we're putting in place to look after you.

Who are the clients? They'll all likely to be in the age range 30-50 and mainly here on a short visit from outside Rome, probably here on business as they'll be staying in expensive hotels. As you're all very presentable, many of them will want to take you out for a drink or meal which they'll charge to expenses and a little conversation to get to know you and break the ice. Obviously if his wife or business associates are with him, he won't wish to risk being seen with such noticeably attractive young ladies as you, in that case you should encourage them to order room service, which the hotels are all very willing to supply and again they'll be able to charge this to expenses so if asked don't be shy about asking for expensive items. They can send out to nearby restaurants if the client wishes. We will get some commission on these sales, and you'll have a share in this.

Mostly they're seen accompanied by such attractive young ladies as you, they'll be thinking, 'I must be an amazingly attractive and powerful man, because I'm with this gorgeous chick!'" a few titter.

"Yes, it's sad, but that's how men are, and if we're honest women too! You should play to their vanity and try to boost their self-esteem. Even though they're being boastful, they really are very unsure of themselves, so they need their self-deceptions about what terrific guys they are, to be confirmed frequently, no matter how delusional these thoughts may seem to you! Keep telling them how wonderful and attractive and manly they are, whatever seems more appropriate. If it's done with subtlety and frequently most will lap it up!

Some guys might be impatient, to get you to bed, but try to pace things so that the meeting runs smoothly and to a regular pattern; offer him a drink, suggest that he might like take you out for a walk in a park if it's warm enough, or to a restaurant, and take him to one of the places we recommend, say that you've plenty of time no rush, unless he's an appointment with his wife.

Now they'll all want some sort of sexual encounter, whether they pretend to the contrary and you should encourage it. Are we clear? However, we don't want pregnancies or diseases, so even if you're already taking precautions, they'll be required to wear contraceptives of a high standard, that we'll supply. Any questions?"

"We should take the initiative?"

"No Guilia, I'm saying let them think they're taking the initiative, but you should be the pacemaker. If you're encouraging and sound interested in them, in what they do, where they're from, what they're interests are, what film stars they like, what special features about these stars interest them? If they say they like the shape of their breasts or legs you should draw attention to your own, and suggest that yours' are at least as nice as the other ladies, doesn't he agree? Keep it light, giggle, ask if he'd like to touch you, and where, and how. Don't be reluctant at this stage to do what he wants. You want him to be feel confident and masterful. When he touches your legs compare yours with his, with a giggle touch him lightly on the thighs and let him do the same to you. Bring the conversation round to a discussion of your assets, and be frank about this, whether its boobs, or legs or anywhere else.

When it comes to stripping off, make a thing of it, titillate but not too much, subtle. Watch his responses, see where he's looking and play on that. If it's your breasts swing them a little and uncover them slowly, let him help you with the tight straps, you know what I mean. The most important thing to know about men is that usually they want to feel that they have given you a satisfying fuck. So always sound and play enthusiastic, enough to be convincing, it's important to let them feel that you're being responsive to their thrusts at a visceral level. So, when they push forwards and inwards, contract your pelvic muscles, and anus. Your vagina will contract and will give their cock a welcoming squeeze which believe me, they'll remember long afterwards and want to come back for more. Repeat this action once or twice if they're still inside. When they come, and usually it'll be very quick, pretend to come with them, even if you haven't and make it credible with sighs and shudders and give him a kiss or a hug of gratitude, as if this is a new awakening and say corny stuff, like that was so good! Any questions?"

"What if he wants anal or oral, do we let him?"

"I don't advise unprotected oral or anal sex as it can transmit disease, but with a sheathed dick, it's not a problem. With anal, make sure he's well lubricated, and you've had a recent poop, otherwise things can painful or become messy and embarrassing. Oh, and clean up afterwards, hygiene and cleanliness should be preserved without making it look as if you're a scrub nurse in an operating theatre. At all times look and feel like you're both having a lot of fun and enjoying yourself. Your job is to provide pleasure and not act as a censor. You're to be an instrument of pleasure and fun, not guilt and anxiety and it may mean that have to abandon what you've been taught to feel about sex. At all times you'll tell him that he was wonderful and that you can't wait to do it again soon, if he's staying longer in Rome.

If you don't feel that this is what you want to do, you have a clear option don't work for us! Am I clear? We'll ask the clients afterwards how much they enjoyed their experience and rate your performances and ours and provide you with feedback with a view continuous improvement, in the wise words of Joe E Brown, 'Nobody's perfect!' but we can always try to do better.

Some older clients might not want to have sex, they may just want the company of a pretty intelligent woman to take their mind off things. They may want you to lie naked in bed with them, and you should suggest that you masturbate them. Many older men may prefer that. Don't in any way make them feel that their obliged to have sex with you. It's entirely upto them. They're paying after all!

The whole session should take no more than two hours, so that means about an hour for preliminaries and an hour for physical encounter. You should have break to clean up yourself up and relax and then do another session, The room will be cleaned, or another used for the second session

The number of sessions you do per week is up to you, but we'd like at least two evenings, meaning that you'll have four clients a week. This will bring you a net income of $120 per week. Obviously, you'll be paid for the number of sessions you complete. If the operation works well and is successful, we intend to raise the sessional rates, but this is still a preliminary arrangement. You'll never be asked to handle money; the client will be paying us $50 for the whole package. The difference between that and what you're paid will cover room costs, security, and administration costs. You can earn a little more by persuading the client to eat or drink with you. You will be paid a commission on the food and drink consumed at the recommended places o room service can be supplied.

There's a small exercise I want you to do now, which I'll demonstrate, I have some cylindrical sponges with a wire support inserted through the centre, I want you to soak the sponge and then insert it into your vagina, like this. Now squeeze your pelvic, abdominal muscles and anus as tight as possible without clenching your teeth or jaws. See how much water you can squeeze from the sponge, then gently remove the sponge. As you can see from my sponge, I've squeezed most of the water out, specially at the top, where my labia have contracted but also below were my vaginal wall has contracted. As well as being a good exercise, if you do it after he inserts his willy, it will give him a tremendous thrill, but not too long he might think you're trying to castrate him!

Ok everyone take a sponge and try it out, see how much water you can squeeze out. If we wanted to be scientific, we could weigh the sponges before and after squeezing, but we'll leave that for Daniella and Elisa to organise some other time.

"No need for embarrassment, it's a good way of cleaning up down there, especially after a period or unplanned sex encounters. Ok, wet the tampons then squeeze them dry and put them back in the pond and let them expand, now sit on the side of the pool gently but firmly insert the tampon, like I'm doing again, upto where you feel it touching your cervix at the top of your vagina, leave the handle poking out, so that you can easily remove it. Now squeeze and try not to move their facial muscles, I don't want you to look as if you're trying, count slowly to three and relax. Now pull out the tampons and hold them up. See how much water you've squeezed out. Mmm, not bad, but not good either, except for Elisa, who's probably done something like this before, am I right?"

Elisa nods, "I do ladies yoga and one of the exercises we do is called 'fucking the bidet,' we stand over the faucet with legs apart and bring our hips down until the nozzle touches the crotch. It's good for your hips and pelvic floor muscles and great for cleaning your pussy too. But this sponge trick is new to me, and as you say Mia, if you weigh the sponges before and after, you can assess how much water you've squeezed out. It could be done with a kitchen balance, and you could see how much you improve over a week or so."

"Thanks Elisa, what an excellent idea, but maybe do the exercise in the bathroom, rather than the kitchen!" Everyone titters.

"Anyway, the more water you can squeeze, the bigger the impression you'll make on his cock and his memory of you. Ok, Morry and Mauro will want to say a few words in few minutes, you might want to get dressed before they arrive. Not a good idea to put too much temptation in the way of the staff, otherwise we'll never get any work done!"

Vicky glanced at me with a covert smile, but wisely stayed silent.

"We should dry each other, that way we can become friendly and practise a little intimacy, we'll need to support one another. Come here and let me dry you Elisa, you dry me at the same time."

"You're a very bossy lady, Mia." Elisa remarks quietly, "why're you doing this? For the kicks you get out of controlling other peoples' sex lives, or for the money?"

"Both, I guess, if the business can be developed quickly, we could all make quite a bit of money. I've other ideas for making more in more interesting way, but it'll depend on how the first week goes and how well we all do. What do you think?"

"I'm not sure, it'll depend on the kind of clients we have. All very well, if they're decent, but not everyone who uses escorts will be, so it could be dangerous and unpleasant."

"Exactly, so, that's where Mauro and Morry come in, as you'll hear shortly. But remember our clients are quite wealthy and so have a great deal to lose if they make a fuss, so it'll be okay, I think. Certainly, that's what I've found in the States where I ran a similar business whilst I was a College."

"Let's hope you're right! You're an interesting mixture, control freak and organization woman, and from the look of you, sex goddess too! I'd like to get to know you better."

" I'd like to get to know you better too Elisa, but I don't want to show any favouritism, it might cause resentments, so maybe next week, when I discuss my next scheme. I'm going to call Morry and Mauro now."

Mauro and Morry arrived just as we'd finished dressing, I wondered again whether they'd been spying on us.

"Let me introduce you to Morry and Mauro. First, Mauro please can tell the girls about the security arrangements that'll be made to protect them all. Then Morry will show you all what rooms we've available for business and how you'll communicate with him, then Giullia or Gemma will explain how you're going to be paid through her bank.

Ok first, Mauro, he's a friend who I met by chance here when I first came to Rome. He's a businessman who runs security arrangements for numerous small businesses an escort agency of his own and is interested in wrestling and other manly activities, but two or three of you know him already. The floor is yours, Mauro."

"Thank you, Marlene it's a pleasure to be associated with all you lovely ladies. You make an amazing impression and obviously we all want you to stay that way! I run a small escort agency, not as nearly as upmarket as this one, so it's a new venture for me too, but the security problems are the similar. From my point of view, primarily, I want to protect my income and see that the fees are paid and prevent the clients from bilking on the deal, but secondly, I don't want them to do any damage to the properties, either you or the hotel rooms. If they do, then they will pay for it dearly, both physically and by restitution. So as far as you're concerned, all the rooms will be equipped with alarm bells connected to the reception desk. At the slightest sign of trouble, ring and someone will call on your room within a few minutes before any damage is done and hopefully prevent any further trouble. We want to nip any potential problems in the bud. Men with their trousers around their ankles are very vulnerable, so my security men will have no problems dealing with them. Also, the money will be paid upfront to me or Morry and then into the bank. This circumvents the biggest problem with this kind of business, the clients being unwilling to pay the girl after they've sampled the goods. We'll make a tasteful catalogue of photographs of you looking your best so that the clients can make their selections and we'll make appointments according to your availability and their choices, if you're not available then a second or third choice will be substituted. We'll use your assumed names on the catalogue. I've arranged for a visit to a local photographic studio later this afternoon. Obviously, we want you to look your most alluring, but nudity won't be required unless you request it, but I think semi-nude is more alluring, what do you think Marlene?

"I agree, mystery and reserve are the essence of all glamour and excitement. Are you happy with this?" Everyone nods.

"Ok, I imagine that some of you are new to this business, a word of caution, never tell the client your real name or address. It could lead to trouble. What you do in your own time with your own friends is your business, but you'll not see any of our clients on your own account in your own premises. We'll not be offering any kind of security for any private business, you undertake, that fully understood?"

"Are you saying that you'll keep a watch on who we go with, Mauro?"

"Not exactly Arriana, we won't watch you, but we'll watch the clients, as you know, I've a legion of ragazzi, my eyes and ears around here. Don't worry, we won't let you come to harm. But don't go looking for it with our clients. If you meet any by accident, pretend not to recognise them. It would be a good idea to alter your hair style and make up from the way you usually have it, for the photograph too, and have another dress with a different colour when you come and leave work to return home. That should be sufficient to make you unrecognisable in the street. As I'm sure you know, you're being paid well above the normal rates for this kind of work, so please obey the rules."

"Thanks, Mauro, I'm sure we've all taken to heart what you've said. If you observe the rules and you'll be safe and soon, quite wealthy. Ok, Morry, please could you say a brief word about the accommodation for our meetings with clients. I've already mentioned about the arrangements for room service, and you'll tell them where the restaurants you've decided with are, at the time of the meeting, I understand?"

"Hello, I'm Morry, I manage this hotel and one or two others around here. Lovely to be with you! I'll be making the arrangements with any potential guests who may wish to have some company for an evening and be shown an enjoyable time. We want to encourage you to be ambitious with your clients' choices of food and drink options and suggest that you should suggest they take you to good local places to eat and drink, or if you order room service from local restaurants and if they wish to upgrade the room to one of our pool rooms, which will be a smaller version of one like this with its own private pool. As most of our clientele will be on expense accounts, or have tax deductible travel allowances, this should fall well within their budget. So, think big, also if they've enjoyed their time with you and obviously, if you've enjoyed their company too, encourage them to come again, as you've so loved being with them!" The girls smile, confident of their indisputable attractions!

"As Mauro has explained we take security very seriously, we'll only recommend clients who've a good financial record, a good indicator of reliability, and no criminal record. We check, using their I. D cards with the commissario di polizia. However, if any get through this initial vetting, we provide every room with an alarm bell, placed on the bedside table.

If you go outside to a nearby restaurant, we'll keep an eye on you.

If you've two appointments assigned to you in the same hotel, we'll give you another room to prepare for the second client. Does anyone have any questions?"

"How are we going to find our rooms and where will we meet the clients, Morry?"

"Good question, it's?"

"Veronica, Morry."

"Ah yes, Veronica! You'll introduce yourself at the reception desk and say you're expected. The receptionist will know that you're going to meet someone coming from another of our hotels. You'll meet in the lobby. He'll identify himself to the receptionist. Simple! In some cases, you'll meet in one of the restaurants that you'll be directed to, the client will recognise you from your photo. Of course, a meal may take some time, we'll tell the restaurant to serve you quickly, so that you've plenty of time for the second part of the service within the time allotted, two hours I believe. This is cutting things a bit fine, but I guess it can be done, Marlene?"

"Yes, in my experience, eating takes longer than the other things, but it's good discipline to keep to strict time limits, it keeps your mind on the business aspects, but the time pressure won't be so great with the second later session."

"Do you expect us to eat two meals in one evening."

"I agree Giulia that not many want to eat two dinners in one evening! I suggest, that if the second client of the evening wants dinner and you've already eaten with the first, you say you've already eaten, but would love a drink cocktail or whatever and order an expensive one, and if you don't want to drink alcohol, signal and they'll give you something non-alcoholic that looks like a cocktail. The same holds for room service. But I don't imagine that all the clients will necessarily want to eat a lot of food. They may have to join their wife or colleagues particularly if they're booked for the earlier session."

"Thank you, Morry; maybe you can show the ladies the sorts of rooms they can expect to use for business? Before that, can you tell us if you're all happy with these arrangements. They may change a little after the first week or so, if we come across any snags."

They all nod, and smile assent, including Guilia, I was mildly surprised.

"Now Guilia or Gemma when she works as an escort, will say a few words about the financial arrangements.

"Hi, I'm you're banker at the Banco Populo. Marlene and I have arranged to open accounts in your name, so that your income from earnings made with this business, including fees for sessions completed and commissions for sales of goods and any extra services, will be paid directly by the clients to Mauro or Morry and they'll deposit the funds on a weekly basis. You'll be able to withdraw as much money as you have in your account, but you'll not be able to obtain credit on this, I'm afraid. If you want credit, then you'll have to organize that by yourself. However, we do offer interest on savings accounts at 5.2% per annum at present, so if you want to save some of your money then it's an excellent rate. We'll issue you with cash books, itemising the transactions made in and out and cheque books which you'll use to pay yourself or anyone else upto any amount that is held within your account. As I have emphasised, you'll not be allowed to exceed this amount on this account. As soon as possible come into the bank and ask for me and I will issue you with the forms we will arrange for cashbooks and cheque books to be issued when you start accumulating money. Any questions."

"Yes Daniella?"

"I've already got a bank account, can I use that instead?"

"No, I wouldn't advise it. You can have as many bank accounts as you wish. This account will give you the kind of anonymity that you may wish to preserve, and it should only be used for this purpose. But there's nothing to stop you from transfering any funds you accumulate to another named bank using the account you'll open with us at Banco Populo."

"Thanks Gemma, I understand."

"Any other questions? I'm available at the bank from 10 am till 1.00pm and from 2 till 4.00pm Mondays till Fridays. Not on Saturdays of Sundays. However, if some of you can't get time off work, than I can arrange to meet you after work to help you fill in the forms and I will process these later.

"Thank you, Gemma, for that concise summary and for your kind offer of help!

Now, before Morry shows us the rooms, if you know of anyone else who you think might be well suited to working for us, please let them and me know. We'll to reward you for making a successful introduction by paying you a higher fee for your next four clients at $50 per session. I aim as soon as possible to increase the business to about fifteen girls and we'll operate from three hotels around here. There's no shortage of clients. After you've seen the rooms, Mauro will take you to the photographer. Guilia please stay behind, we've things to discuss. You can come later with me to the photographer. The first thing for you to do is open your bank accounts and then you give us the dates you're available for the fortnight. And you should phone Mauro's telephone number between 5.00 and 6.00 pm to make the appointments we can arrange for any clients who may wish your company on that day or the following day. This should start within the next week. Obviously if the clients are only here for a short time, it may be a case of first come first served for both you and the clients. I'm sure it'll quickly sort itself out. When the business enlarges, we'll hire a telephone clerk for the time and a telephone line, maybe Morry can sort that out?"

"Yes Marlene, I can do that now, for a small fee, I can assign one of my assistants to that job, it might be more convenient than have your or Mauro doing that job.

"Excellent suggestion Morry, we'll take you up on that. We'll discuss who might be suited to that job, it'll obviously have to be someone who can be trusted to be discrete and not show favouritism, these positions can easily become very powerful. They can be quite a nightmare in any organization as they frequently develop their own agendas."

Morry showed us two large comfortable rooms on the top floor that he'd assign for our use, the girls were all impressed with their opulence! He also showed them where the emergency alarm button was be placed. I wondered if this was a feature in all the rooms. But decided not to ask till later.

I said arrivederci to the girls and assuring them that they'd be in safe hands with Mauro and his photographer and winked. They giggled in anticipation of a bit of further entertainment and departed. Giulia, and I returned with Morry to his office. This was a dramatic contrast to the other rooms we'd just seen. Here, chaos reigned supreme, stacks of account books and notes strewn over the desk and cigarette butts filled the ashtray and coffee stains on the carpet and desk too, and I dare say in the account books too! His Brunsviga looking lonely and neglected on the shelf.

"Guilia, let me introduce you properly to Morry, who runs this hotel and several others in the vicinity, I met him the other day and was very impressed with his extremely positive attitude to our business, but I felt your numerical skills might be useful to him, he was struggling with his mechanical calculating machine, here."

Guilia looked with undisguised contempt round the chaos in the room and pursed her lips.

"Hi Guilia, so you're going to help with Marlene's attempt to reform Rome's prostitution business by modernising and refining its current financial model, which has worked pretty well for centuries!"

"Hey Morry, do I detect a note of disapproval, you'd prefer that the escorts are exploited by unscrupulous mobsters and work in degrading squalor? Why shouldn't the sex market be clean and gratifying and user friendly, instead of as it is currently, demeaning and shameful? And why shouldn't the women who are employed in it, be fairly rewarded, instead of being hideously exploited by sleazy mobsters."

"That's no way to talk about my friend Mauro!"

"Which adjective don't you like? Sleazy, or mobster?"

"We're simply disrupting the current business model at least as applied to middle class users. I admit that it may be expensive for some of the client, but they'll at least get their money's worth, be safer and be treated with consideration."

"You're right Marlene, I was just upset that Guilia is willing to sell herself in this way."

"Why Morry, you don't know me, and you're quite happy to support the enterprise. You're a shrewd enough businessman to see that what Marlene is offering is an excellent business model that will bring in lots of trade to your business and a considerably better reward for the girls than they could negotiate with Mauro or his like, by themselves. As for selling myself for sex, what's different from you, who is a compliant beneficiary in this trade."

"I think what he's saying Guilia, he doesn't understand why a nice girl with a good respectable professional background should want to be involved in such a sordid trade. He'd prefer to think of you as being an innocent maiden, saving herself till you come unsullied to some very upright hotel manager's bedchamber, where he will ravish her with his very large upright cock. Am I right Morry?"

"You guys don't pull you're punches, do you? Ok yes, it does make me uncomfortable to see nice and sharp girls like you, organising charming young and naïve girls into a lives of prostitution."

"First these girls aren't going to be escorts all their lives, they all have work that doesn't pay them enough to live in the style, or the freedom they aspire to. Escort work offers a means of exploiting their sexual capital whilst they can. Why give it away for free in meaningless sex encounters with their countless boyfriends, when guided by experts they can sell it at a high price in a sophisticated leisure industry. And yes, I want to make money by steering this market towards what I consider to be a more equitable direction, lifting it from the gutter into at least the four star hotel trade."

"One of my hotels is a five-star hotel!"

