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But then so elina and bowed low before walking back across the restaurant to rejoin the Contessa

“Ti at his watch, “especially if I’”

“Did you e to sell my Canaletto to your friend?” asked the Contessa, as she rose from her place

“No,” replied Gian Lorenzo, as he waved in the direction of Paolo’s table, “but he did suggest that we keep in touch”

“And will you?”

“That ht be quite difficult,” adive nora Castelli will not be listed in the Yellow Pages”

Gian Lorenzo took the first flight back to Ro The Canaletto was to follow hiallery than his secretary rushed out of the office, spilling out the words, “Paolo Castelli has already called twice thisyou his nuh to phone hiet in”

Gian Lorenzo walked calmly into his office, sat down at his desk and composed himself He then tapped out the number his secretary had placed in front of him The call was first answered by a butler, who transferred him to a seeretary, before he was finally connected to Paolo

“After you left last night, an Paolo “She has never forgotten her visit to the Contessa’s honificent art collection She wondered if the reason you werewith the Contessa was—”

“I don’t think it would be wise to discuss this matter over the phone,” said Gian Lorenzo, whose father had also taught him that deals are rarely made on the telephone, but almost always face to face One needs the client to view the picture, and then you allow the it on a wall in their home for several days There is a crucial s to theotiate the price

“Then you’ll have to return to Venice,” said Paolo matter-of-factly “I’ll send the private jet”

Gian Lorenzo flew to Venice the following Friday A Rolls-Royce was parked on the runaiting to take him to the Villa Rosa

A butler greeted Gian Lorenzo at the front door before escorting hie marble staircase to a suite of private rooms that exhibited barren walls—an art dealer’s fantasy Gian Lorenzo was reether for Agnelli over a period of thirty years, now considered to be one of the finest in private hands

Gian Lorenzo spentescorted round the one hundred and forty-two rooelina He quickly discovered that there was far more to his hostess than he had anticipated

Angelina showed a genuine interest in wanting to start her own art collection, and had clearly visited all the great galleries round the world Gian Lorenzo concluded that she only lacked the courage of her own convictions—a not uncoh she didn’t lack knowledge or, to Gian Lorenzo’s surprise, taste He felt guilty forassumptions based only on comments he had read in the press Gian Lorenzo found hian to wonder what this shy, thoughtful young woman could possibly see in Paolo