"Glad to hear that, and yes they're all better than the gutters and hovels where this trade's normally plied."

"Ok, I just hope it doesn't end in tears. But I'm pretty sure that the real tears won't be yours, or Guilia's or mine."

"Well thanks for that vote of confidence! Guilia might also be able advise you about your bookkeeping problems, if you ask her nicely. She's a highly qualified banker and an expert in business affairs too."

"So not just a pretty face, Guilia?"

"Well, it's more than I can say for yours or your slum of an office, I couldn't possibly work in this midden! It reflects badly on the way you must run the rest of your life, a disorganized mess!"

"That's very unkind Guilia, but unfortunately very close to the mark!"

"But not patronising like your sexist remark about me!"

"I was complimenting you on your financial and mathematical skills, what's wrong with that?"

"You don't think 'not just a pretty face,' is patronising? You're saying, for a woman, you seem well qualified, but at the same time, with the proviso that because I've got a cunt and boobs, I'm still a second-class member of the business community and should know my place as a second class citizen, unlike yourself a man with a cock, but a bit of a duffer with the calculator and sloppy with it!"

"Hey Guilia, ease off! Don't be so angry, we're living in Rome in the late 1950's, women have the vote, they're beginning to compete with men in the financial world, more or less in terms of equality although they're paid a bit less, but you can't deny that you make yourself attractive to men and maybe women too, to exploit your considerable sexual attraction, as well as your sharp mind and a razor sharp tongue too, if you don't mind me saying so. You're a little frightening to a gentle soul like me, who was just paying you a mild compliment in the hope of asking you for a date."

"Good try, Morry, I had a hunch, she'd appeal to you. But then, is there any female who doesn't?"

"You guys enjoy giving on the one hand whilst taking with the other! You're both high class ballbreakers, I love it!"

"Maybe if Guilia shows you how to operate your mechanical calculator properly, you could give her a drink in your swimming pool. I agree with you on one point, except for Elisa and Vicky, the girls are naïve, they probably won't stick it for long, but they'll learn plenty very quickly. If they're willing to work for a month or so, it'll be enough, for my purposes and I'll hand the responsibility of day-to-day running of Mauro's business to Vicky. I'll just supervise it and try to we lift it into a higher league. I've a more interesting project in mind which may be more profitable and which I hope will be ready to put in practise soon.

Meanwhile I must go, have a good time, you two, don't do anything too demanding to her Morry, she needs to be fully operational in all departments!"

Chapter 21 Photoshoot.

When Mauro showed me the photographs of the girls, I was pleasantly surprised at how professional they looked. As Louise had said she had experience in assessing glamour photos I decided ask to advice. When invited to take a look, she was surprised that I'd gone as far and fast as I had with my project; she was curious to look at the photos.

We both agreed that the photos of Vicky and me, would have enough appeal for any red-blooded punter to be willing to open their cheque books, although I explained to Louise that I was merely the administrator and not for sale, she nodded without any comment, although she raised her eyebrows a tad, in her usual sceptical way.

Vicky's peek a boo nipples made me feel quite wet! The other girls were attractive, but didn't set me on fire, they look what they mostly are, nice and very good-looking girls, but not tempting enough for a punter to shell out real money to share their company. We both thought it would be worth redoing a couple, especially of Elisa who, as Louise observed, wasn't making enough of her prime assets, she needed some tuition in projection, at least of her boobs! If the camera angle could focus more directly on her cleavage, and she leaned forward, it would increase the impact, make her seem more approachable, the clients would be enticed into paying to see more. Louise also felt that Daniella should look more welcoming, warmer, not so stand-offish. As I needed the catalogue to be a success, I agreed to ask Daniella and Elisa to return for another photo-session and I'd explain how we wanted the retakes to look. I didn't think they'd mind. I invited Louise to come and meet them, I was sure she'd enjoy it, they might like to try out their English on her too. She agreed at once, with the proviso that she wouldn't be drawn in any further into my escort business.

I arranged to meet Daniella and Elisa with Louise the following evening and Mauro took us round to his photographer. I explained what changes I wanted, he nodded enthusiastically.

Elisa was first, she'd just spent the afternoon in the library and needed to do her hair and makeup. Louise mentioned that she should have the tips of her hair bleached a little, but they could be lightened with a spray, which would work temporarily. Did the photographer guy have any. He said he had but was unsure how to use it.

"Oh, I can do it. My uncle uses it for pubes mainly, that's mostly because he enjoys spraying girls' pubes, but it should be used to highlight the tips. Do you mind Elisa, it'll wash off, if you don't like it."

"Ok, Louise, I trust you, and by the way you speak much better Italian than I speak English!"

"Thanks! I've only been learning it for about two weeks, but I've another three or four weeks still to go. Anyway, let's see if this spray works, I'll just practise on this sheet of paper. Ok, it's fine. Just a few subtle touches to bring out the highlights at the tips, you've nice curls, you should lighten it all, you've also got excellent boobs, can I open your blouse a little, more! I think if you remove your bra and lean forward a little it will make you a lot more attractive, in the photo at least, I want to see those nice pink nipples which might be a little more visible if you gave them a squeeze, or I did, do you mind Elisa, it's always more exciting when someone else does it, don't you think?" Louise was right, Elisa's nipples stood up proud and the camera was angled to show the areola of her left breast and her right nipple raising a small hillock in her see-through blouse.

"That should do the trick, what do you think, Marlene and Daniella?"

We both nodded in awe at the improvement that Louise had brought about in Elisa's appearance with a few deft changes. "You could be a professional Louise!"

"Gee thanks, it's just that I've a very lubricious mind! I've a natural instinct for what guys want to see in a girl."

"Ok, Daniella, come and sit on the chair and with your left knee bent under turned to your left and straighten you right leg. Good now sit straight in the chair with your head turned slightly to the left and try to look as if you want the guy to come and make love to you. Don't look as if you're doing us all a big favour by being here, which you are of course, we appreciate it enormously."

"Hey, Louise, I get it! Lay off the sarcasm! What do you suggest I do?"

"Well, you should smile a little whilst looking sad, imitate the Mona Lisa, you're waiting for you boyfriend to come out of the shower, and thinking about what will tempt him to go down on you."

" I didn't know you were that crude Louise!"

"You'd be amazed, at how bad I can be Marlene!"

"Ok come on Daniella, you intend to be an escort in Marlene's new venture, don't you! What do you think the guys want from you, to hear what you think about the Pope's latest utterances, on the immaculate conception, or the soaring birthrate in Africa? Maybe they'll be slightly interested, for about a minute, but I assure you what they really want to see, is your lovely body responding to the feel of their cock as they thrust it deep into your fanny! And that's what you're wanting your boyfriend to do right now, so get with the scene now!"

I was surprised that Daniella responded so well to this abrasive treatment; she put on a sad smile and undid her blouse and pulled her skirt down till the upper strands of her black pubic hair showed just above her waistline, she also unbuttoned it at the side so that her extended right leg was exposed to the top of her thigh revealing the hem of her frilly black knickers.

"Goodness! That looks wonderful, I quite fancy you myself, Daniella! I'm sure everyone will want a look at what's under that skirt!"

"Very good Louise, thanks!"

The photographer was so pleased that he asked casually if Louise would like him to take her photograph.

"I don't wish to be included in Marlene's catalogue, but thanks for asking. But I wouldn't mind having one taken with Marlene as a souvenir."

"He recommended that Louise uncover her breasts a little, then she suggested a pose like classic tableau as painted by Leonardo Da Vinci of Saint Anne holding up the infant Jesus whilst she's sitting on the Virgin Mary lap. "Too bad, we don't have a baby for me to hold!"

The photographer smiled and said, great idea, "I'm familiar with the pose you mean! My neighbours' kid is about a year old, I'll ask if I can borrow him for a few minutes, he's probably just had a bath. I'll go and get him.

"A couple of minutes later he returned with a chubby pink semi-comatose infant wearing just a diaper and gripping a small teddy bear, which for the tableau, is a bit anachronistic, Jesus was naked holding a lamb, but what the hell! I sat on the chair and Louise stood to my right whilst she pushed her left leg underneath my thighs and leant in front of me, her head positioned below my chin to the left. The tops of her breasts were visible, and she held the kid with both arms outstretched and he held the bear's paw with one of tiny hands and we both looked down adoringly at the dosing child. Although the allegory was clearly religious, it was a very sexy pose and fortunately the kid stayed quiet and vaguely smiled back at us."

The photographer muttered, "I think I'll be able to sell this outside the St Annes Church on her saint's day in July. You know St Anne was Mary's mother and Jesus's Nonna."

" I look a bit too young to be the kid's granny!" Louise muttered, but she was obviously enjoying the outing.

"Poetic licence, Louise. Leonardo's St Anne now hanging in the Louvre, doesn't look older than her daughter Mary either!" Elisa said, "But, I think that some members of the Curia might think you're mocking their mad concept of the immaculate conception. The legend goes that Anne was childless until she saw a bird feeding its young. Apparently, this gave her the idea that she'd also like to have a go at feeding a child. No sooner had this thought entered her head when conveniently she conceived a child by her husband, Joachim, who, then conveniently died before she gave birth so could be written out of the story. For unexplained reasons Anne expected a male child, but when she bore Mary, she was quickly reconciled to having a second-class female child. There's a church dedicated to St Anne in the Vatican City, Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri. You should visit it. It's not far, we can go now, if now you'd like, it's open to the public. Leonardo painted St Anne in the early sixteenth century as a young and beautiful woman, whilst Mary is portrayed as being of similar age as her mother. A century later, Caravaggio, painted Mary as a beautiful sexy lady in a gorgeous red dress with an impressive decolletage, and St Anne was portrayed as a dull middle-aged lady in rather drab clothing, you can see it in the Galleria Borghese."

"How come you know such a lot about St Anne, Elisa?"

"I'm interested in Christian mythology, you know that St Anne is an apocryphal figure, not mentioned in the canonical New Testament gospels. Mary's mother was never mentioned until about 150 AD, in St James Gospel, it was part of the early Christian tendency to vilify sex and marriage as components of original sin. Christianity's origins are very misogynist, as the Papacy for all its protests to the contrary, is now. The omission of Jesus's family origins was no accident; it was an attempt to portray him into a supernatural being, rather than one brought out of a real woman's womb. Hence the emphasis on immaculate conception and all the rest of that twaddle. Caravaggio's realistic portrayal of the holy family as a young mother with functioning breasts and Anne, her mother, as an aged woman caused a lot of fuss at the time it was painted for St Anne Palafrenieri. It was removed because the myth was that these folk didn't have sex at all and therefore didn't conceive normally and didn't age much either. Leonardo's portrayal met with much more approval, as it was following the party line."

"So, you're a Protestant like me, Elisa?"

"No, Louise, I'm an atheist and member of the Italian Communist Party! Not a bit like you."

"We share some things."

"You mean, big boobs and lusty libidos?"

"Yes, but also a willingness to use these assets to our advantage without much heed to conventional pieties."

"I doubt, you'd be willing to do it for money?"

"I probably would if it were necessary, but at present it isn't, nor I suspect is it for you or Daniella. You both seem like well educated, middle-class girls with lifestyles to match, why are you doing this?"

"I've no idea what's driving Daniella, but I want independence. Freedom from oppression and Marlene's scheme offers an opportunity to make money and a fast escape route."

"I think I understand, perhaps we can talk about it later?"

"I'd like to join you if that's ok, Louise, maybe Marlene too?"

"Sorry Daniella, I've another meeting, but you go ahead, we're done here."

"Ok, let's go and look at St Anne's Church, or Hannah, as the Muslim's call her. They revere too, as an integral part of the Holy Family."

"I don't know much about her, although Leonardo Da Vinci lovely painting of her is well known, I'd assumed she was exclusively a Christian Saint."

I left the girls to have fun whilst I hurried to meet Luigi. I wanted to finalise plans to meet up with his cousin Paulo.

We agreed that the whole class would take the train to Frascati, that Luigi, would take us for lunch in a restaurant which the winery owned and then he take Shereen and the boys to see the fermentation plant and look at the vine plantation and the town whilst Louise and I go off with Paulo.

"I think it might be too distracting for Paulo, if Louise is with you, she should stay with the rest of the class whilst you work on Paulo by yourself, Marlene."

"That's probably a better arrangement for discrete business discussions, Paulo may not wish to share, more sensitive information with a freshman!"

"I don't think Louise could be mistaken for a man!"

"No, but that's what we call all novice students regardless of their sex, it dates from the times when the only men attended college."

"Ah, very egalitarian! But I agree, I think she'll see the sense in this arrangement. Ok, I'll invite Paulo, to meet us at lunch and I'll introduce, him. I'll arrange for one of the vignailo to take us round one of the more scenic wineries. But listen I don't want you becoming too intimate with Paulo."

"Why ever not Luigi, you don't mind sharing me with Louise, so why would you object to sharing me with your cousin?"

"That's different, we're supposed to be a pious family with a high sense of our own morality."

"You think that Paulo's going to be attracted solely by my business acumen, do you? Don't you think that's a little naïve?"

"Probably not, but you're my girlfriend, not his!"

"Luigi, you forget, I haven't even met him yet! What a silly boy you are, perhaps you'd be better staying with Louise, you must accept that men and women use their mutual attraction in many ways. It lubricates the wheels of business. And at present in your cousin's business is in a dangerous place, but I think I can fix it. I have a plan. Let's not get petty and squabble. I'll meet Paulo, charm him with my considerable business acumen and experience of the more sordid aspects of business. Yes, Luigi, I didn't only acquire Italian street vernacular from my Italian uncle's family, but also through his very close association with the disreputable crowd who literally hung onto the eminent Cardinal Spellman's scarlet cassock and their dealings in the Archdioceses of New York and Philadelphia. If we play our cards carefully, my uncle could be a very useful contact.

"Hmm, I've heard some disturbing stories about that eminent Cardinal, he won't be the first or last to enjoy to company of young people, of course. The Curia turn a blind eye to what goes in USA because they're our mainstay as far as foreign income goes, and it's tax free due to the very clever manoeuvres of Cardinal Cicgnani, who managed to slip it though the Senate despite all efforts of left-wingers like Moro and Fanfani."

"You're very well versed in the financial affairs of the Vatican, Luigi."

" Of course I am, a major part of the family business concerns advising about finance and keeping the Vatican afloat. A few families like mine and the Pacellis have done for centuries. You know the Pope's late cousin, Francesco Pacelli, was instrumental in founding the Amministrazion Sede (ASSS) and by Pius XI, Achille Ratti. It had a very important role during the war, as it allowed the current Pope to maintain an income stream to help feed the thousands of refugees who were escaping the Nazi's and sought protection in the Vatican despite the allied embargo of all financial transactions with Italy.

"You mean Jewish refugees? I thought the Vatican wasn't too keen on helping them?"

"Oh, that's just an evil myth, spread by scandal mongers and malcontents who wish to do the Vatican harm. The Pope was morally bound to feed the refugees, whatever their religion and nationality. But at the same time, he didn't want to create trouble with the Nazi's, so he had to play a subtle game, one causing least harm to the Vatican, to Italy and to the refugees. So, he couldn't object to Mussolini's deportations of the Jews to the concentration camps, but he tried to do as much as he could."

"Mmm, if you say so, Luigi. I guess you've an insider's view, but I've read other things that don't quite chime with your benign view of how the Pope behaved during the war."

"Yes, but I know he has the very best of intentions and another who was much maligned is the Archbishop of Zagreb, Stepinac, whose actions saved many Jews, but many lies have been told about his alleged cooperation with the Ustashi, the Croatian Fascist party, who treated Jews and Serbs with savage cruelty, either murdering them outright, or forcing their conversion to Catholicism, or by their expulsion to Serbia and in all cases, confiscation of property, which the Ustashi acquired and at the end, exported to the Vatican."

"So, the Vatican is still holding the stolen gold?"

"Yes, but it's using it to restore peace and the Catholic Church to Croatia and to help with the fight against the Communist takeover of that country. "

"I see, so money stolen from Jews and Serbs is being used to restore the well-being of Croatian Catholics?"

"Unfortunately, the Croatian Jews and Serbs are no longer able to make use of their money, but the Vatican can and does put it to good use."

"Didn't they use it some of it to bribe the Argentinians to provide a safe haven for the Ustashi agents and priests who collaborated in the massacres in Croatia."

"Yes, but that was part of an agreement which allowed Jews free passage from Europe through Croatia to Israel. Things are not black and white, we live in a grey world, Marlene, and there's no point in pretending that one shouldn't compromise with evil in order to achieve a greater good. What good does it do to punish evil men, if in doing so, one has to sacrifice the innocent."

"So, the Vatican, gives in to blackmail, to maintain its power and influence?"

"You, might say that, but as it has no army to command, what other option does it have?"

"I see, so doing a little evil to achieve a greater good is how you operate?"

"No, the evil is done in the first place by forces working outside the Vatican, but once this evil is recognised, it maybe necessary to work with it temporarily in other to defeat it in the long run."

"Sounds, like a rather dangerous policy, how do you know if things will work out right?"

"You don't, but that's where prayer comes in handy."

Chapter 22 Afternoon in Frascati

We met up with Luigi at the Railway Station in Frascati at 1.00 after an abbreviated morning lesson. Luigi had just arrived and parked his car in the station car park. We walked to the Cavour restaurant in the via Cavour, about a 10 minutes via Mentana and Cavour. After lunch we'd make an excursion to the family vineyard. Although it was a simple family run place it had a really interesting menu. As we were all very hungry, we decided to have the antipasto as well as a wonderful dish of calamarata with octopus and basil cream. Calamarata is a sort of enlarged macaroni or cut down cannelloni so that the sauce fills the central hole a bit like cannelloni. Delicious!

Luigi had asked to proprietor to serve us with the Frascati wine made by his estate. Its light texture went very well with the creamy, cheesy dish. As we were finishing off Paulo, Luigi's cousin arrived he greeted Luigi and Louise effusively and was introduced to us all. He scrutinized Marlene for a couple of seconds, then shook her hand and he sat beside her. Then he announced that he had arranged for a small bus to take us to the Minardi Winery. The family had been in charge of this winery for many generations. They are also very interested in auto racing and Gian Carlo the proprietor has taught me much about the sport.

"So would you like to be a racing driver Luigi?"

"No, Marlene, it's far too dangerous! You need to spend too much time and money on it to be any good, so I'll stick with business. But the Minardi's are a different, Ferrari are willing to sponsor them to race with their new 2-litre model V12 166 in the Formula 2. It's already won many races and they've built a newer more powerful version, the Scuderi, to be driven by Juan Fangio in Argentina."

"From the enthusiastic way you're talking, it sounds as if you'd really like to though!"

"Nay, it's one thing to be an enthusiast, but quite another to be a player. Just like football, how many football enthusiasts who enjoy playing are good enough to play at professional level? But at least with football, anyone can take part, motor sport is accessible only to a very few. It needs a lot of money, enthusiastic family support, personal daring and a gift which you must cultivate from childhood, starting as early as 12 or 14. If you leave it any later, you're already too old. It's also best if your parents have an engineering works, or garage with machine shops and a great deal of money to lavish on their hobby. Unlike the Minardi family, my family weren't willing let me risk my life by driving at 240 km/h, especially now, when we've little cash and only two males left the family to run the business. Isn't that right Paul?"

"Yes Luigi, we need you intact! Shall we go to the Minardi vineyard? It would take too long to walk, so I've arrange for a bus to take us there and back to the. I'll explain about the vineyard on the way."

"Welcome everyone. I'm Paulo Biaggi, I'm the proud owner of the Minardi vineyard and several others in the surrounding hills. Our family has owned it for many generations. The vineyard also has a large olive grove from which we make a very fine oil. The soil around here is volcanic and ideal for wine production. The grapes grown are mainly Malvasia 70% and about 30% Trebbiano grapes. At present we ferment the wine in vats in underground caves near the winery, but we're hoping to install and metal vats and more modern air-conditioned cellars as soon as we can raise the capital.

We make two kinds of wine here Frascati Superiore which is a dry white wine and Cannellino di Frascati, which is a sweet dessert wine, you'll have an opportunity to taste both.

This winery is one of the oldest in Frascati. This is the original farmhouse it has a cellar where the wine was originally made. We have other storage facilities, of course, but we keep this one going as we intend to develop it for tourism. We believe that it's an attractive venue for tourists to visit. You'll be taken around by one of our vintners and when you return, after touring the vineyard and olive groves, which are about 50 hectares, about half a square kilometre, you'll be invited to inspect the fermentation plant and storage cave we have here and sample the product. I suggest that Luigi accompanies you as you may find the guide's dialect difficult to understand. Please make sure you wear some head covering as the sun today is very strong and you could easily be overcome with heat stroke unless you shield yourselves. If you don't have hats you can borrow some, they're hanging on pegs over by the wall.

As we were prepared the stone farmhouse covered with a layer of pale-yellow cement except for the windows and arched doorway which are etched in dark grey brick. Paulo, edged up to me and whispered that I should stay behind. I don't think the others noticed, as they were too busy selecting their sunhats.

Paulo led me into a narrow, white-washed corridor leading to a back premises. He led me into a large main office in which sat by a dark-haired dark skinned middle-aged lady behind a large Olivetti typewriter placed centrally on a large hardwood desk. The desk was stacked with several ledger books.

"This is Signora Agnese Lucca, she's been working with me for the past five or six years, since I took over, she knows the business better than I do and is responsible for almost all of our communications with the local businesses and the bank."

I noticed that she wasn't wearing a wedding ring, and wondered if she was related to Alphonso Lucca a manager at the Banco, maybe a sister or aunt? Obviously, I wouldn't be able to ask her directly, but maybe I can obtain the information indirectly.

"Nice to meet you Signora Agnese, I'm Marlene, visiting from USA. Maybe we can talk about the business together sometime?"

"Certainly, Signorina Marlene, you speak extremely good colloquial Italian."

"Oh, my family are part Italian, but I'm here to learn how to speak it properly, not like an Italian American."

"It sounds as if your relatives came from Calabria?"

"You're right, Signora! Do I sound like a country girl?"

"No, no, no! Your accent is charming, but a little surprising in one who looks as respectable and middle class as you do."

"So, I sound as if I come from the lower classes?"

"Well not from around here, anyway, Signorina."

"I'm not ashamed of my family, when they came the USA, they were very poor and had to struggle to make a living. I guess they were peasants when they came from Cosenza, but that was two generations ago, my mother's family have moved away from all that."

"Ah I see."

"Ok Marlene, maybe you can talk with Signora Lucca sometime, but now can we have a talk in my office?"

"Certainly Paulo, so nice to meet you Signora, I'll look forward to talking to you soon if I come again."

We moved into Paulo's office, which had a polished wooden floor covered with a threadbare browning carpet rug in front a large ornate desk with a telephone and a couple of large files sitting on top. There were some sepia photographs of sombre looking men on the walls. The window at the back looked out over a vista an olive groves, with many densely packed gnarled silvery green trees that provided shade from the brilliant sunshine.

"I understand from Luigi that you're already well informed about some of our problems Marlene?"

"Yes, I've heard about it both from Luigi and my friend Louise, but neither of them is very experienced in business affairs, so perhaps we can go over some points again, if that's ok, Paulo? As you may know I've had business training and have worked with businesses in USA which may have had similar problems to those your facing, namely a shortfall on their income, exacerbated by having widely dispersed production units which are both labour intensive and requiring skilled artisanal workers, as here in the winery and elsewhere. When do you think the problems started to become acute?"

"That's difficult to say exactly, Marlene, I came into the business about five years ago, just before my father passed and my uncle, Luigi's father was in charge, as well as being appointed technical advisor on the wine business, which technically I'm is my training; I was also given the job of supervising the bottling plant and brandy distillery in Bologna. However, Luigi's father is seriously unwell and no longer able to work, so now I've the sole responsibility and the problems that have been recently uncovered are very serious and alarming. I'm almost at my wits end worrying about it all.

"Has the income stream from the business decreased recently?

"Yes, by about 10-15%, but particularly from here with the wineries. I don't understand it, the harvest yields and sales figures are similar, if not better than they have been for several years, but the profits have diminished appreciably, and we've not been able to pay our workers significantly more than in the past few years."

"Hmm, I see. Have you had a recent audit of your accounts?"

"Yes, our accountant Signor Cremona has recently audited them. His firm has been with our family for many years, it was first appointed by my grandfather long before I was born, I'm 34 in case you were wondering, and Stephano Cremona is the grandson of the first Signor Italo Cremona who appointed.

"Do you bank here in Frascati?"

""Yes, we bank with the local branch of the Banco Populo in Frascati, we've been with them for longer than I can remember. It's the biggest and most respectable local bank here and we've had very good service and excellent relationships with them. They organize the wage payments of our field workers, which they do by cash deliveries to the various farms and they also pay the few salaried staff we have, including me and Signora Lucca. The Cremona's instruct the bank after consultation with me and Signora Lucca to make the payments. This lets me concentrate on sales and production which is quite enough!"

"I see, so you don't have a finance officer?"

"No Marlene, the Cremona's act as our finance officer, they have given us advice are doing so about our current problems. The head of the firm, Stefano Cremona was a friend of my late father."

"So, are you on good terms with Stefano, do you invite him to your home, or do you visit him at his home?"

"No, but he's on good terms with my wife, Maria and also close to the Bishop of Frascati, they both do a lot of work for the diocese and also for the Curia in Rome. But why are you asking? I have complete faith in Stefano, they've always given us excellent service."

"Do you have any training in accountancy and tax laws, Paulo."

"No, not at all, my background is in Humanities attending the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore UNICATT first in Rome and then in Piacenza. It's a relatively new university, founded only in 1921 and backed by Achille Ratti, who later became Pope Pius XI. He was a family friend, and I then went on to study viticulture at the University of Pisa as a post-graduate. I didn't complete the course, because of family pressures. However, I completed the courses in vineyard management and propagation in plants and made a special study of the legal aspects of winemaking, to make sure that we conformed to the standards required by the various government ministries for food and health and what will soon be a European wide laws.

"So, you don't really have much background in finance, Paulo?"

"Unfortunately not, I've had to pick up what little I know, whilst running the business. But of course, I can recognise the problems we have to deal with."

"And what about Signora Lucca, does she have any financial training?"

"Certainly, she has! Before she came to work for me, she was a junior manager in the Banco Populo and her nephew Alphonso is now the deputy manager there, he looks after our account with the bank."

"I see! It's a very tight knit group. How much do you reckon the annual shortfall is in your income?"

"That's a leading question, Marlene, and a very sensitive one. I hesitate to tell you, I haven't told Luigi or my wife Maria, the actual figure, only that it's serious, but as you look honest and are a good friend of Luigi, I'll tell you, if you agree not to disclose the precise amount to either Luigi or Maria if they ask."

"That is very trusting of you, Paulo! I'm flattered, you should know I am in the early stages of relationship with Luigi. But I'm good at keeping secrets from family, for example my father doesn't know anything about what my mother's brothers get upto in Philadelphia, which is just as well, as he'd be very unhappy about it."

"You must tell me about that sometime, Marlene. Anyway, the shortfall last year was around 10% of our net outgoings including wages and salaries and business costs, consummables and land taxes, this amounts to about $50,000, annually and the amount has been increasing gradually since I've been in charge. At the beginning it was only about $2000, but it has increased dramatically over the past two years."

"What do you ascribe the losses are to?"

"I've no idea, I only discovered that there was a shortfall about six months ago, when Stefano Cremona drew my attention to it and suggested that I might have to sell off one or two of the farms to stay afloat."

"Did he? Did he make any specific suggestions about which properties you should sell. Did he offer to negotiate the sale for you?"

"Yes, he did, as a matter of fact; two properties that are adjacent to land holdings his brother-in-law owns. He said that he'd negotiate very favourable terms, for us. I'm very reluctant to go down this route, as they are amongst our best farms and yield excellent harvests. But he's pressing me hard to make the sales within the next few weeks. "

"I understand, Paulo, it must be a huge concern for you to have to shoulder this responsibility on your own. I can see that it's making you a little anxious."

"A little anxious, doesn't describe it! I've had sleepless nights worrying about it, I daren't tell my wife, or Luigi, as the other part of our business, advising the Vatican about its financial affairs to a large extent is dependent on our financial standing and probity."

"I completely understand, also I think you must modernise the plant and generally introduce modern agriculture and industrial machinery into the rest of your business to increase its productivity and maybe rationalise some of your more distant companies so that it is easier to maintain oversight."

"I agree, but how?"

"I've been discussing a plan of action with Luigi, first we must discover where the money leakage is coming from and going to and repair that and secondly, we must negotiate a loan. I've suggested to Luigi that he might use his influence with the Pope. I understand that Luigi's on friendly terms with Monsignor Giovanni Montini in the Vatican's Secretariat of State, as well as his godfather, Eugenio Pacelli. If we can produce a credible business plan and you agree to pay back the loan with interest over a period of ten years or so he could fix a loan of $2-3 million to upgrade the factories and wineries to the highest standards. Also, I've connections in Philadelphia that could be used to increase your export business of wine, cheese and olive oil, I'd be willing to negotiate a deal with them on a commission basis."

"I see, that sounds very good! But all that seems to be dependent on finding the cause of the financial losses, don't you agree?"

"Very definitely, yes, and I recommend that some forensic investigations are made into your business. I think a few preliminary enquiries are in order, which with your permission I can arrange. I'd also like to see your accounts ledgers for the last two or three years without Signora Lucca's knowledge. If we obtain positive results, my fee will be an agreement to become your export manager to USA, and my salary will be a percentage of the sales, so will not involve you in any extra costs, my fees would come entirely from any profits I make from the the new business sales I make in USA, I would also like a small commission on recovered funds that we can obtain, say 2% if we can find $100000, that would be £2000, I'll need this to reward my colleague and his staff."

"Surely you don't suspect Agnese of being involved in these losses?"

"Nobody's from suspicion, she has responsibility for recording of all purchases and sales, so she's the first port of call, however it is likely that the web of deceit extends much further, I'd like to see the books without raising her suspicions. If I came back at night or at a time when she's not here and you could let me have access to them. Where do you keep them at night?"

"We lock them in the safe, Agnese has a set of keys and I have another."

"Could you arrange for me to visit tomorrow evening to a look at the ledgers? I'll see what I can find."

"Ok, I can fix that, how long would you need?"

"I'm not sure, I imagine several hours, but with your help and a camera I could make faster progress. I'd also need some guidance about how the ledgers are organized. What time does Agnese leave work and what time does she start?"

"She usually leaves around 4.30 pm as she looks after her sick mother and comes in around 8.30 am. Also, she leaves early on Fridays and doesn't work at the weekend. So, it might be better if you could come for the weekend. There's a bedroom upstairs no one will see you as you can use the back staircase. Do you think Luigi would mind?"

"Yes, that's sounds a much better plan, we'll postpone any further action for a week or so. Do you have a good camera? It may be necessary to take some photographs of the ledgers.

"As it happens I am a keen photographer, I have a Leica 35mm camera and a close up lens for document copying. I'll buy a couple high contrast films for photographing documents."

"Good idea, Paulo, it'd be better if you bought a dozen films though."

Paulo, looked at Marlene with wonder, "Do you think you might find anything useful."

"I hope to, Paulo, but just as you have asked for my discretion, I think it would be essential for you to equally discrete. I don't want you to mention this conversation to Signora Agnese, or her nephew at the Bank, or your accountant until I have done my investigations. Do you agree to this? Any hint that there is to be an investigation could jeopardise the exercise and possibly our safety."

Paulo, paled, "What do you mean? Do you think that the losses involve criminal activity?"

"I don't know, but one must keep a open mind to any and every possibility. Paulo, I realise that your family are very close to the Papal Estate, obviously we don't want this story to spread, as your family reputation is an invaluable asset that must be protected. I've some training in forensic accounting and would prefer to shield you from the details of any investigations I do until we've obtained some clarification. I'd like to start this week, to prevent any risk of evasion if there is any wrongdoing. I've a colleague, who'll assist with the investigation. We'll start as soon as possible and, as far as possible, try to avoid unpleasant and loud repercussions. Restitution is much a more satisfactory solution than prosecution in matters like these. We live in an imperfect world, and there's no point in trying to change human nature, but one should take precautions to see that one is personally protected."

"I'm not entirely sure, what you are saying Marlene, but I'd welcome your discrete help and if you find a satisfactory solution, I'll gladly agree to all your terms, we are looking to build our export market, in any case, there are better profits to be made in USA than here in impoverished Italy. By the way, have I mentioned that Luigi is an astonishingly lucky man to have such a beautiful and intelligent girlfriend, I hope he pursues you with more vigour than I've seen from him before! Otherwise, who knows what I might do to keep you near?"

"What are you saying Paulo? You're married!"

"Oh, Maria isn't interested in what I do, either in business or at home, she devotes herself to a life of piety in the service of the church."

"If I understand you correctly that sounds rather wretched. You're such an attractive dynamic man, you deserve more. Outside of your business affairs perhaps we could apply similar discretion to other affairs. Luigi's been over protected from harsh realities of life to be much use at it. His skills are better suited to the more rarified spiritual undertakings of the Papal Secretariat than the sordid business world. I have many kinds of dirty thoughts, don't you Paulo?"

Paulo leant forward and dragged me to him, "I wouldn't call what I'm thinking dirty, Marlene, merely libidinous and natural." He leant forward and kissed me hard on the lips and clutched at my breasts and drew me forwards so that I was kneeling between his very muscular legs. I found my hands were holding something hard in his crotch, it was so good to have his hard farmer's torso pressing against me, so different from the youthful figures I'd been with recently, maybe not Mauro or Morry, who were both small and muscular, but Paulo was a big powerful vulnerable man, much more to my taste, I could feel my juices flowing, everywhere, mouth, and my other mouth, we stayed holding each other for what seemed like an eternity, but was in reality a few ecstatic seconds. I felt strong attraction towards this unhappy and innocent soul. He seemed to look on me as a fairy godmother, or maybe he was thinking that I was just some hustler after his money?"

" I don't mind mixing business with pleasure, but what will Signora Lucca and the others be thinking? We should put stop a to it now. We'll have a lot to do, at the weekend. Can you meet me at the station on Friday evening?"

"Yes, I'll tell Maria that I've got to work late, she won't mind."

There's something else you could do. When do your field workers get paid, Paulo?"

"Every Friday evening they queue at the pay hut at the goods entrance?"

"How many workers are on your payroll. Are they all paid here?"

"We've four vineyards, each has 10 labourers, all their pay is disbursed centrally from here, the workers from the more distant vineyards are brought here by van. They're paid $2 per hour which is quite generous for field work around here, most do about 36 hours per week. At harvest time they must work overtime. They're paid a week in arrears so that the pay can be assessed from their time sheets. They each check in and out at the gates.

"So that's about $3000 per week, isn't it Paulo?"

"You're quick! Yes, the 4 foremen get higher pay."

"Who collects the time sheets and checks their accuracy?"

"That's what the foremen do, they bring the time sheets from each vineyard to the pay desk and hand out new ones for each week."

"Who counts the number of payment hours from the sheets?"

"That's Agnese job, every Monday."

"Have you ever checked to see whether the figures she forwards to the bank are accurate?"

"No, why would I?

"It's always useful to see if your employees are doing their jobs properly. Payroll fraud is common and with the kind of business you have, very easily done. What happens to the time sheets on Friday evenings?"

"They're delivered to the office in a large envelope and Agnese opens it on Mondays, then she forwards the payable hours for each worker to the bank who make up the wage sheets."

"Is there a receipt of the amount paid to each worker, do they have to sign for the money?"

"Yes, the receipts are all collected and kept here in the office."

"That's very good news. So we can check on the receipts collected and the numbers of workers you have counted and the numbers and amount sent to the bank for each worker for the last month or so?"

"Yes, we keep the receipts for two years because the tax people can ask to see them. Why are you asking, these questions, Marlene."

"Well payroll fraud is easily done if there is an agreement between the payroll clerk in a business and a complicit bank employee, or foreman. The numbers of workers being paid can be falsified. For example a worker who has retired, or been sacked may still appear on the pay role even though he's not working, his pay can be siphoned off into a ghost account. Who is in charge of hiring and firing of the workers?"

"We leave that to the foremen and Agnese liaises with them, and tells me if there are any problems."

"Do you know the names of any of your workers Paulo?"

"One or two only, there is quite a high turnover rate. I don't have much in common with them. When I was a kid at harvest times I used to help in the fields, so I got to know a lot of them, we used to hire students for the summer season, but it was a little disruptive, so now we prefer to hire seasonal workers who move northwards as the grape harvests begin in the warmer southern parts, like Puglia and Calabria and occur later in Lazio and Umbria and later still in Piedmont and Veneto so these professional wine harvesters migrate from south in August to north during October so they have nearly three months full time work. This is an extremely tough job, I assure you."

"I see, another common trick is to exaggerate the number of paid hours, this is usually done by collusion between the payroll clerk and the bank. It could easily be done by Aunt Agnese and her nephew so although you may think you have 40 workers collecting a weekly wage, the real number could be as low as 33 to 35 and the numbers of hours for which they're paid may not be the same as the numbers you pay for."

"My God, Marlene, surely no one could be as devious as to commit such a devilish fraud."

"I'm afraid there are such people, you are paying out about $160,000 per annum in wages, if there is a 10% loss due to payroll fraud that's about $16,000. I suspect this is likely to account for a big proportion of your losses, judging from your trusting nature and the apparent grip your financial advisors have over your money streams. You are practically asking to be robbed. The next question is who does the ordering of consumables and who takes care of the sales and deliveries of your wine to the retailers and wholesalers.

"I do some of that myself, but the despatch and ordering of goods are done here mainly by Agnese and by Stefano."

"Do you know how much wine you actually sell to the wholesalers and retailers compared with the amount you produce."

"Yes, we sell it all, any surplice is sent to the distillery in Bologna, there has been some shortfall in the amounts of wine we send to the distillation plant actually, it may account for about $3000-$4000 per annum.

"Do you know the name of the wholesaler you deal with?"

"Of course, there are two or three, here in Frascati, Stefano has made the financial arrangements with them for many years."

"Do you know where the receipts for the sales of wine to the wholesalers are kept?"

"Yes, Stefano keeps them, he shows me the figures after the harvest."

"Ok Paulo, I've heard all I need to for now. We can meet at the station on Friday evening I'll arrive about 5.45, can you meet me?

"Certainly, I'll tell Maria I'm working late, which I will be."

"Oh, do you have Agnese's home address?"

"She's moved recently, she mentioned that she needed more space to look after her mother. She lives in a place a little out of town Via delle Cistemolle, very nice place, she mentioned that she'd come into a little money inherited from a distant relative."

"That's interesting, have you visited her at home Paulo?"

"Good heavens no! Why would I do that?"

"Just curious. Ok that's all we've time now, see you Friday."

I gave the hard thing in his crotch a farewell squeeze and he tweaked my erect nipples. We walked though to the front area of the farmhouse and found that everyone was already sampling the wine and cheese laid out on a table.

"How did the afternoon go Louise?"

"Pretty well, we had an interesting time in the cellars, they are really extensive and a little spooky, but Luigi seems to know every nook and cranny, pretty well, the boys and Shereen got lost and it took ages for us to find them."

"So, Luigi was poking around in a few dark nooks and crannies was he? Sounds a bit hairy, hmmm?"

"And what about you with Paulo, a married man! I can see from the way you were eyeing him when you came in that your business discussion went a bit further, he seems a bit dazed, smitten too. He didn't even bother to check me out! That means someone else is preoccupying him at present! Did you have any time to talk business?"

"Yes, we had a useful discussion, I think we can do some business. I'm not sure whether he just wants a bit of playtime. He sounds as if he has an unhappy marriag, e but maybe he's just unhappy, who knows. Is the wine any good?"

"Not bad, but not good either, it's a bit harsh, it definitely could be improved, see what you think?"

"Mmm yes, I agree, it needs substantial improvement if it's going to sell in the States. I need to get back to Rome, when can we leave?"

"The coach will be leaving in a few minutes, what's the hurry, Marlene?"

"I have lots of stuff to arrange, I think I'll have to skip class tomorrow."

Chapter 23 Planning for action.

When we returned to Rome, I thanked Luigi for hosting the trip and told him I probably wouldn't be attending class tomorrow, as I'd business to attend to that would also require me to be away, probably till Sunday evening.

I met up with Mauro and Morry in Morry's office, which now was much tidier than the last time I'd visited. I surmised that Guilia was exerting a refining influence at least on his work habits, I wondered vaguely how she was coping with his other activities. Anyway that aside I was eager to to hear how the first week's business was going and to then fix arrangements for our expedition to Frascati.

Both seemed happy, Mauro said his weekly profit had doubled despite the increase in outlays and the girls were happy with the accommodation, their clients and the catering arrangements and also the timetabling procedures and the payment arrangements that I'd organized were all working surprisingly smoothly. He also said that a number of clients had shown an interest in booking second and third return visits with the same escort.

"I'm delighted Mauro, that's exactly as I planned, a satisfied customer will always want more and spend more, as the plan's working, we must stick to it for the time being. Maybe review the pricing next week!"

Morry reported that there had been several requests to use the pool rooms and the girls really seemed to be enjoying themselves there too. Also, judging from the receipts from the restaurants and room service, which were substantially more than he'd expected, they were all eating and drinking very well. All the girls were fully booked. Daniella and Elisa were in surprisingly high demand, he thought this was the result of the sexy brochure. I smiled.

"We ought to see if we can improve the images of the others Mauro, what do you think?"

"Yes, I'll arrange that tomorrow, maybe we can persuade Louise to give us a bit more advice. She has the right knack for these presentations. Also, we've a couple of new recruits, so we'll have a team of 7 working girls, and, I've not had any problems with the clients, they've all very happy with the service, so far. If we can increase the numbers of girls to about 15 in the next week or two, we'll have a very profitable enterprise. Can you cope with that Morry?"

"Yes, I've another two hotels we can use, they don't have jacuzzis, but they do have sunrooms we could use when the weather becomes colder. There's obviously a sizeable untapped market for high-end sex trade here in Rome. I imagine the confessionals will be noticing an upswing in their trade too! The girls like the idea of money being paid up front to a trustworthy intermediary, like Vicky, or Mauro or me, without them having to negotiate. Vicky is showing herself to be an excellent and tactful manager. What do you think Mauro?

"Yes, she seems to be happy in a managerial role, perhaps she could be given a bit more responsibility when the numbers increase? What do you think Marlene?"

"Yes, I was hoping she'd take over the organizational role from me. I've other business to do and plan, so I'd be happy with a lesser role and share my fees with her."

"That's very generous of you Marlene, let's keep it the way it is for another week or so, in case any problems crop up, meanwhile, here's your fee for the last week, as you see it's more than double what you estimated it would be, $500."

"My goodness, I'm amazed, delighted and relieved that things are going smoothly, I'll arrange to meet up with Guilia tomorrow and see how the banking arrangements are going for the girls. I saw her yesterday, she mentioned that the girls were very happy with the arrangements, as they are totally secret, and they like that they don't have to negotiate payment with the clients or Mauro. It makes them feel like independent business ladies."

"That's been my intention all along. I want them to feel in control of their lives, autonomous and self-confident. So long as we all stick to our roles, you Mauro, looking the security and drumming up the clients; you Morry, attending to the accommodation, food, laundry and recruiting clients too and the girls job is to give the clients what they want, everything will be fine. If you start to deviate from these simple roles things are likely to degenerate into something less appetizing. I'll talk with Vicky to see if anyone has reported any specific problems that need attention. So, you've been seeing Guilia, have you Morry? I'm glad, she's a nice person and clever, I felt she might be good for you."

"Well, you're right, she is good for me, and maybe the other way round too."

"Ok, Mauro we have to talk about some other business, can we go for a drink in the bar, Morry?"

"Sure, on the house, be my guest, you deserve it Marlene!"

"Why thank you Morry, see you next week."

We found a quiet corner in the hotel bar, Mauro ordered a Coke with a lemon twist and ice and I asked for a mineral water. I then updated him on what I'd learned that day, that Paulo Biaggi's secretary, Signora Agnese Lucca, along with her nephew the Alphonso Lucca, deputy bank manager at the Frascati branch of Banco Populo were almost certainly running at least one kind of payroll fraud in collaboration with Paulo's accountant, Stefano Cremona, who was trying to persuade Paulo to raise the capital to pay off his business debts by selling a couple of his vineyards to his own brother-in-law. Stefano was offering to act as intermediary. "He's also, probably skimming the company's wine sales, but I think his real plan is to ruin the Biaggi's and take over their business. It seems that the three have been plotting to rob the Biaggi enterprise for several years, probably since Agnese had moved from the bank to become Paulo's secretary and the older generation have either died or fallen sick.

"I see, quite a neat trick, very simple and more fool Paulo for not thinking of such an obvious link up between these smart people."

"Yes, he is very naïve and far too trusting of his colleagues. Steeling candy from a kid, comes to mind. But what I aim to do is persuade them to return the money they've embezzled. I need to find out where the money's gone. Agnese has bought a new property and its likely that Alphonso has also profited, but probably Stefano is waiting for the his reward, namely robbing the Biaggi's of their entire business."

"What do you care if a bunch of incompetent amateurs lose their business to a bunch of sharks, Marlene? What's in it for you and why should I help you, what would be in it for me? I'm no knight in shining armour."

"I've made an agreement that if we can stop the money leak and get back a good proportion, we will be rewarded commission on all money we recover, the more we recover the more money for you. Mauro."

"How much, Marlene?"

"At least $1000 for a day's work, if we play our cards right, although you won't be paid until the money's been recovered. Though, if you need to hire help, I can charge for your expenses probably $100."

"I see, so we're talking about quite a tidy sum, but I wouldn't have thought that the money is enough to be driving you. After all you could make that with another week's work here in Rome."

"Yes, they've offered me a job as export manager for their wine, olive oil and cheese to USA. As you may have gathered I've some powerful family connections, in Pennsylvania."

"You mean Italian family connections? I hope you know what you're doing, these guys aren't gentlemen. Not like here in Rome."

"They're my family Mauro, if I give them something, they'll give me something in return. Anyway here's my plan, we send a note to Agnese's nephew at the Bank, inviting him for tea in her new place which seemingly comes from Aunt Agnese saying that she's a bit worried about their payroll deal as it looks as if the Biaggi's have hired a snoop. He should come at 4.00 pm. We invite Stefano the accountant at 5.00pm by which time we'll have found out enough to incriminate them all and we'll threaten to expose them to the police and head of the Banco Populo here in Rome if they don't return all the money with interest, I reckon at least $100,000 between them.

I'll see if there's anyone we can lean to let us see if we can take a look at Alphonso Lucca's and his aunt's Agnese's bank accounts. I'll ask Giullia if she knows of any way it can be done. But Mauro, I don't think that brute physical force will work satisfactorily. We don't want any outward signs of damage. Obviously, we can frighten them but I the threat of exposing their crimes in the ostensibly respectable law abiding community should be a sufficiently powerful weapon here. They are all very assiduous church attenders and have high social standing in Frascati.

"Yes Marlene, we 'll only use force when all else fails, threats to their sense of their own importance are very powerful incentives with this kind of provincial hypocrite. I detest them! The only worse, are the churchmen themselves. You say they're friendly with the local Bishop?"

"Yes, they seem to be very close the bishop and his Monsignores, so it may mean that we can't threaten with exposing them to the Bishop, it might have to be the Curia, the Biaggi's are close to the Pope, would you believe? Giullia may know of a useful magistrate or Police Commissaire, who's not afraid of the pulpit or exposing these slimeballs. Stopping the the leak won't be enough I want the money returned in full at least. If they do that I think we can leave Alphonso and Stefano in place, they could be useful but Agnese will have to go.

"It sounds if we might have a fun afternoon, I hope you're not squeamish Marlene, these kinds of meetings can become a little messy. People don't like giving up their ill-gotten gains. You have to shock them out of their stupid belief that they're invulnerable. That a protector in the sky will save them from repercussions. Middle-aged spinsters love their delicate porcelain teacups and glass ornaments, which they usually like to have in a glass fronted walnut cabinet in the front room, and maybe a small dog or cat of two could be terminated if its foolish enough to stick around. I'll bring along a big guy to assist, to show them we can be violent!"

"Nothing too loud Mauro we need to be discrete. "

The following morning, I arranged to meet Guilia for lunch to discuss how the banking arrangements with the girls was going. We met in the usual place and as things were going well with the escort business we decided to splash out and ordered roast turbot with potatoes Rombo al forno can patate the potatoes were full of flavour with capers anchovies garlic and olives and also had braised artichokes to accompany the dish which we shared as we'd been warned that it would be too much for slim young ladies like us. We bought an Piedmontese Arneis wine, which the waiter recommended, not too expensive and elegant.

I asked how the girls were adjusting to the banking arrangements. She said they were all thrilled to have their own money and so much to spend, as they didn't need to buy lunches or dinners any more on the days they were working. Daniella who was working a lot, complained that she thought she was putting on a bit of weight, but she also said that she's having to do lots of pelvic exercises, which keeps her abdominal muscles in shape!

" Morry, said that he thought the girls were happy, how about you Guilia, have you had any encounters?"

She blushed bright read and said that Morry was quite enough for her to cope with at present, after seeing him she couldn't face another encounter, and besides Morry had said that he wanted her exclusively to himself.

"Does that mean he too has stopped seeing anyone else?"

"Yes, I think so for now, anyway."

"So, it's love at first thrust, is it? Has he told you much about himself."

"Yes, he's also accompanied me to see Mama in her residence."

"Gosh that's obviously a very meaningful gesture, it must be love! Lucky you!"

"Yes, many thanks to you Marlene, I owe you!"

"Nonsense, I like doing favours when I can. But listen you could do me some big favours. Do you remember a lady at the Banco Populo in Frascati called Agnese Lucca, I believe she's Alphonso, the deputy manager's aunt?"

"Do I know her!! Yes, and what a bitch! A most unpleasant lady, may she burn in hell with her horrible nephew! You don't have to be terribly bright to be a bank teller, with Banco Populo, but she fell well below the minimal threshold of competence. The manager told Alphonso that he'd have sacked her years ago if it hadn't been for him and the important accounts he managed. She was so incompetent and stupid that she had to be moved. When the opportunity arose, when Paulo, had to step into his father's shoes after the poor guy died, Alphonso asked Stefano Cremona to recommend her for a job with Paulo Biaggi, using the line that she was familiar with the business from what she'd learned from working in the bank."

"You knew Paulo's father then?

"Yes, he was a really nice guy, used to come into the bank to fetch the workers' pay which he paid himself, every Friday evening."

"I met Signora Agnese very briefly when I visited the Minardi winery, a day or so ago to discuss their business problems which are quite serious. Briefly, I think they are being robbed with a simple payroll fraud, which Signora Lucca has arranged."

"From, what I know of her, I don't think she's capable or organizing anything like that, she's far too thick, it's likely that her crooked nephew or his chum, Stefano Cremona set it up after old man Biaggi died and she's simply doing as she's been told, and probably not very well. I imagine the reason she hasn't been sacked by Signor Biaggi, is that he's very trusting and remote, probably because he doesn't have any financial background. He's an oenologist, isn't he?"

"That's right and you're also right about his lack of financial background, he's incredibly naïve, he shouldn't really be in charge of a big enterprise."

" I've heard whispers; the real mainstay is his super virtuous wife, Maria, who I hear is the Bishop's mistress!"

"Good heavens! I'm shocked! But, how intriguing, tut! How d'you know?"

"There are always rumours about bishops' behaviour, especially here in Italy, it's usually with young boys. She's often seen leaving the bishopric late at night. Frascati's a small town."

"I've heard from a friend that she's extremely pious, and gives her husband a hard time, with her extreme piety."

"I don't doubt it, these ultra-religious women who hang around churchmen like groupies, around pop stars, usually are quite mad, they'll do anything to curry favour with the Monsignores, and I mean anything!"

"Anyway, since Agnese's she's been working for Paulo, the local business has been making substantial losses, about "$20,000-$30,000 per annum, so they've accumulated a debt of around $100,000. I estimate that 50 to 60% of this, is the result of the payroll fraud with the Frascati wineries that the Biaggi's own and the rest probably from scams fiddled by other deals with wine wholesalers that Stefano has arranged. I think Stephano's game is to bankrupt the Biaggi's and take them over himself.

Anyway we're checking the workers time slips against their pay, what I need it some corroborating evidence to trace the money flows into and out of Alphonso Lucca's bank account."

"Mmm, I doubt if Alphonso's stupid enough to keep any embezzled money in the bank where he works. He probably transfers the money from the Biaggi account to an account in another bank."

"Is there any way of finding out?

"The simplest would be to examine the recurrent outflows from the Biaggi account and trace them."

"Is there any way that Alphonso could keep the transaction off the books."

"Not really, the Bank's procedures are very tight, the simplest and most discrete way would for him to arrange a standing order payment from one of the Biaggi accounts. This would be very simple to examine. These are all recorded on central records. The bank stores copies of these centrally here is Rome. I could look this afternoon and let you know, if there are any regular direct transfers from the Biaggi account to a traceable numbered account, probably held under a false name, which is illegal."

"That would be really helpful. I'll come round after work and see what you've found out if I may.

"Sure, let me see to it, it will only take a matter of minutes."

"You realize that if this is true all the actors in this malfeasance will be looking at serious gaol time, at least five years plus substantial fines and enforced bankruptcy!"

"Of course, but I would prefer to retrieve the money and keep working for our benefit from now on rather than be involved in a court case which will also destroy Paulo's reputation."

"Ok Marlene, I've got work to do, if I can find anything that'll destroy Alphonso Lucca and Stefano Cremona, it'll make my day."

When I met Guilia later that afternoon, she reported that she had found that the money trail was quite short, monthly payments were automatically paid from the Biaggi account to an a numbered account here is the central Rome branch for $850 per month about "$10,000 per annum and its been running for the past four years. But I've also discovered that there's very little money held in this account as each month three standing orders are paid to guess who?"

"The Luccas and Signor Cremona?"

"Nearly right, but not quite, Signor Cremona is not a beneficiary, but Signora Maria Biaggi is."

"She receives $300 per month into the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro Spa as do the Lucca's."

"My God! Why would she want to rob her husband?"

"I wondered that too, she assigns almost all the money to the Bishops account, here in Frascati."

"This makes things a little complicated don't you think. We'll never be able to retrieve the money from the Church. Even the Jews haven't managed to do that! But this is dynamite."

Chapter 24 Action.

I phoned Paulo in his office on Friday to find out if there were any discrepancies in the payroll.

"Any news Paulo?"

"You're a genius Marlene! It was exactly as you predicted. Only 36 men turned up for pay, I recognised one of them, an old timer who I remembered from the times I'd helped with the harvest ten years ago. His name is Rudolfo Verdi. I took the precaution of wearing a large sunhat and sunglasses, and a field coat. Nobody knew who I was, I approached him as he was leaving, and introduced myself. 'Rudolfo, there seems to be a shortage, I thought there were 40 field workers, but there are only 36 in the line, what's happened to the other four." He looked puzzled, and blurted out, didn't you know that Signora Agnese laid off two workers from my vineyard and one from the other two outlying farms about two years ago. She kept the full complement here in the Minardi estate, maybe because it's a little bigger, but probably so as not to upset you. I know times are hard and we're all feeling the pinch."

I tried not to look too surprised and enquired the names of those who'd been laid off. He told me Tomaso Rossi, Gian Biaggi, Ricardo Bruno and Antonio Romano, all good workers still, but they were all over 50 years old. She gave them each a send-off of a month's wages. They were pleased at the time, as at Christmas, and I think they've all found other jobs."

"I should have known about this Rudolfo, it was very remiss of me not to have spoken to them before they left. He just looked at me without expression and walked away. I've checked on the list of 40 employees who're paid weekly wages, and all four are still there on the payroll, although they were dismissed two years ago!"

"I thought so! Ok, Paulo, please can you now check on the number of hours the workers claim for on their time slips and then see how much Agnese records as the official pay. have worked and we'll see how many hours you pay for them to the bank."

"I've already done that and again you were right, we're paying the bank for about 10% more hours than the workers have done, excluding the ghost workers we are also paying for at full rates. I've checked for the four weeks, and the figures are nearly always the same."

"Well, that's the first part of the mystery solved. Now we have to follow the money trail into the bank and beyond. Please don't say a word to anyone else otherwise we won't catch them."

"But there is solid evidence here of embezzlement at least by Agnese Lucca."

"Yes, but she couldn't do this alone, she would need at least once accomplice in the Banco Populo and any accountant should have spotted the discrepancy between the numbers of hours worked and claimed for and the number of hours paid for. Someone has turned a blind eye to the fraud."

"You mean Stefano Cremona?"

"Not necessarily, it could be a clerk in his office, do you know if he has office clerks?"

"Yes, but he has always assured me that he deals personally with all matters relating to our account, as he knows it so well and has been attending to the family business for so long."

"Maybe so, but we need to see what other tricks may have been played on your business, so not a word. Hold your fire, until the money has been recovered.

I'm looking forward to seeing you again tomorrow, Paulo, I don't think there will be as much to do as I thought though."

"Not so much with the business, but perhaps you'll let me take you to dinner somewhere and we can plan for the future.

"I'll phone you tomorrow and we can arrange to meet somewhere."

I arranged to meet Mauro and his assistant at Frascati railway station at 2.00 pm, Mauro had said that he wanted to go there earlier to pick up his assistant and take a look at Signora

"Do I know her! What a total bitch! Yes, a most unpleasant lady, I hope she burn in hell with her horrible nephew and the sooner, the better! Also, she's very stupid, you don't have to be terribly bright to be a bank teller, with Banco Populo, but she falls well below the threshold of competence. She was so incompetent that she was moved to a position away from the customers. The manager told Alphonso that he'd have sacked her years ago, if it hadn't been for the important accounts he managed, particularly the Biaggi's" When the opportunity arose, Alphonso persuaded Stefano Cremona to recommend Agnese for secretarial job with Paulo Biaggi, after he stepped into his late father's shoes, poor guy."

"I met her briefly when I visited the Minardi winery, to discuss their business problems, which are quite serious. I think they are being robbed with a simple payroll fraud, which Signora Lucca has arranged."

"From, what I know of her, I don't think she's capable of organizing anything like that, she's far too thick, it's likely that her crooked nephew, or his chum Stefano Cremona, organized it and she is simply doing what she's been told to do, probably not very well. I imagine the reason she hasn't been sacked by Signor Biaggi, is that he is very trusting and doesn't have any financial background. He is an oenologist, isn't he."

"Yes, that's right and you're also right about his lack of financial background, he is incredibly naïve, and shouldn't be in charge of a big enterprise."

"Yes, I've heard whispers, but the real boss is his very virtuous wife, Maria, who I hear is actually the Bishop's mistress."

"Good heavens! How intriguing, how d'you know?"

"There are always rumours and she's often seen leaving the bishopric late at night. Frascati is a small town, you know, the old Cardinal Bishop Selvaggiani, died a few years ago and they appointed a stop gap Bishop, but he has a deputy I believe who runs the Diocese and I've heard is good at raising money, it's quite a large Diocese, about 50000 Catholics but only about 500 actually attend any of the 29 churches including the Cathedral, so it's not exactly thriving as a religious community, however at least 80% of the congregation are elderly women, and mostly very pious. Since the war religious observance has fallen off a cliff."

"Well, I've heard from a friend that she is extremely pious and gives her husband a hard time, although the whole family seem to want to crawl into bed with the Pope."

"I don't doubt it, these very religious women are a quite mad, they'll do anything to curry favour with the Monsignores."

"Ok, since Agnese's been working for Paulo, the local business has been making substantial losses, about "$20000-$30000 per annum, so they've accumulated a debt of around $100000. I estimate that about 50 to 60% of this is the result of the payroll fraud from the wineries the Biaggi's own, and the remainder comes from sales scams fiddled by other deals that Stefano has arranged, with wine wholesalers. We are checking the workers time slips, what I need it some corroborating evidence to trace the money flows into and out of Alphonso Lucca's bank account."

"Mmm, I doubt if Alphonso is stupid enough to keep any embezzled money in the bank where he works. He probably transfers the money from directly from the Biaggi account to another controlled, either by him or his friend Stefano."

"Is there any way of finding out?

"The simplest way is to examine the recurrent outflows from the Biaggi account and trace it."

"Is there any way that Alphonso could keep the transaction off the books."

"Not really, banking procedures are very tight, and simple embezzlement would be noticed, the simplest way would for him to arrange a standing order or direct debit, which would be very simple to trace. These transactions are all recorded on central records. I could look this afternoon and let you know, if there are any regular direct transfers from the Biaggi account to a numbers account which we can trace."

"That would be extremely helpful. I'll come round after work and see what you've found out if I may.

"Sure, I'll see to it this afternoon, it will take a matter of minutes."

Chapter 25 Preparations for action.

I phoned Paulo in his office on Friday to find out if there were any discrepancies in the payroll.

"Any news Paulo?"

"You're a genius Marlene! It was exactly as you predicted. Only 36 men turned up for pay, I recognised one of them, an old timer, Rudolfo Verdi I remembered from ten years back when I'd helped with the harvest. I took the precaution of wearing a large sunhat and sunglasses, and a field coat. Nobody knew who I was, I approached Rudolfo as he was leaving, and introduced myself. I said. 'Rudolfo, there seems to be a manpower shortage, I thought there were 40 field workers, but there are only 36 in the line, what's happened to the other four?" He looked puzzled, and blurted out, didn't you know that Signora Agnese laid two workers from my vineyard and one from the other two outlying farms about two or three years ago. She kept a full complement here in the Minardi estate, maybe because it's a little bigger, but probably so as not to upset you. I know times are hard and we're all feeling the pinch."

I tried not to look too surprised and enquired who'd been laid off. He told me, Tomaso Rossi, Gian Biaggi, Ricardo Bruno and Antonio Romano, all good workers still, but they were all over 50 years old. She gave them each a send-off of a month's wages. At the time, they were pleased, as at Christmas, and I think they've all found other jobs quite easily."

"I should have known about this Rudolfo, it was very remiss of me not to have spoken to them before they left."

"He just looked at me without expression and walked away.

Anyway, I've checked the list of 40 employees who're paid weekly wages, and Tomaso Rossi, Gian Biaggi, Ricardo Bruno and Antonio Romano are still there on the payroll, although they were made surplus to requirements, about three years ago!"

"I thought so! Ok, Paulo, please can you now check on the number of hours the workers claim for on their time slips and then see how much Agnese records as the official pay. have worked and we'll see how many hours you pay for them to the bank."

"I've done that already, again you were right! We're paying the bank for about 10% more hours than the workers have claimed for, excluding the ghost workers we are also paying for at full rates. I've checked for the past four weeks, and the figures are nearly always the same."

"Well, that's the first part of the mystery solved. Now we must follow the money trail into the bank and beyond. Please don't say a word to anyone else otherwise we won't catch them."

"But there is solid evidence here of embezzlement, at least by Agnese Lucca."

"Yes, but she couldn't do this alone, she'd need at least one accomplice in the Banco Populo and any novice accountant making even a cursory audit, should've spotted the discrepancies between the numbers of hours worked, those claimed, and the number of hours paid for. Someone has turned a blind eye to the fraud."

"You mean Stefano?"

"Probably, but not necessarily, it could be a clerk in his office, do you know if he has office clerks?"

"Yes, but he's always assured me that he deals personally with all matters relating to our account, as he is so familiar with it as he's been attending to the family business for so long."

"Maybe so, but we need to see what other tricks have been played on your business, so not a word. Hold your fire, until the money's been recovered.

I'm really looking forward to seeing you again tomorrow, but I don't think there will be as much office work as I thought there might."

"Not so much with the business, but perhaps you'll let me take you to dinner somewhere and we can do some other business!"

"I'll phone you tomorrow and we can arrange to meet somewhere."

"You knew Paulo's father then?

"Yes, he was a really nice guy, used to come into the bank to fetch the workers' pay which he paid himself, every Friday evening."

"I met Signora Agnese very briefly when I visited the Minardi winery, a day or so ago to discuss their business problems which are quite serious. Briefly, I think they are being robbed with a simple payroll fraud, which Signora Lucca has arranged."

"From, what I know of her, I don't think she's capable or organizing anything like that, she's far too thick, it's likely that her crooked nephew or his chum, Stefano Cremona, set it up after old man Biaggi died and she's simply doing as she's been told, and probably not very well. I imagine the reason she hasn't been sacked by Signor Biaggi, is that he's very trusting and remote, probably because he doesn't have any financial background. He's an oenologist, isn't he?"

"That's right and you're also right about his lack of financial background, he's incredibly naïve, he shouldn't really be in charge of a big enterprise."

" I've heard whispers; the real mainstay is his super virtuous wife, Maria, who I hear is the Bishop's mistress!"

"Good heavens! I'm shocked! But, how intriguing, tut! How d'you know?"

"There are always rumours about bishops' behaviour, especially here in Italy, it's usually with young boys. She's often seen leaving the bishopric late at night. Frascati's a small town."

"I've heard from a friend that she's extremely pious, and gives her husband a hard time, with her extreme piety."

"I don't doubt it, these ultra-religious women who hang around churchmen like groupies, around pop stars, usually are quite mad, they'll do anything to curry favour with the Monsignores, and I mean anything!"

"Anyway, since Agnese's she's been working for Paulo, the local business has been making substantial losses, about "$20,000-$30,000 per annum, so they've accumulated a debt of around $100,000. I estimate that 50 to 60% of this, is the result of the payroll fraud with the Frascati wineries that the Biaggi's own and the rest probably from scams fiddled by other deals with wine wholesalers that Stefano has arranged. I think Stephano's game is to bankrupt the Biaggi's and take them over himself.

We're checking the workers time slips against their pay, what I need it some corroborating evidence to trace the money flows into and out of Alphonso Lucca's bank account."

"Mmm, I doubt if Alphonso's stupid enough to keep any embezzled money in the bank branch where he works. He probably transfers the money from the Biaggi account to an account in another bank."

"Is there any way of finding out?

"The simplest would be to trace the recurrent outflows from the Biaggi account."

"Could Alphonso keep the transactions off the books."

"Not really, the Bank's procedures are very tight, the simplest and most discrete way would for him to arrange a standing order payment from the Biaggi farm account. This would be very simple to trace. All standing orders are recorded on our Bank's central records. Copies of these centrally here is Rome. I could look this afternoon and let you know, if there are any regular direct transfers from the Biaggi account to traceable numbered accounts, probably held under a false name, which is illegal."

"That would be fantastically helpful. I'll come round after work and see what you've found out if I may.

"Sure, let me see to it, it will only take a matter of minutes."

"You realize Marlene, that all the players in this fraud will be looking at serious gaol time, at least five years, plus substantial fines and enforced bankruptcy!"

"Of course, but I'd prefer to retrieve the money, rather than be involved in a lengthy and expensive court case which could also destroy Paulo's reputation."

"Ok Marlene, if I can find anything that'll destroy Alphonso Lucca and Stefano Cremona, it'll make my month!"

I met Guilia later that afternoon, she told me gleefully that she'd found that the money trail was quite short; monthly payments of $1250 were automatically transferred from the Biaggi account into a numbered account here at the central Rome branch. About "$15,000 per annum has been flowing into the account from the Biaggi winery for the past three years. But there's very little money held in this account, as each month three standing orders are paid out to, guess who?"

"The Luccas and Signor Cremona?"

"Nearly but not quite, right, Cremona's not a beneficiary, but Signora Maria Biaggi is, she receives $400 per month into her account at the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro Spa, in Frascati as do both the Lucca's."

"My God! Why would she want to rob her husband?"

"I wondered that too, she sends $ 300 per month to the auxiliary Bishop's account, here in Frascati."

"This makes the situation more complicated; don't you think? Were unlikely to prise the money from the Church. Even the Jews haven't managed recover the money the Church has stolen from them! But this is dynamite. I'm not sure whether to tell Paulo or not."

"I don't think you should withhold information like this; he'll have to know soon. Maybe talk to you friend Luigi, he might have some bright ideas, at least about how to use the information to extract compensation from the Church. They're always having to shell out hush money for the many thousands of sex misdemeanours that the clergy get up to. But be careful, for all we know at present Signora Biaggi may be being blackmailed."

"Yes, good advice Giulia, I've never met Maria Biaggi, so what I know of her is hearsay only. But she does sound as if she has a few problems. I'll see what Luigi thinks. He may, like you see Maria's donations as a means of gaining some leverage in securing a load or investment in the business from the Vatican bank."

"Yes, if it can be shown that she's being blackmailed by a Monsignore, close to the Curia."

I had just time to get back to the Language school to meet Luigi before, he went home. He seemed preoccupied but pleased to see me. He wanted to know what I'd discussed with Paulo, I gave him an outline of our discussion and told him of what had ensued, that we had proof that there was a payroll fraud which had been operating for the past three years, which had cost the family business about $15000 per year, and that was only about three quarters of the loss. We'd also found that the money was being siphoned off to an account in Rome which transferred the money to bank accounts at Banca Nazionale del Lavoro Spa, here in Frascati, owned by Signora Lucca, Paulo's trusted secretary and Alphonso Lucca the deputy manager of the Banco Populo in Frascati, who looks after your family business account. These two came as no surprise, it was obvious that the payroll scam had to be fixed by some arrangement between the bank and a staff member, but there is one other recipient of the embezzlement, and this may be rather shocking for you, Luigi. "Who do you think it was?"

"I assume from what you are saying now that it isn't Stefano Cremona, who I've always found insufferable, and I think the feeling is mutual, so I've no idea, who?"

"Your sister-in-law, Maria Biaggi, receives $400 per month from this source and she transfers $300 of that to the adjunct Bishop of Frascati's charity fund, $3,600 per annum, is a big donation, don't you think? I've also heard rumours that she's very close to this guy?"

"Do you mean they're having an affair? I find that hard to credit, she's such a pious ascetic woman, I believe she was intending to be a nun but reluctantly married Paulo due to pressure from her family. Paulo was more or less coerced into marrying her by his parents, my late uncle and aunt, who thought it would be good for the family to marry into her family who are also on very good terms with the Holy Father and the late Bishop of Frascati, who was a very brave and honourable man and did some very good things for the people of Frascati after the war."

"I see, so perhaps she's doing this out of revenge pay back for all she's had to put up with being married to a man who doesn't care for her."

"How do you know that, did Paulo tell you, he's normally very loyal. Have you told him about this embezzlement?"

"I told him how to investigate the payroll fraud, it is a very simple method and easily caught, but anyone who has their eyes open, unfortunately, until now, Paulo has, never considered that Agnese Lucca and her nephew could be capable of robbing him. He's a little naïve."

"I should say so, also not the brightest, he went to a Micky mouse university for where the rich families send their not very bright sons, instead of the Army, they wanted to train him to take over the business. It is a tragedy that my uncle died young and my father, won't last much longer either."

"I haven't yet told Paulo, about the money transfers to the Lucca's and Maria, but he knows about the payroll fraud and is now suspicious of Stefano Cremona. He thinks he may be draining the business of funds to force Paulo, to sell off some farms to pay for his outstanding depts, caused by the shortfall funds caused by the stolen money. Or face the consequences of being found guilty of fraud, which would mean then going to prison for at least 5 years. I think I can force the Lucca's to pay back a large proportion of the money they've stolen, and probably Cremona too as he is almost certainly complicit, or a very negligent accountant, but it may be difficult to persuade the Church to do the same. And I've no idea what I should tell Paulo about what we've discovered about Maria."

"It wouldn't surprise me if he already was aware that she's having an affair, but I think he'll be very hurt by her disloyalty. Perhaps if I speak to her and ask her what she's playing there might be a mitigating reason for this shocking behaviour. It is probably grounds of marriage dissolution, especially if the marriage hasn't been consummated, which I think maybe the case."

"Hard to prove if she's having an affair with adjunct Bishop. Do you think you could use this to strengthen your case for a loan from the Apostolic Bank, if you can guarantee that Paulo won't sue the Church as being parties to embezzlement. It might mean that the Bishop could go to prison with the rest of them, if the police were called in."

"I see where you're going Marlene, and it has its merits. But it needs to be thoroughly checked out, and Maria should be persuaded to point a finger at her friend and confess, claim that she was coerced, blackmailed, whether she was or not."

"A visit to the women's prison might make her see sense!"

"Good point, but what a mess! How are you going to retrieve the money from the Luccas and Cremona?"

"Don't ask, but as we have all the evidence needed to incriminate them, of major fraud, it should be quite easy to persuade them to return the money, the alternative is prison and social ruin, which may be even harder for them."

"So, you intend to blackmail them? Won't that incriminate you?"

"Not necessarily, not if I turn them in after I've retrieved the money."

"My goodness, you're quite a tough lady, Marlene. But I like the way you think."

"I think the Church may step in to save them from being taken to court, if the adjunct Bishop is involved, they won't want that kind of publicity."

"Ah no, perhaps we can agree not to prosecute if they underwrite the loan for modernisation of the firm and maybe the Banco Populo in Frascati can be persuaded to clean up their act too and bring in some competent people."

"Ok Luigi, I have to go to Frascati, on Sunday can you arrange to meet Maria and afterwards have a talk with Paulo telling what you've found out. I'll be in Frascati, fixing the Luccas and Cremona."

"Won't that be a dangerous?"

"I don't think so, I won't be alone."

"Ah, I understand. I won't question you further on this, good luck, now where do want to eat?"

"Why don't we buy some food from the cantina and eat in your place?"

"Good, idea an early night is called for."

Chapter 26 Action in Frascati

I'd arrange to meet Mauro and his henchman at Frascati railway station at 2.00 pm, Mauro had been there earlier to pick up his assistant, Frederico and also to take a look at Signora Lucca, house to see if there she had any dogs, or other kinds of security arrangement.

"I thought you said that she lived with her old mother, there's no sign of anyone else living in the house."

"That simplifies things, does she have a telephone?"

"Yes, and big TV, I imagine it would make a lot of mess if it were damaged."

"Yes, I think she'd be very upset, if it were knocked. What's in your bag, Freddy?"

"Oh, just the tools of the trade, face mask and a few ordinary tools, un piede di porco, hammer and a few rings that I like to wear for wet work."

"What are you doing with a pig's foot?"

"It's called a crowbar in English, Marlene, very useful if you want to open locked cupboards, or pull up some floorboards. That's where they usually store the booty. Usually under an armchair."

"Thanks for that, do you think she's likely to keep the cash at home rather than the bank?"

"Yes, I've checked to see how much she has in her account in BNL; only $250, and about the same for the Lucca's and Signora Biaggi."

"That was clever of you Mauro, how did you do that?"

"Contacts, Marlene, Frascati's a small village and we've a few useful friends. I've borrowed a van; we may need it to collect the booty. I'll start by pretending I've come to check the electricity meter and after she lets me in, you and Freddy will follow, I suggest you wear a headscarf and mask, you don't want to be identified and that red hair of yours is a beacon."

"Ok, I'll speak with a Calabrian dialect, I'll pretend that I'm with the Ndrangheta that should frighten the old bitch."

"It frightens the shit out of me too, the Mafia-Capitale don't like these guys one bit. They're really dangerous and nasty people."

"You mean, you're the good guys, Mauro?"

"Everything's relative Marlene, so compared with you, on a scale of 1-10 with the Pope being about 5, we're 6 on the virtue scale, but the Ndrangheta are zero!"

"I didn't say I actually have connections with the Ndrangheta did I?"

"No but I've made inquiries, and it appears that your uncle is close to the Philly Capo, isn't he?"

"You really shouldn't know that, Mauro, you could get into serious trouble, if you get my meaning."

"Completely, and we won't be fucking you over when we make off with the booty either."

"You think that Agnese hold a substantial amount at home?"

"My informants tell me, she's used as the safe deposit box as Stefano, Alphonso and Maria's friend the adjunct Bishop think her place is safer than banks to store bullion."

"They've converted their cash into gold, have they? very prudent. That's what I'd do myself."

"Yes, it's standard practice around here. It can easily be converted into cash, I can arrange that, if necessary."

"So, when you've frightened the old crow and got her to strip her clothes off completely, and after you've done a little damage to the furnishings, everyone finds that unsettling and are more likely to start blabbing, I'll cross-examine her, then we'll get her to call her nephew to come round and make a full confession. I think we'll leave the under Bishop for another day. That's a private matter. We'll have to retrieve the money he's stolen, by other means."

We all climbed into the rusty van, acquired for the afternoon, Freddy handed me a black headscarf and face mask. I covered my hair with the scarf but left off the mask till we got into Agnese's house. It was a ten-minute drive from the station to the two-story house on via Domenico Cininelli, a quiet street, in the outskirts of town near the Nuclear Physics laboratory. I imagined that properties were a bit cheaper, around here, as people would be afraid of nuclear accidents. The house stood behind a high wall covered in ivy with a high gate in front of driveway to the garage. All front facing windows were shuttered and guarded with iron railings. Precautions which I shouldn't have thought weren't justified, considering that she was only a secretary. She obviously wanted to keep her possessions to herself.

Negligently gate to the path to the side door was open, so Mauro was able to approach the front door. He announced to Agnese when she answered his ring that he wanted to inspect her meter, it hadn't been done for a year or so.

"Why are you calling on a Saturday?"

"You've been out during the week when I last called Signora, it won't take a minute. He walked into the hallway past Agnese with asking and left the door ajar,

"Please, show me where your meter Signora?"

"It's here, in the cupboard under the stairs, she turns a corner and bends down to open the cupboard, whilst Freddy and I slid through the open door. I close the door firmly.

Agnese turned and squawked, what are you doing here in my house!

"We want you to return the money you and your nephew Alphonso have stolen, Signora."

"What're you talking about, I don't have any money and I've never stolen a cent from anyone."

She was had blanched to the colour of a dirty grey sheet and looked nervously at Freddy.

"That's a nice TV set, you have Signora, is it new? It's much bigger than mine. How come you can afford such an expensive set? You must have lots of money to spend."

"It was a Christmas present from my nephew, Alphonso," she blurted.

"He must love you very much Signora or be very grateful for all the money you've stolen for him."

"How dare you accuse me of stealing money from the Biaggi's"

"I haven't mentioned the Biaggi's have I, Freddy?"

"No Comare, you haven't mentioned the Biaggi's, only signora spaventapasseri has mentioned the Biaggi's."

"That was a slip up Agnese, wasn't it, so you've been stealing from your employer, have you? You must have made a tidy sum, where is it?

"I haven't stolen any money from Biaggi's or anyone else and I certainly wouldn't keep it here, would I?"

"Where would you keep stolen money, then Agnese, the bank? I don't think so, people talk in Frascati, it would soon be all over town if you had a $120,000 in your account. Wouldn't it? The same goes for your nephew Alphonso, the bank manager and your accountant friend Stefano Cremona."

"How do you know these things? Has that bitch Maria Biaggi been telling tales? I've never trusted her. It was all her plan you know, together with that old lecher, Stefano."

"Well, I suppose you're not unattractive to a certain type of guy."

"What do you think guys?" Do you find Agnese attractive?"

"Not in these baggy clothes, let's see what it looks like under the covers. Take your clothes off please, Agnese so that we can take a good look at your body."

"This is outrageous, you're going to rape me, aren't you?" she screams.

"Don't be ridiculous, as if! No, we're just curious to see what Stefano sees, that we haven't yet."

"I've never taken my clothes off for him! I just pull my knickers down and he lies on top of me, the old goat! Then we screw, if he can get it up."

"How interesting, when do you do perform this recreational activity?"

"Why Saturday afternoons, I've been expecting him to call, I thought it was him at the doorway when you rang."

"So, why don't you take your clothes off now in preparation? give him a nice surprise!"

"No, I won't, you're all sadistic pigs! And you're from the Ndrangheta aren't you? Fucking parasite."

"Name calling won't get you anywhere, Agnese, and if anyone's a parasite here, it's you and what you're preparing to do with Stefano?"

"Mind your own fucking business, you piece of shit."

"My goodness, did you hear that boys, when she takes her knickers off, you've my permission to give her a couple of smacks, I imagine you'd quite enjoy that?"

"Yes, we would, Comare. Take your clothes off now Agnese, before I tear them off."

"You, wouldn't dare, you guttersnipe, I'll fix you!" With that she grabbed the poker, which was lying on the hearth in front of the fireplace, and tried to smash Freddy's skull, if she'd been a bit younger, she might have got within a yard or two of her target, as it was, she found herself kneeling on the floor with right her arm twisted painfully behind her back.

"The old bitch has spirit, strip her!"

"Yes boss, right away."

With that Freddy flicked open his knife and inserted at the neckline of her woollen dress and yanked downward, the dress fell apart revealing tight bra straps and a baggy pair of satin knickers. Another nick at the straps and knicker elastic with a swift tug laid bare all that she'd claimed never to have displayed to Stefano. She was in pretty good shape for a woman in her mid-forties. Still had a bit of a waist and her bum although large, was moderately attractive.

"Stand up Agnese and show us where you keep the money you've stolen, it must be quite a tidy sum, so not in your cunt!"

"No, I won't, and I don't have any money."

She had quite a tummy, but her boobs were still in good shape, that must be the advantage of being childless, her black bush was unkempt. Not bad though. I could use her for some of my more elderly clientele if she played nice, she might clean up nicely.

"Listen Agnese, you're not listening to yourself, you've already told us that Maria Biaggi and Stefano Cremona put you up to this crime, so show us where you keep the money, otherwise you might regret it. The boys can be quite rough, they haven't been brought up in a nice neighbourhood like this. Freddy, why don't you show us how rough you can be?" I nod at Freddy and point at the TV. He pulls a hammer from his back pocket, wraps a cloth around the handle and his hand and smashes the cathode ray screen. It implodes with an impressive tinkling of small glassy fragments scattering all over the grey carpet.

Agnese looks stricken, and I notice a trickle of urine escape and darkening her stocking tops and spreading downwards, people feel the loss of a beloved possession viscerally.

"I'll ask again, if you don't answer, we may start on you. Would you like that boys?"

At that moment we hear a car draw drawing up and a dog yapping, I take a look though the blinds, it's an elderly gent with expertly coiffed grey hair, getting out of his opal Lancia and carrying a miniature toy dog, a shih tzu.

"Does he have a key, Agnese, or do you usually let him in?"

"He has his own key he owns this place."

"I see, ok lads stand behind that kitchen door, and you sit on the couch, Agnese. Too bad about the mess on the floor, but I expect there will be more soon."

"Agnese, what a surprise, how nice to see you like this, a real welcome for once! But what a mess and who are you Signora, what have you done to the TV and why is Signora Lucca undressed and clearly in some distress.

"It's quite simple Signor Cremona, we asked her nicely for the money, she says you asked her to steal from the Biaggi wineries, but she's not telling us where you've hidden the money."

"How dare you accuse me of stealing from my clients the Biaggi's. You've obviously been torturing poor Agnese, she would never say anything like that about me, would you Agnese?"

"I assure you she has and not just you, but her nephew, Alphonso at the bank and your client's wife, Maria is involved too and also the adjunct Bishop, her lover.

Stefano's face changed to a colour that closely matched his grey hair."

"The wage scam has nothing to do with me, Maria thought it up. She and her know all Bishop friend, are both addicted to crime fiction, and she asked me to persuade Alphonso to agree to the scheme. The greedy and stupid fellow went along with her crazy scheme. So easily detected, a child could have spotted it!"

"But apparently not Signor Paulo Biaggi and your firm's audits didn't draw attention to what you have just revealed you've known about from the beginning. For the kind of sums you have embezzled I believe, the gaol tariff is 5 years in the state prison and a very large fine."

"You'll never make it stick, Signora, I'm a respected citizen here in Frascati, a friend of the Bishop and his adjunct Bishop and you are a criminal, and from your accent, I expect one of the Ndrangheta.

"Very astute, but all we want is you to return the money you've stolen, and we'll call it quits, and there won't be any unpleasantness with the Bishop.

"How are you going to make me, do you have a gun?"

"You sound very brave we'll see how brave you are in a couple of minutes without your clothes on."

At that moment, the dog started howling and Freddy emerged followed by Mauro. "Tell your dog to shut up, or I'll kill it, Signor!"

Stefano held the dog tight, but it still howled like a loud ambulance siren. Freddy grabbed it and clipped it on its silly little head. It gave a short sharp yelp and was quiet.

"Your dog's sensible, I hope you follow his example Stefano, take off your clothes, now please."

He obeyed, revealing a large paunch and a minute brown willy, hiding in a tangle of grey hair plus bowed legs and varicose veins that curled like large worms around his thighs and tangled up in a plexus of blue veins behind his knees. Not a pretty sight.

"Now sit on the couch beside your lover." He sat holding his knees demurely together."

"Stefano, we know that about $150,000 has been embezzled by you and the Lucca's from the payroll frauds you organized, but that leaves a shortfall of around $50, ooo; where is it and how did you obtain it. I think you embezzled it by understating the values of the sales made to wholesalers and diverting the undeclared remainder to your own account."

"His whole body blushed pink with fury. "I've never taken an illegitimate cent from the Biaggi's. I've saved them from ruin many times since the old man died. They should be grateful that I'm doing them a favour by negotiation sales of their farms."

"To your brother-in-law I understand."

"Yes, to my brother-in-law, what of it?"

"How much has he offered to pay?"

"That's confidential information, Senor Biaggi wants the sales to remain confidential, so to prevent his contacts in the Church from hearing about the truly parlous state of his finances."

"Have you obtained a valuation of these farms by an independent land surveyor, so that you assure Senor Biaggi that he is getting a fair deal from your negotiated settlement?"

"No, he needs to make the sale quickly, there hasn't been time."

"I believe, the offer on the table is $150000. But the neighbouring farms with similar area and grape yields have recently been sold for more than $1,000,000. Isn't that so Stefano? So, you aren't really negotiating, are you? You're aiming to make a tidy profit from the deal for yourself about $500,000 isn't that right, Stefano?"

He says nothing, so I repeat the question? "Isn't that right Stefano?"

"Land prices are very volatile you can't guarantee the price you want from a quick sale."

"But there wouldn't have been any need for a quick sale if you hadn't engineered this embezzlement in the first place and put the Biaggi firm into jeopardy, would there, Stefano?"

"You can't prove that I've had anything to do with losses on sales of wine you won't find any problems with the wine sales I've negotiated with the wholesalers!"

"I've made enquiries with Villafranca Frascati, and I've learned that they've paid over $500,000 over the last three years into an account you hold."

When she heard this, Agnese, who had been huddled in misery, sat up. "I didn't know you had been robbing them on your own! No wonder you could afford to play the generous, patron to us low class servants, whilst you and that cow Maria creamed off the lion's share."

"Be quiet, you stupid cunt!"

"You may call me stupid, but I understand enough about accounts to realized that there were far more losses than just those we fixed. If it were only the wages scams, we could have gone on for ever milking the wages, without that pea brain, Paulo noticing. But you, you greedy swine, wanted to take the whole enterprise from them and screw us over. I've a good mind to show them where you keep the money you've stashed, here."

"That's my money, not yours, you stupid bitch, and also the most reverend adjunct Bishop's!"

"You think I don't know, what you and you're very holy friend are upto and how you both intend screwing Maria when you've bankrupted Senor Paulo."

"Will you shut up Agnese, you'll ruin us all, if you're not careful!"

"Too late, Stefano, I've been recording this conversation on this tape machine in the bag here. So, listen Stefano, I am willing to let you go free if you surrender all the money you've embezzled up till now, which I reckon is around $200000 and I'll see that some is returned to its rightful owners. If you disagree, I'll give this tape recording to the Commissaire, and you'll be tried and exposed as the hypocritical embezzler you are, and you all will be sentenced to prison for at least 5 years. Do you think you could live for five years in gaol, Stefano? And I don't think you'd do well in gaol either Agnese.

"At this point, Stefano burst into tears of rage and frustration.

"I knew it was foolish to work with greedy fools like you and Alphonso, but I was in too much of a hurry. What will the Bishop say, all my plans for a Papal knighthood will founder. He turned round and slapped Agnese hard on both cheeks. She didn't hesitate, she picked up the poker and hit him hard on both his upper arms in quick succession. He shrieked in pain but couldn't raise his arms to defend himself. Fortunately, Freddy stepped in to save Stefano from further damage.

"Enough revenge, Agnese, if you show us where the money is we'll let you keep your house."

"It's my house, not hers! I own the title deeds, she only stays here, on condition that she entertains me once a week. And do you think I want to see you ever again? I don't Agnese!"

"Listen, Agnese if I persuade Stefano to make over the deeds of this house to you, will you show us where the money is stashed?"

"But I won't; why should I?"

"If we persuade Paulo Biaggi, not to prosecute you, or your very good friend the adjunct Bishop for fraud and negligence, to protect the good name of his wife, will you agree to hand over the money to him and this house to Agnese. Senor Biaggi may wish to continue using your no doubt very diligent and reputable accounting service, which in future will be rather better managed than at present. If you agree, you'll still be able to boast of your friendship with the Bishop and you won't be a penniless social pariah. But we want is all of the money you've stolen from the Biaggi's and are keeping in escrow for the rest of your larcenous crew."

"The money stored is worth considerably more than that what's has gone missing, we bought it from the Church who have a lot of bullion at their disposal. They collected it from Croatia at the end of the war. I've had it assayed and it's worth around $1,000,000 at current gold prices, which are quite low at present, $35 per oz on the US gold exchange, as of yesterday. I was holding it till the price rises.

"That's still quite a lot of gold, by my reckoning, at least 60 bars, about three quarters of a ton!

" My goodness your smart, at arithmetic Signora, that's right!"

"Will the lorry carry that weight?" I ask Mauro.

"Easily."

"Ok, Agnese show us where you've stashed the loot.

"It's in a pit under the garage floor."

"Ok, open the garage and we'll back the lorry in and load up. It won't take us long."

"I'll put on my dressing gown first, if you don't mind."

"You're not giving them my money Agnese!"

"First, it's not your money, it belongs to the Biaggi's and secondly I want to stay in this house and if you're wise, you'll agree to the conditions, otherwise we'll all be toast and in prison."

"Well said, Do you have the title deeds here?"

"Yes, I keep them in my desk here, let me show you?

"Ok, bring them to me and couple of pieces of good paper."

"Stefano, please write, I Stefano Cremona, accountant at law, assign all the rights and ownership of the property at 45 via Domenico Cininelli Frascati to Signora Agnese Lucca.

Signed and dated."

Witnessed by Signora Cecelia Franca and Signor Vittorio Agnelli.

"Sign here Vittorio and we'll add our signatures Vittorio, I point to Mauro, sign please after me. "

Alphonso had recovered some use of his hands, so was just about able to sign. We all trouped down to the garage, and Freddi lifted the hatch and there were six columns of 10, stacked gold bars and two more, in a smaller stack.

It took Mauro and Freddi about half an hour to stack them all into the van. I decided that the best course was to deliver it straight to Paulo, he'd plenty of storage space. I thought that Mauro would be happy with one of the spare gold bars for his efforts, and I would be equally happy with the other.

"As we were driving away, I mentioned said we'd leave the bars except for two in the winery and place the other two in the safe deposit in Rome. We'll have to unload the bullion, Paulo's a big guy so he can help it'll only take about 20 minutes, but we should withhold two bars for ourselves. What do you think, Mauro."

"I think you deserve much more! You'll never be able to sell this amount of gold at its market value, but as far as I'm concerned, I prefer to keep it somewhere safe and away from prying eyes. I don't trust any bank, especially here in Italy!"

"I don't intend to sell the gold immediately, a gold bar is a nice nest egg, worth $15000 at present, but it'll grow in value, so I intend to keep a hold of it, I advise you to do likewise, Mauro. But it does mean that we've the financial collateral to put a bit more into our business.

Chapter 27 The Minardi Winery

As we were driving to the Minardi estate, I realized that holding this amount of gold in the wine cellar wouldn't be safe storage space. Apart from Mauro and Freddi, I was sure that Stefano would guess it's whereabouts soon, so it would attract all the crims in the Lazio like flies around a dead dog. An idea was forming, it would need Luigi's connections to be activated at once.

Paulo greeted us at the closed gates of the Winery, after opening them; we drove the 100 yards, to the farmhouse.

We hopped out of the van, "Paulo, this is Mauro and his assistant Freddi, who've have been a huge help in recovering the stolen money from your business."

Paulo looked startled, "What d'you mean Marlene?"

"You've heard me aright, I'm your fairy godmother, Paulo, we've recovered all the money that has been embezzled by your employees and others, over the last three years. We'll need to store it temporarily, preferably in a secure cupboard."

"I've the very place, it's where we keep our vintage stock, my grandfather built a sort of prison with strong steel bars into the cellar wall. I think he must have kept his money there too."

"We climbed down the ramp into the cellar to take a look at the cage store and sure enough it was a small cupboard inset into the stone walls of the cellar with thick rusty iron bars and a large steel bolt with padlock holding it closed. Mauro looked at it and smiled sceptically.

"The weakest link is the padlock, who has the key?"

"I have it, here." Paulo shows a key in his keyring.

"Are there any copies of the key?"

"Maybe, we had one in the past, but it's been lost."

"You must find another strong padlock at once and think about finding somewhere else to store the booty immediately. You'll also need a tarpaulin to cover it."

"I'll fetch a new padlock from our hardware store now, we've many spares."

"I agree with Mauro, presumably your storemen have access to the cellar and Mauro and Freddi already know what we've got, and I wouldn't trust them to keep this kind of story a secret from their friends for very long, and some of these friends are extremely capable of organizing a robbery, wouldn't you agree Freddi?"

"You've a bit of a cheek Marlene, but you're right, it's not safe here. Agnese, or Cremona will probably have guessed already where you're going to store the gold. You should find somewhere else, very soon."

"What are you saying, Marlene, you've got gold bars in the van, how many?"

"There will be 60 deposited in your store and you owe me one and Mauro another, a 3% commission for our expenses and finders' cut, is reasonable. This will leave your business with around 100% gain above the full return of your estimated losses."

Paulo looked bewildered, but nodded in acquiescence, "Do you have a trolley to move heavy loads, down the ramp, Paulo? it will make moving the gold quicker, it's extremely heavy."

"Of course, we use them to move the wine barrels in and out of the cellar, see in the corner."

"Great, it'll only take a few minutes, for Freddi and Mauro to shift it. Make sure you count the bars Paulo."

The guys removed the bars 10 at a time down the ramp, so it only required 6 journeys to shift the lot to the cage. "I'll keep mine in my case, it's very heavy, each bar weighs a little over 12 kg. I can manage and I guess you can do the same, Mauro?"

"No, we'll drive back to Freddi's home and I'll settle-up with him, and then take the van back to Rome. I'll see you in a couple of days Marlene."

"Thank you, Freddi, you were really a great help! I may ask for your help again, if any Monsignores' TV sets need adjusting!" I kissed them both on their cheeks, Freddi blushed bright red, like a schoolboy who'd been kissed in front of class by his teacher. They drove off in the van.

"When are you expecting Luigi to arrive, Paulo?"

"I'm not expecting him, has he told you he was coming today? Perhaps he left a message at home? I've been out all day. I'll ring home and ask Maria if he called."

"Ah, I don't think that's a good plan, there's some extremely unpleasant stuff, which I thought Luigi might have told you about already, but he's clearly funked it. You might need a brandy."

"No, I've had so much bad news recently about the firm that I'm inured."

"Well sit down, anyway this will come as an unpleasant surprise. There are, at least two other important beneficiaries to the fraud that we've uncovered. Certainly, your wife, Maria, and her confidante and very good friend the adjunct Bishop of Frascati, she receives $400 per month from the payroll account, which is sent to another account in Rome, which is transferred the BNL branch here is Frascati. From that account, she transfers $300 per month into an account which is named as the Monsignore's charity. But there's nothing much in that either. I think it's all been converted to the gold. Also most of the money that was transferred to Stefano Cremona and the Lucca's has been used to purchase the bullion that's now standing in your cellar. It's currently worth slightly more than $1 million."

"Are you ok Paulo, you look sick. Are you sure you would like a drink."

"No, I'm not going to be sick, I'm just annoyed that I've been taken in by that sanctimonious fool Tullio Franki. I knew that he had dazzled Maria with all his talk about his charity for the children of Eritrea, but I felt there was something, creepy about him."

"Yes, I think he probably purchased the gold from the Papal bank, who hold a very large amount which they accumulated from the looted treasure that the Croatian church accumulated from the Slavs and Jews during the war. It was sent over to the Papal bank for safe keeping before Tito had time to capture it. I suspect they bought it at a discount of 50%."

"That makes sense, the losses are about $500,000 altogether."

"Yes, your accountant Stefano Cremona has been fiddling the books, probably for years. So between them Franki, Cremona and Senora Biaggi, were planning to buy out your winery and probably Cremona's brother in law's farm as well and form a giant Frascati wine cooperative."

"Yes, that make sense there are too many small units, if we formed a cooperative like the French are doing, we could cut down on costs and produce a much better product, there are big savings to be made from merging and rationalizing production. Also, it would give us much more leverage over sales as we'd be able to market the products on our own without having the wholesales making us compete against each other."

"So now you're in a position to turn the tables on Cremona and Franki, I have a plan. If you approach your neighbours and say you'll buy them out for $250,000 you could double the size of your land holding and sell off the past factory in Naples and cheese production in Sardinia. You should keep the bottling plant and distillery in Bologna, though it would make sense to use any excess wine for brandy."

"Yes, I agree, the pasta in Naples has been a long-term headache. I could negotiate good terms for that next week. I've had an offer, from a friend, down there and I'd also like to get rid of the sheep too, it's a distraction and the losses are phenomenal. We wouldn't be able to sell it for much, but it hasn't been profitable for years. Nice cheese though."

"If you want nice cheese, you can always go down to the cheese shop and buy some Paulo!"

"Good thinking. So, you suggest that we quickly offer to buy the neighbouring wineries and form a large unit, modernise and rationalise the fermentation plant and marketing and divest ourselves of the unprofitable pasta factory and wool and cheese manufacturing, so we can concentrate of wine, olive oil and brandy. I like it. It would mean we could improve our wine and oil which are frankly substandard and start making a real profit. If you want to take on the export trade, you are welcome to start as soon as you like. I owe you a huge debt you've performed a near miracle."

"It's been a pleasure and I gladly accept the position of export director. But if you don't mind. I think you also need someone else to run your accounts. I have a good friend at the Banco Populo in Rome, who might help. She's from Frascati, she would be a useful financial consultant, I'm sure you could ask for her help via the bank and you could deposit the bullion in their safe deposit in Rome. Why don't you come to Rome tomorrow and fix it up?

"Mmm, I'd like to see what I can negotiate with the neighbours here, maybe we should just form a consortium instead of me taking over. What I would like to do is be technical directory of the winery and land management without worrying about its finances. Frankly, Luigi's not capable so I need someone like you to be financial controller."

"What about Maria and her friend Monsignore Franki."

"Maria and I have not had a proper marriage I'm thinking of asking for an annulment on grounds of non-consummation."

"You, mean you've never had sex with your wife, Paulo?"

"Yes, I'm afraid that's so. I never wanted to marry her in the first place, and she was equally reluctant, there was no chemistry between us, no attraction at all, but her family is close to one of the families that deal with the papal finances, as is mine, and now Luigi is going to be useful there. He has good friend in the Curia, Montini, who is likely to be made a Cardinal in the very soon. I think he'll be Pope soon."

"So, what do you do for sex, Paulo if it's not too intrusive a question?"

"Well of course I tried with Maria at first, but I've never been able to, and she wasn't in the least enthusiastic about me continuing to try. We've stayed together because of the shame of admitting that we're sexually incompatible. Of course, I've had a few girlfriends but these last months, I've been so obsessed with financial worries that I haven't had either the energy or appetite. By the way talking of appetite, I asked you to have dinner with me. Let's go a very good restaurant near here."

"What about Luigi?"

"He's not here yet, he'll have to have dinner with Maria.

"I'll have to wash and change, did you say there was a bedroom upstairs, Paulo.

"Let me show you, it's quite comfortable, plenty of room for two."

He was right, a large bedroom with a huge bed and a bathroom to the side, with a bath, not shower. "I haven't brought night things."

"Well, you'll have to sleep in the nude, I haven't any here either."

"I see, do you mind if I take a bath and change? I've had quite an exciting afternoon, which may have left a few signs of wear and tear. "

"Not at all go, right ahead Marlene, I like to have fragrance around me. "

He didn't move, "Do you intend to watch, while I have a bath?"

"With your permission, I'd like that, do you object?"

"Well, as you're evidently not used to female companionship, don't get too excited, perhaps you could run the bath, whilst I relieve myself, in the toilet."

"Happy to oblige, but be quick, I'm hungry and I haven't felt like eating for months."

"That hunger for food, is it?"

"Not, only food Marlene."

He pulls me to him, and we have our second kiss, which segues quickly into more serious lovemaking. After disrobing, I realized I was dealing with a of prize hunk, muscles, like those of a navvy, bulging well defined deltoids and pectorals and massive thighs and a great abdomen too no surplus fat around the belly and a nice thick willy, awesome physique, really excites me; too bad he doesn't have Luigi's brains, but never mind he certainly knows how to fuck, which we did upright, with me spreadeagled and pinned against the wall by cock and pelvis compressing my bum flat, I had such a strong orgasm that I think I may have passed out, with the sheer ecstasy of it all.

"When I'd recovered, I muttered, "that was wonderful Paulo, now I definitely need a bath. You might like a bit of a wash as too." He obliged by splashing his glossy willy unselfconsciously in the sink.

"Luigi's a lucky fellow, has he asked you to marry him yet?"

"No, why?"

"I'd like you keep you in the family."

"Are you suggesting that I marry Luigi so that we share our bed with you? Don't you think that Luigi might object to that arrangement?"

"Possibly, but he likes men too you know, I've never seen the attraction, personally."

"I've observed that too, but I think he's trying to keep to conventional mating behaviour at present, but once he's married, I suspect that he might relax back to his old habits."

"Would you object to that very much."

"Probably not, if I had an interesting job, a nice house, a large fortune, one or two children, could visit my parents in Philly a couple of times a year and a very congenial and understanding brother-in-law, who I could see in private from time to time. I'm starving! Let's discuss this over dinner."

As we were by now on far more intimate terms, I asked Paulo over dinner which we had in a small bourgeois restaurant in the suburbs of Frascati, if he was surprised at Maria's criminal behaviour?"

"I'm annoyed, but unsurprised. She considers that anything and everything she does aways is right and any impediment to her wishes should be met with utmost determination, regardless of whether the means is lawful or not. She's a total narcissist and cannot understand why people don't always accede at once to her wishes. She's also very religious and gullible and I imagine she was persuaded by the adjunct Bishop Franki to donate a large sum of money to his charity. By the way, I very much doubt that this charity of his has any other purpose other than to enrich the very pious Monsignore Franki. I'll try to persuade Luigi to speak to his friends in the Curia, an get him defrocked. Mind you, quite a few of that lot are very much pre-occupied with the same kinds of enterprise, but the most important rule they have is, don't get caught!"

"I'd come to the same conclusion, Paulo. The Church won't want to be viewed by the general public, it's a gross abuse of power. If we can show that the charity's a fake, and Maria's been duped into taking part in criminal acts by a confidence trickster, or that she's being blackmailed or both, we could use this as part of a campaign to persuade the Vatican Bank to invest in your business.

Your business plan to enlarge the winery and thereby increase prosperity to this region the Lazio, and the interest rate they charge is reasonable. We could ask for a loan of $3-5 million to bring in modern farming machinery and raise the living standards of the workers, which is an important consideration." We could use the inconvenience and anxiety you have had to suffer through the machinations of Biship Franki, as additional leverage to justify the loan. I think it's important that the application shouldn't look entirely like a claim for compensation for wrongdoing by the Church, they won't want to admit to it, but they can probably see logic in a good business plan where they are likely to emerge with a good dividend on the principal sum loaned. "You'll have to say that you'll pay the money back, sometime, in the distant future.

"What should be done with Maria, unless we take them to court, have her sent to prison, she is still around."

"You say she's very gullible, and pious. Could she be persuaded to go on a religious retreat with Bishop Franki appointed as her confessor in some out of the way sanctuary that caters for people of their religious disposition. You could Then have your marriage annulled with a Papal dispensation. "

"It sounds a little optimistic, I agree if we could use Bishop Franki criminal activity to as leverage to obtain a large loan from the Vatican, then some of the loan might be recycled to the Vatican to pay for a marriage dissolution and involuntary sanctuary for Maria and her friend. The Vatican might see this as a bargain. Maria might even agree to it as she would be free to marry Franki, after he's been defrocked and sentenced to living a penitential life, accompanied by Maria. That might be worth paying for. It would also teach Monsignore Franki a terrible lesson."

"It's already quite late, I suggest we go back to the farmhouse, and look after the bullion, I suspect Maria and Frank will try to retrieve it very soon when they hear the news from Stefano Cremona. I'll ring Luigi and early tomorrow I'll load the bullion into on of the farm vans and if you contact your friend at the bank to arrange a large save deposit space in her bank vaults, we can drive it to Rome later and meet Luigi. I think it would be better if I stayed in the farmhouse with you, it isn't safe to leave it without someone to guard it tonight, so."

"Excellent plan, Paulo, very sensible to optimise our time and keep everything save and secure. Let's skip coffee I want you in bed. Being sandwiched against the wall was exciting but let's see if we can be a little more leisurely next time."

"Speaking of which Marlene, who is this uncle Alessio you were screaming at when you climaxed?"

"Oh, I must have fallen into a wormhole in spacetime, I don't often have orgasms that powerful; he's my mother's brother, back in Philadelphia, when I was a kid, abused me when I went to play with my cousin, Vittorio during the school holidays. Later Vittorio abused me too, but uncle Alessio was rougher, but very effective. That's who kind uncle Alessio is."

"Did you tell your parents?"

"Of course not, Mamma would pretend that I'd imagined it and was a wicked girl for telling such dreadful lies about my dear kind uncle, who is so generous to us all, 'He was only showing his affectionate nature.' Mama is still in in the business.

If I'd told Dad, he would have reported them to the police at once and the next thing that would've happened, would be that Dad and I would have been shot and dumped in the Delaware river, offloaded from the trunk of a police car. They're in cahoots with the mob in that part of town. But Alessio could be useful for business. He has lots of contacts in the wine and olive oil trade as well as in the sex and drugs scenes. My cousin Vittorio, also is on very affectionate terms of Cardinal Spellman, if you get my meaning; too bad, his Eminence doesn't go for young girls, I could contact him directly."

"Your connections seem to be spread over a wide spectrum, Marlene."

"Yes, and why not, Paulo? If, you see only through the prism of class sensibility you'll miss out on a lot and likely to be marginalized when Italy's working class becomes starts to get richer, which it will do with tourism and joining up with Europe and getting rid of the dead hand of clerical rule which has been choking Europe and South America for the last three or four hundred years.

Chapter 28 The clean up

We returned to the farmhouse and without any preliminaries went to bed. The bed itself was large enough to accommodate us but it was unsteady. Paulo is a big guy and once we began to rock the bed started to swing along too. As the pace quickened the bedposts start to emit creaking sounds and the mattress squeaked, unconsciously we found our rhythm was being paced by the natural frequency of the bed oscillations and once our movements became more forceful as our passion heightened the bedhead hit began to hit the wall, bonk, bonk, bonk. As I was on my back, I noted subconsciously that the collisions of bedhead against the wall were digging a groove in the plaster. I made a mental note to see how many such grooves had been engraved prior to this evening, but at the time was beyond caring, I also didn't care that we were having unprotected sex. If I have Paulo's child, so be it. Meanwhile squeaking mattress springs shrieking bending stresses of the wooden bedposts and beating of our forward momentum against the wall combined with Paulo's groans and my uncontrolled cries as we reached climax provided a percussion choral that led to our thunderous climax. I felt possessed, Paulo was mine and I wanted him for keeps!

We both fell into deep sleep, and I was prodded awoke at dawn by a hard object that had found its way into my vagina. Paul seemed to be only semi-conscious and was acting reflexively, as was I. I felt him ejaculate, retract, lie still and return to deep slumber. We woke about 8.30 Paulo made us some black coffee and fished a packet of biscotti from a cupboard.

"We should go for a walk this morning, Marlene, I want to show you the vineyards. On your last visit you didn't get to see them, did you. Also, I want to talk to my neighbour, Giovanni Verdi, he lives about two kilometres up the hill, I want to tell him that the sale of my farms is off!

He led me up a deeply rutted farm track between the neighbouring vineyards whose rows of vines lay in perpendicular lines stretching to what seemed like infinity. I noted that the spaces between the vines were filled with weeds. A sign of neglect. The vines I'd visited in California were immaculately tended. The weeds that divert strength from the vines had been were continuously, however, this required a lot of hard graft by farm-workers, and this evidently wasn't being done here. I tentatively asked about the weed problem and Paulo said, yes there were two ways of reducing the weeds. Either you used herbicides which were expensive and required some skill or you tackled the vegetation manually, and this too was expensive as it was labour intensive. We can't afford it, so we have to accept sup optimal grape yields. Fortunately, the grapes we have give reasonably good yields despite the lack of attention they receive. Obviously, if more work and attention was paid to the problem, we could improve our product and performance but currently we have to make do. It's a pity."

"Wouldn't some mechanical weeding be a solution?"

"Yes, but it is an expensive one. There are several methods that can be used to keep the weed under control, basically we can pull them out, which is a tremendously time consuming and labour-intensive way, although effective and selective as it doesn't damage the vines. One can cut the weeds down with a scythe or some kind of mechanical cutter. Not so expensive but not so effective either as the weeds recover quite quickly and there's always the chance of damaging the vines and injuring to the farmworker. Herbicides are another way. This is also expensive and can damage the vines too. Then there's mulching, where you spread straw or other plant waste on top of the ground to prevent light from promoting the weed growth. To be effective this has to be done early in the season, but you need a great deal of mulch to cover these extensive fields, so storing and laying enough material is a headache. All of these methods can be applied either singly or in combination. But as I mentioned you have to weigh the costs of these measures against their potential benefits. If you have a lot of labour to spare in Spring, then you can do it. But we prefer to put our workforce on part time work during winter and spring."

"I see Paulo, that sounds as if your workers have a raw deal. I think I could work out possible work schedules where you could maximise your productivity and optimise your wages bill. It's call a 'mini-max' calculation, we learned how to do this in our finance course at business school."

"That might be useful if we could see which options suited our new circumstances. Obviously if we can improve the quality of our grapes, we could devote more care to their cultivation. But be careful where you put your feet on the path, it is easy to sprain or even break your ankles on this very rough path.

The path was indeed very rough and steep as we climbed steadily up the incline, I was beginning to feel the heat and humidity and began to breath more deeply and perspire a bit too. Paulo showed no signs of fatigue. The hill started to flatten after about a mile and a large farmhouse cum stables barns came into view, a Grange I believe the Brits call it. The house had a much grander design than the Minardi farm, set in a large garden which surrounded both front and back. As we approached, we joined the road which Paulo said led directly to Frascati. I wondered vaguely why we hadn't driven here but held my tongue; I assumed that Paulo was initiating me into country way.

As we approached, I saw a middle-aged guy working on the flower beds outside the house, he looked up as we opened the garden gate. He obviously recognised Paulo. He was in his late fifties, a chunky, square built guy, with grey hair and partially bald.

"Hello, Paulo, how are you? he said, in Italian. " I haven't seen you for ages! How is Maria? And who is your warm and beautiful young companion? You must be crazy walking here on a warm day like this!"

"Oh, Gio, I thought we needed a bit of exercise, to shake off the cobwebs and I wanted Marlene, my new Financial Director to see a bit of our vista overlooking the Frascati fields." And certainly, the view from the brow of the hill was wonderful, the distant hilltop surrounded us on all sides. We could see Frascati Cathedral standing at the side of the grounds of the Tuscolo Park and Castelli Romani and Castel Gandolfo and lake Albano, which Paulo informed me is used by the Pope for his summer residence.

Gio, looked at Paulo, quizzically, "well lovely Marlene seems to have warmed to it substantially, I'm sure you she would like a cooling, come round and meet Joanna, Marlene, I think she's busy with in the kitchen garden.

We walked round to the rear of the house and say grey haired woman in grubby overalls bent over her and weeding her substantial vegetable garden, I recognised peas, beans courgette and tomato beds but clearly there were root vegetables as well.

"How nice to see you Paulo, we haven't seen you for ages. How are you? My goodness you look as if you need a drink Signorina, come and sit in the shade while I fetch some lemonade, I'm expecting my daughter for lunch so have already prepared some for her. I'm Joanna Verdi, Giovanni's wife and mother of his children and grandchildren, she smiled. Who are you?"

She appraised me with piercing blue eyes. Paulo interjected. "This is Marlene, my new Financial Director, she's helping me with some problems we've been having with our accounts. She's from USA but has a business training."

Hearing that Giovanni turned and said, "I thought that was what Stefano did for you, Paulo? Have you been having problems with him, even though he's my brother-in-law, and Joanna's older brother, personally I would never let him near my affairs."

"That's strange Gio, I thought he was negotiating the sale of two of my fields which are adjacent to yours for you."

"What, he told you that I wanted to buy your fields? I assure I've never mentioned anything like that, on the contrary I'm seriously thinking of selling up here. We want to move to Milano to be near my son his family. As you know this a very unrewarding business. It's far too inefficient and small and badly needs modernizing. It needs a young energetic guy like you Paulo to pull it into the twentieth century. If only my son Ben were interested, I would stay on but he isn't and my daughter couldn't possibly manage, so we think the best thing to do is liquidate and move. I'm looking to sell the farm and property for $400,000 or with the house included £500,000. I may have mentioned it to Joanna, and she may have mentioned it to Stefano, have you mentioned it to them, Joanna."

"Yes, when we met last Christmas when Rosa was having all these problems with the bishop."

"Have you made any further moves to sell your property Signor Verdi? You see circumstances have recently changed for Paulo. Instead of looking to sell his fields, he might be interested in acquiring your fields and property. As you've said, the local wine business needs to be rationalized. It's the only way to make it profitable. The small holdings need to be amalgamated so the general standards be raised by introducing modern agricultural machinery and viticulture facilities and handling the marketing of the product yourselves. Paulo wants to form a Cooperative of the Frascati Wine region but currently is too small a player to make an impact by amalgamating with your holding, this would make a significant difference. "

"I agree with your analysis Signorina, it's what I've been saying needs to be done for years, but for several reasons, as you've just heard we want out, but because of our daughter's problems we haven't had time to think about moving."

"I'm sorry to hear that Signor Verdi, as it happens, we might be in a position to buy you out, very soon, for cash."

"The fact that you seem to have turned around Paulo's fortunes and to have displaced Stefano Cremona as Paulo's financial advisor, suggests that money that's gone missing has been restored as a result of by your investigations. Is that an accurate assessment, Paulo? Signorina?"

"You must make your own inferences Signor I wouldn't wish to impugn Signor Cremona's integrity or competence, at least for now."

"Well, I've no such scruples, from what we know of his character, I wouldn't put it past him. Although he's part of our family, he's shown himself to be very untrustworthy and completely selfish, he care's nothing for anyone's welfare but his own!"

" I'm sorry he's given you some trouble. I'd like to hear about as it connects with some recent facts we've uncovered. But before we do would you let us see your house so that we can see whether we are interested in purchasing the property as well as the farm.

"Of course, come in. The house is much too big now for Gio and me, with both our children flown from the nest and no possibility of them returning, except for holidays. It's really a place for a family, Paulo. You and Maria don't have children yet, do you?"

"No Joanna, we don't, but that doesn't mean that I don't mean to have a family in the future."

Joanna regards Paulo, then me intensely and asks, "You're interested in a family home too, Signorina, but you're not from round here, are you?"

"No, I'm from USA, but I am interested in developing my associations with Paulo and expanding the business into other areas. I've already made a considerable impact and see great potential."

"I can imagine which areas Paulo wants to expand into Signorina!"

"Gio, really! Let me offer some lemonade that I made this morning."

" Your lovely house would be a suitable place both for a family home and business headquarters. All it would need to make it ideal for our purposes is a lot of money and hard work."

"Yes, and also shrewd direction from an intelligent business director, Signorina. There's more to the business than simply improving the quality and quantity of the wine production. This is a beautiful lounge, or salon or front room whatever you want to call it. It has a wonderful view over the valley and all the way to those hills beyond the Park. I can't imagine a better place to bring up a family."

The windows looked over the front lawn through a copse of Cyprus trees. At the back of the house there were with views over the back garden A large-panelled dining room and olive groves beyond, also, a library and office. The kitchen was large but in need of modernising as well as the downstairs toilet which looked old and also in need of an upgrade. Upstairs were five bedrooms, three large double rooms and two smaller. All in good decorative condition and furnished with good taste.

"You have a lovely roomy house here, quite a contrast with the Villa Minardi."

"Yes, this house was built about a century after Villa Minardi, when times were more prosperous. A lot of the aristocracy used to live around here to be close to Castel Gandolfo, but since the war, not so many. Frascati has experienced an economic depression, the Government has developed our industries in the North in Milano and Turino, but they've paid less attention to the traditional agricultural sector, so we've suffered."

"Yes, I know, Senor Verdi, but at least locally we can make a difference by introducing modern financial control methods and perhaps find capital for modernization."

"Well, I hope you succeed, you've certainly captivated Paulo!"

"Yes, Joanna, we go well together, I intend to have my marriage to Maria dissolved and will live in Frascati with Marlene."

Absolutely correct, Joanna, Paulo has the technical know-how to improve the wine production and quality."

"And you'll supply the rest, I imagine, Marlene. But if you want to do that, you'll have to be stay right here in the middle. Without proper supervision, things very quickly come off the rails."

"That's all too evident from what I have already seen. Although I don't think the same kind of mishaps will recur.

"My goodness Paulo, interesting news. It's common knowledge in Frascati that Maria works very closely with the adjunct Bishop Franki and his charity. Does that have any bearing on your decision to dissolve your marriage? Pardon my asking, but my daughter Rosa has recently had the misfortune to be involved with the charity."

"I wasn't aware that Maria's affair with Tullio Franki was common knowledge, Joanna!"

"Sorry, Paulo, I didn't mean to imply that Maria was having an affair with Franki, merely that she was helping with his charity in Eritrea."

"Do you mind if I ask how Rosa's involved with Franki's Charity. Has she been coerced into giving the charity? It's related to Paulo's current financial difficulties."

"Yes, I'm happy to tell you about it Marlene. Rosa was coerced into an affair with a married man, you may know him, Alphonso Lucca, a very unpleasant man, he was her boss at the Banco Populo here in Frascati, he was aided and abetted by Bishop Franki and her uncle, my brother-in-law Stefano Cremona, a trio of total bastards. Rosa worked as a teller in the Banco Populo, and she succumbed to Lucca's threats and blandishments. She's a very religious girl and felt guilty about the illicit affair in which she'd become entrapped. She made a partial confession about it, to one of the priests at the Cathedral. Through the Cathedral network Bishop Franki got to hear about it and asked to see her. To cut to the chase, he proposed that if she continued to see Alphonso Lucca, she should pay a regular penance to his charity, $50 a month. For a bank teller this is a large sum, but she agreed and continued to pay until her savings ran out. When she had no more reserves, Bishop Franki, said because she was such a pious and kind girl that in a spirit of generosity, providing she agreed to have sex with him, once a week, he'd take on her penance and guilt and pay $50 fee to the charity himself!"

"How, shocking! But how naïve can you get! How did you get to hear about this?"

"Rosa was so wracked by guilt and in such despair at the situation she'd been manoeuvred into, that she had a complete mental breakdown and had to be referred to therapist. When I asked her about what had driven her to such despair, she broke down and told me all about it. I was totally shocked at the sheer cruelty and mendacity of these men and stunned by her gullibility too.

So, as I knew he's close to both Alphonso Lucca and Bishop Franki, I spoke with my brother, Stefano, about Rosa's predicament. He said he'd make enquiries. I found out later that he known about it already, as Signor Lucca had told him about it. He'd done nothing about it, as he was involved with this pair of scoundrels in another scheme. Stefano advised us to keep quiet, as the scandal could do enormous damage to the Church and the family too. He thought it would be best if Rosa resigned from the bank and he'd lean on Lucca and Bishop Franki to give her a glowing reference so that she could find a job with another Bank.

I also approached Bishop Franki and asked him for an explanation for his behaviour, he denied everything. He said that Rosa was a simple, deluded girl. 'How could she suggest he'd do such a thing such a wicked thing? Perhaps her guilt feelings about having an affair with an upstanding member of his congregation, Signor Alphonso Lucca were driving her to make up these lies about him.'

When I found that Rosa had made the payments by bank order to Franki's charity, I returned to confront Franki with this undeniable evidence of payments made to his charity. He denied any knowledge of these payments, he suggested it might have been organized by his secretary, Signora Maria Biaggi. Yes, your wife Paulo! She claimed that Rosa must have set up the payments to implicate Biship Franki in her febrile delusions! But sorry, they'd be unable to return the money, as it had already been spent on the vital charitable work of be Bishop's charitable foundation.

However, on the basis of this corroborating evidence of payments to the Bishop's Charity, I persuaded my brother to lean on Lucca and the Bishop and tell them that unless they provided Rosa with excellent references, I'd have the story published in the local newspaper. I write a regular Farmer's News column, and I stand occasionally as the Features Editor, so could easily have the story published, it's the kind of local scandal story they love! Stefano saw sense at once. So now Rosa's working for the Papal Banco Ambrosio in its branch in Castel Gandolfo with an improved salary, and she seems to be enjoying the work. She's recovering as she's also no longer subscribing to Franki's charity or obliged to see loathsome Signor Lucca!"

"What a horrible story! These gentlemen have a lot to answer for. I'll try to make sure that they're punished in a way they appreciate, through their pockets! But I'm glad that your daughter has managed to extricate herself."

"Yes, but it has left psychological scars."

"I understand that, and it shows how unscrupulous these people are, but it also suggests that Maria Biaggi is implicated in their criminal behaviour, although she may not realize that the Bishop's Charity too is a fraud and simply a vehicle for embezzlement, although I'm slightly puzzled by Bishop Frank's motivation. Why does he want to accumulate a private nest egg. There must be something else going on between him and Maria Biaggi."

"It's been a very useful morning Gio, thank you for all this information. I will make a formal offer for your properties within the next week, but meanwhile we've other business to attend to."

"Thank you, Paulo; I'll look forward to hearing from you this week. It's been nice meeting you Signorina Marlene, I hope things work out for you both!"

We walked down the main road to Frascati by-passing the Minardi estate. It took us about half an hour as it was downhill all the way although it was still hot and I was streaming with perspiration when we arrived at Paulo's apartment, he showed me to a cloakroom to clean up as best I could. I was a total wreck, dusty, hair awry, perspiring and dying for a pee. Paulo may have had something to do with this, he's very substantial, although Morri's girth is greater, Paulo's is longer so he's quite a stretch. When I had done a few repairs I emerged into the shadowy hallway, whose walls were covered in religious icons and framed parchments from various Ecclesiastics, the kind of thing that religious grandees like to show off. As Paulo wasn't to be seen, I walked into the dining room which looked outwards into the Palace's formal garden. The room was a contrast to hallway as it was filled with Art Deco statuary and heavy furniture, a fine rosewood table dominated the room, opulent but not at all to my taste. Louise had told me about the Art Deco already. In the corner by the window a tall thin woman was staring into the garden. She turned as I came in. "Who are you? What are you doing in my home?"

"My name's Marlene and I'm from Philadelphia, USA. You must be Signora Maria Biaggi. I'm Paulo's new finance officer, he invited me here. We've been investigating his business's financial situation, and as of yesterday, he's appointed me his finance officer and export manager. "

"I don't see how he can have done that, we already have a finance officer, Signor Stefano Cremona, he and his family have served the business as our financial advisors for several generations."

"Yes, Stefano's contract with the Biaggi business was terminated yesterday ago. He has been shown to have been malfeasant and responsible for extremely large financial losses."

"Preposterous! How dare you say such scandalous and outrageous things about my good and pious friend, whose unblemished reputation is of the highest standing in our Frascati community."

"Outrageous, I agree, but I've a written confession, signed by him and his accomplice Agnese Lucca admitting that over the past four years, since your late father-in-law died, and Paulo took over the business, in collaboration with several others he has embezzled approximately $500,000 from the Biaggi firm."

I watched the colour change on Maria's face from creamy white to thundery grey as she absorbed the implications of what I'd said. She decided to riposte by bullying and blustering. "How did you obtain such knowledge of the business. You're inventing all this nonsense. From the look of you, I assume that as well as providing financial support your also offering Paulo more sexual services as well! You won't be first, or probably the last, but you're welcome!"

"Ok Signora, I'll tell you how I know, all this. I've examined time sheets and payslips of the Biaggi farm workers and found discrepancies, amounting to $1200 per month. Four ghost workers have been paid for the past three or four years and the remaining 36 on paper have been overpaid for hours that they didn't claim. These kinds of payroll swindles are commonly employed by pay-clerks, like Agnese in cahoots with bank tellers or officials, like Alphonso Lucca and accountants, like Stefano Cremona and very easily detected. The stolen money was transferred by Alphonso by standing order from the Banco Populo to another bank in Romes and from there each month $400 are transferred to accounts, in the names of Alphonso Lucca, and Agnese Lucca and as you know, yourself to another bank here in Frascati. You then transfer $300 to the Adjunct Bishop Tullio Franki's, so called charity, whilst retaining $100 per month for your own use. Additionally, to the wages fraud that you organized, Signor Cremona has embezzled a further $240,000 from the wine sales over the past 3 or 4 years. He intends to buy Signor Verdi's winery and with bogus invoices from ghost accounts that he set up with the express purpose of embezzlement. This stolen money would allow him to purchase the land that he intended to purchase from Paulo at approximately a third of its current value and also the property of his brother-in-law Signor Giovanni Verdi. As Paulo would still be deeply indebted so he would be forced him to declare himself bankrupt and would have to liquidate the Biaggi assets to pay off the debts he's accrued, Cremona would have then purchased this too at a very low price."

"Stefano will still be able to do that, Signorina Marlene, as Paulo has no way of repaying the mountain of debts he owes."

"Ah Signora, so you're already aware of the true situation Paulo's been brought to. Paulo think's that only he and Cremona were knew the exact state of business accounts, so Cremona must have told you?"

She screeches "Of course Stefano tells Tullio and me everything! We intend to take over and run the combined estates Biaggi and Verdi estates. The Biaggi business will be declared bankrupt, and amalgamated with the Verdi estate and we'll run it properly. My fool of a husband will no longer be able to mess things up and his effete cousin Luigi will have to find work elsewhere, they're ruined, finished, obliterated! So, you're the finance officer of a bankrupt company, and your boyfriend Paulo will be impoverished. I wish you joy of it and him! I intend to obtain a dissolution of my marriage as the grounds of non-consummation, and I'll have him kicked out!"

"Apparently you haven't yet spoken with your co-conspirators recently. So you haven't heard the news about the dramatic reversal in Paulo's and your circumstances."

"What news is that?

"Cremona after confessing to his crimes yesterday, agreed and authorised the return all the stolen money, in the form of a quantity of gold bullion. He signed witnessed documents admitting that in concert with Agnese and Alphonso Lucca and you, Maria and Bishop Tullio Franki, he illegally obtained the funds that he intends to use purchase from Biaggi and Verdi businesses. Agnese also signed the document, on condition that the deeds of her current residence are transferred from Stefano Cremona to her. All the bullion stored in her vault has been stored in a safe place. So, Paulo is now solvent, and your good friend Tullio Franki and lover I believe, and Senors Cremona and Lucca, unless they behave will be tried and imprisoned for fraud and malfeasance.

A portion of money recovered is from another scheme hatched by Bishop Tullio Franki and abetted by you, Maria. You extort money from gullible women, who the Bishop persuaded should pay penance for sexual activities they were foolish enough to confess in Church. Ostensibly the money was paid to a Charity run by Franki ostensibly for poverty relief in Eritrea, but there is no registered Charity for that purpose, so evidently the Charity is a front for another fraudulent scheme, to enrich Franki, and you."

""How do you know all this, who are your informants? You also seem to be very well informed, about my relationship with Tullio. Signorina."

"Mainly your very untrustworthy co-conspirators but also from your victims. Frascati is a small town; it's inevitable that people notice coming and goings around the Cathedral and talk, and rumours circulate. But sacred power bestowed on priests hearing confessions is immense and largely unchecked, and on the contrary, it's abused for the Church's profit and occasionally for private gain. But I'll tell you how I think you became enmeshed in this criminal enterprise, if you wish. I feel a little sorry for you, despite your intent to ruin Paulo, I'm sure you are in part at least another victim of these evil men."

"Please do, I like crime fiction you're story might be amusing."

"Ok, but sit down, you may find what I've to say upsetting. About five years ago a young good-looking adjunct Bishop to this Diocese was appointed by the old Bishop. You decided you'd like to see him up close, so made an appointment to make a confession with him at the Cathedral. It turned out that there was longish waiting list, as others had similar thoughts. After a couple of weeks, you received a note confirming your appointment in his office. The following afternoon you were met by a nun who led you to Cathedral's office, you were made to wait a few minutes, he opened the door. He was indeed very good looking close up and had a charming smile, 'Come in Maria, please sit down on this armchair and make yourself comfortable. I see from the notes that sisters have provided me that you and your family are very well connected with the Bishop and indeed have given long service and useful services to a number of Popes. Your family and your husband's family are held in high regard as loyal servants of the Pope and the Diocese, particularly your nephew Luigi Biaggi? I understand he's a close friend of the Holy Father! I also note that your family has several properties leased to you at low rents by the Holy See. Clearly your services have not gone unrecognised. I must say I disapprove of the Church giving largesse to private individuals. The money the Church disburses should be for relief of poverty, wouldn't you agree, Maria?"

"Of course, Monsignore, but the help our families have selflessly rendered to the Vatican during this century alone has greatly enhanced the efficiency of the money transference from sources donated by the USA Catholic mission as well as the US Government. These tax savings wouldn't have happened without the Biaggi's work to secure the necessary Senate agreements. This allowance has added $millions to the charitable work that the Church has been able to extend to the poor in Africa. Spreading the word of Jesus to the illiterate and immoral peoples there and return them to the paths of righteousness, away from the evils of adultery and fornication and to a true appreciation of the Christian message, as preached by the Catholic Church."

" I see you understand fully the Churches current important mission to spread to word to the poor and ignorant African peoples so that they may multiply. But what is it that brings you here today, curiosity to meet me the new adjunct Bishop."

"I admit Monsignore that's partially true, but I also wish to confess my guilt feelings about my marriage and would like to volunteer my service to you with the charitable work you're doing."

"So, what is troubling you about your marriage, Maria, have you been unfaithful to your husband?"

"Oh no, not at all, quite the reverse!"

"Are you telling me that your husband is unfaithful, Maria? You are such a beautiful attractive and intelligent lady, why would he be unfaithful to such a fine lady, as you? I see from our records you were married here in the Cathedral about four years ago, but you've no children yet! Why is that Maria, have you seen a doctor about this?"

"No, Monsignore, there is no need for a doctor, I am very well."

"Do you have a loving relationship with your husband Maria, as is your Christian duty?"

At this point you shed a few tears and give a quiet sob, "Not exactly, no."

"When was the last time you had intercourse with your husband?"

"I can't exactly remember."

"Don't be coy, I'm sure you can remember very well."

"It was such a long time ago, currently we don't have any form of physical relationship. We sleep in separate bedrooms."

"Has Paulo told you this! Have you had sex with him?"

"Calm down Maria, I'm merely imagining the conversation you had with Bishop Franki."

"So, you're saying you don't have intercourse with your husband, Maria. Have you ever had intercourse with him or another?"

"I'm not sure."

"Ok, Maria, let's stop this interview now and make another appointment for next week. We can meet more informally in my office in the apartment at the back of the Cathedral, next week, at 5.30 pm if that's convenient."

The following week you turn up at the Bishop's private office a little nervous. He's dressed in mufti with an open necked shirt. He explains, "Except when I'm on official duty I prefer not to wear my purple cassock. I think it's too formal, it makes you nervous."

You smile and nod, still a little nervous. He gestures that you sit on his chaise longue, which maybe you're surprised to see, is covered with a large piece of clean paper towelling.

"You mentioned last week that you'd never had a proper sexual relationship with your husband, have you ever had any with anyone before you met your husband?"

"Oh, no Monsignore, I was saving myself for my future husband as all good Catholic women do or at least should."

"So, they say, Maria, but what's said and what's practised are not always the same!"

You nod, assuring him of your virtue. "Well Maria, would you mind if I check you out, down there, there may be something that's preventing you from enjoying normal relations. Please lie down of the couch, remove your underwear and open your legs, so that I can examine your genitals. I am fully qualified to do this; it's part of our training, so that we can decide whether a marriage has been consummated."

With that he opened a cupboard, takes out a thin rubber glove and pulls it onto his right hand and dips his index and middle fingers in a jar containing a clear jelly. He turned and looked at you to assess the state of your genitals, he noted that you were showing signs of excitement, labial and clitoral swelling and open vagina. He placed his fingers in your opening and felt to determine whether your hymen was perforated. He observed that it was intact."

" Maria, you're still a virgin, how can this be? Is your husband impotent?"

You shake your head. "No, he tells me that he does it with his girl-friends frequently."

"Do you have an aversion to sex with men, Maria, do you prefer women?"

"Absolutely not! no I'm often attracted to men!"

"Really, I asked you before, but before you met Paulo, did you have relationships with other young men or indeed older men."

"I've always been shielded from intimate relationships with men, so when I was young, only a few tentative kisses at parties. My family was very keen for me to marry Paulo, they saw him as a good match. The Biaggis are, like my own family, landed conservative Catholics, who supported the fascists, Mussolini, and the Germans. Both families saw our marriage by as an ideal match. And it must be said, Paulo's a good-looking man, although quite frankly he's rather naïve and unlike his, effete cousin Luigi not very bright."

"Yes, I understand, Maria, so what went wrong?"

"This is very embarrassing, but on our wedding night when I saw Paulo naked, he terrified me!"

"Really, why was that?"

"He has a gigantic penis! A club! I was afraid that if he entered me, he'd split me right open, tear me apart. I didn't want his thing anywhere near me."

"It's a common enough fear, but usually overcome by a sympathetic and gentle and persuasive lover. The vagina is capable of considerable distention, you only have to think about childbirth. Did he try to persuade you to yield?"

"Yes, persistently, but the more he tried, the more I resisted, my vagina went into a painful spasm. After a week or so, much to my relief he gave up and hasn't tried since."

"So is your aversion just to Paulo's penis, or to all of the others out there as well, Maria?"

"No just Paulo's, it's so huge and menacing, like a bludgeon!"

"How do you know this Maria, have you seen many others to compare with Paulo's?"

"Only a very few, mainly from paintings and statues and of course young boys."

"If I showed you mine, would you tell me honestly if you found it intimidating?"

Without asking he slid out of his trousers and underpants and exposed his semi erect, average sized penis, "does this frighten you Maria, be honest?"

"Not at all, on the contrary, I enjoy looking at it, I find it quite stimulating, exciting even!"

"I can feel that you're, getting a bit warmer, Maria." After he had removed his underpants, the Bishop's had seemingly absentmindedly returned his hand to your genitals with his thumb resting on your clitoris. He stroked and caressed you a little and you responded by groaning. You were a very sexually frustrated lady and were longing for him to penetrate you, to the quench the fire burning in your cunt. Your hips bucked a little when he pressed his thumb against your clitoris a little harder.

"Listen, Maria, as you are virgo intacta, you could claim for a dissolution of your unhappy marriage on the grounds of non-consummation. In Catholic law it's about the only legitimate way out of an unsatisfactory marriage. It could be quickly done. Or would you prefer to experience how a penis feels in your vagina? Even if we have intercourse, such a claim would still be possible as I could provide an affidavit stating that when I examined you, your hymen was imperforate."

"Wouldn't we be committing a sin? It would be adultery."

"Not in your current state, you're not legally married."

" Then, wouldn't it be fornication, nevertheless?"

"Not really, it would be a means of relieving your overwhelming guilt feelings at your non-compliance with your marriage vows, so an act of mercy, absolution."

"If you say so, Monsignore." You guided his erect penis into your aroused and open vagina. The Bishop, a proficient and well-practised lover provided a satisfactory initiation in the act of love, you climaxed nearly at once, despite the initial pain which you hardly noticed in the excitement of the moment. When it was over, he requested that you to wash with a douche bag he had prepared. He said that as it was specifically prohibited, he didn't believe in using protective measures against pregnancy during intercourse but saw nothing wrong with personal hygiene and removing the traces of blood. He personally sluiced the douchebag contents into your vagina. When you'd dressed, he asked if you'd enjoyed the experience and whether you'd like to repeat it next week." You said you had enjoyed it and would like to repeat it very much.

Things evolved swiftly after the first meeting, your womanly needs became more demanding, and your visits to the Bishop more frequency. Franki mentioned that he's begun to do penance for the sins that you were both were now both committing, and he thought that as a pious lady, you should do likewise. Why not give a monthly donation to his charity, in aid of the poor children in Eritrea.

That's how it began, but soon you found that your savings were running low, so you decided to avenge yourself on Paulo for his adulteries, as well as his lack of understanding of your fears and needs so it was all his fault that you were turning into a common fornicator just like him! So, you hatched plan to rob the Biaggi business to pay to avenge yourself. You persuaded the greedy and simple-minded Luccas that the payroll deception would be profitable for them and there'd be no danger of being caught, as Paulo was far too gullible and careless to discover anything.

However, Stefano Cremona, soon discovered what you had been doing. He said he'd turn a blind eye to the fraud but wanted nothing to do with it, personally. He said you wouldn't be caught, as long as you didn't steal more than $1200 a month. He didn't tell you that he had too had his own better disguised embezzlement scheme that was extracting far greater sums, by issuing false invoices to the Biaggi's from a fake account he'd set up. He knew that Paulo, wasn't equipped spot that money loss until things had gone so far that the damage was irreversible. At that critical point Paulo would have no other option but to declare bankruptcy and he, Stefano having already stolen a large portion of the capital, would be able to buy the rest of business, at a knockdown price! Quite neat, really.

However, Maria, you quickly realized that you weren't the only distressed lady making similar kinds of confession to Tullio and being relieved of their burden of guilt in a similar ways to you. You suggested to Tullio that instead of just you who are paying penance, he should broaden the scope and ask his regular clientele whether they might like to pay for their penitence into the Charity. You saw that in the near future there would be a need of the money to pay for upkeep of a children living closer to home than Eritrea if you continued what you were doing. As Tullio, too was enjoying your meetings and the newfound domestic bliss the relationship was bringing, his perspectives were changing, so he saw the sense in your practical suggestion. It would be awkward for Franki to arrange the payments through the Cathedral accounts, questions might be asked. You suggested that Stefano Cremona would be happy to organize the accounting details of the payments. Bishop Franki, a pragmatic man, saw the sense in this arrangement, he found bookkeeping and banking tedious and alien to his nature, he'd never need any money for himself; the Church more than adequately provided for him and his material needs. He was happy to let you take over the business side of things. He thought that once your marriage was annulled, he might be able to wangle a change of role; resign for his episcopal duties and live with you more openly in a sheltered community. Unlike most of colleagues, who had no special liking for domesticity, he'd always envied other men these simple human privileges of family life, that his vocation had forced him to abjure. He redoubled his efforts and the price for pardons too. The charity's income stream grew to several hundred dollars a month. The scheme went smoothly for a year or so, until it encountered a problem.

A few months ago, Signorina Rosa Verdi, fell into your clutches, you didn't appreciate how double-edged the problem her extreme naivety and stupidity would be. Not only did the silly girl confess to Tullio, about her affair which she'd been coerced into by her boss at the bank, Alphonso Lucca and in attempting to assuage her guilt had fallen into the Bishop's clutches too enough to drive anyone into the asylum: but fatally for your scheme, she also confessed her feelings of despair to her mother, of all people, Signora Joanna Verdi!

Joanna Verdi were in no way shared the guilt and fear of becoming a social pariah and outcaste that drove Rosa to despair. This feisty and pugnacious saw your scheme for what it is, blackmail. Joanna Verdi had no such fears and had no personal feeling of reverence for the Clergy that these clerics felt their God-given right. But being a practical soul, she realized that vengeance wouldn't help Rosa, she wanted full restitution pronto. Unless this was forthcoming, she was willing to expose your outrageous exploitation in the local press. As you know, she was capable of carrying out her threat, by drip feeding hints and innuendos to the local newspaper. This was run by a group of Communist sympathizers without regard for Church's sacred mission. She knew that you and your fellow extortioners had much more to lose than Rosa in the shame game. Shaming people by meddling with their amour propre is a tricky business, if you overdo it the whole edifice may collapse in a heap of rubble on top of you!

You and Tullio were forced to secure a new job for Rosa with the Banco Ambrosio, but despite this, the ingrate, Joanna Verdi surreptitiously started to spread rumours questioning how virtuous Tullio Franki and his very good and pious assistant, Maria Biaggi actually were. The Bishop and his deacon began to ask pointed questions about your exact role in Tullio's charity. Currently Tullio is on Sabbatical leave of absence from the Diocese, in Eritrea and may have to remain there till the fuss dies down."

At this point, Paulo appeared, "I was wondering where you were, I assume you've been listening to all that's been said?"

"Yes, I was listening, Maria with mixed emotions, I'm sorry our marriage has been such a disappointment for both of us. I should have been more understanding at the beginning, but I was young and inexperienced, as were you. We should have attempted to sort this whole mess out as soon as it arose. I guess we were too ashamed and repressed.

I don't blame you for having an affair with Bishop Franki, although I am very hurt and angry that you engaged in these treacherous acts of vengeance with three other people who I've trusted for so long. As you've observed I've been stupid and naïve. It was very negligent of me to be so trusting and thereby handed you the opportunity for your betrayal. Happily, Marlene saw through it almost at once and has been able to put a stop to it. We have sufficient evidence to have you all sentenced to gaol for a long time, however, unless you make further difficulties, I'll not instigate criminal proceedings against you.

Also, I'm willing to let you retain the allowance I give you and a $100 a month out of the $400 you've been stealing, in addition. Also, if you agree to the marriage dissolution, I'll return the money you brought to our marriage. Luigi can fix it with the Curia.

However, I don't want to see you again, Maria. You can stay here in this apartment, for a while and I'll move temporarily to the Villa Minardi. I'm now in a very happy relationship with Marlene. As soon as the legalities have been negotiated, we intend to marry."

"What you say comes as a relief, Paulo, I've never believed that the arrangements that Stefano said he was planning were credible or would last. I thought that he'd swiftly dissociate himself from the Lucca's, Tullio and me Once you had been removed and he'd secured possession of properties, the bonds that held us together would dissolve. I was simply a tool in his grand plan to steal the Biaggi estate. His share of the loot was more than ours and the Luccas combined, and with his greater business understanding and connections, inevitably he'd gain full control so he'd force us out and would want to suppress any knowledge on how he'd come to acquire the business.

The only thing uniting us was a desire to bring down the Biaggi's, but we all had our own motivations. I didn't want to be stay unhappily married to you Paulo and deeply resented you; the Lucca's were simply greedy, grasping and envious; and Stefano hates the Biaggi clan too. He sees them as relics of the ancien regime, incompatible with modern Italy. Tullio hates the Biaggi family too for their nepotistic hold on power and the privilege we've acquired through association with the Vatican. Yes, he's also a hypocrite, he too uses his position to deceive gullible people, but the way he sees it is that his success in the religion business is entirely of his own making and he's working within the Church. He regards the Biaggi's like a congenital disease, like syphilis, sapping the strength of the Vatican's life blood and passing their malign grip on the Vatican through the generations. I disagree, completely, he doesn't see how the Italian establishment's support is integral to the Vatican's international particularly in Europe and USA. The Biaggi's role is to lubricate the Vatican's financial wheels and create the illusion of distance between the Curia and the mundanity of commerce and high finance in which they've always been fully engaged. Your main virtue Paulo's is that you cares deeply about what you're doing. You love viniculture, transforming soil and toil into something wonderful. It isn't simply a vehicle for accumulating wealth. You wants to raise quality of the product and the economy and of life in the region; until now you had neither necessary skills nor intelligence to be effective. I hope you, Signorina Marlene, can provide the missing catalyst that'll allow you to grow the enterprise. You may be surprised at how relaxed I am about all this, but in about five months I'm expecting to give birth to a child, Tullio definitely is its father. He intends to resign from his Bishopric and holy orders and once my marriage is annulled, we too will marry."

"I'm happy for you, Maria. Now I intend collect a few and return to the Villa Minardi with Marlene. I hope she'll soon follow your fine example at least far as you last surprise announcement goes."

The following morning, Paulo loaded the bullion into a van it only took him about ten minutes, he's as strong as an ox, and drove to Rome. We arrived before the Banco Populo opened, so we parked round the corner and had a coffee, whilst I waited for Guilia's arrival. As soon as I saw her approach, I intercepted her and told her our news and asked her whether we could store the bullion in the safe deposit.

She said that as Paulo Biaggi already had a safe deposit at the bank there was no problem. When I mentioned that we had 60 bullion bars, she said "No problem, our bank stores much of National treasure. Sixty gold bars may look a lot to you, but comparatively it's miniscule, a large safe box will easily accommodate it. Drive round to the bank entrance and I'll ask for the porter to wheel it straight into the basement. We should do this discretely."

When this had been done, I told Guilia that I was now officially the finance officer of the Biaggi firm and would like to appoint her as my advisor. I explained that we needed to make a loan request to the Curia, to raise money for improvement of the Biaggi wine business. I didn't explain that as one of the Bishops had been involved in embezzling funds from our firm that the Vatican owed us big time for not exposing him and them. We could now use the bullion as collateral, but we needed much more than that to raise Frascati wine to meet international competitive standards. Guilia said she'd be happy to undertake this but would have to ask permission from her bosses. She was sure they would be happy to provide the necessary help in this progressive enterprise.

All this was done very swiftly and only left us to tell Luigi and Louise or our changed circumstances.