Fifty

 

After the funeral ceremony, Sam and Rosina decided to head for Naples to see Rosina’s family. Edward and Ginny elected to stay on for a few more days, but it seemed that it was not Edward’s destiny to lead a quiet, calm and uninterrupted existence.

‘A telegram for you, Signor Commandante.’ The manager himself brought it to their breakfast table.

‘Have Been Searching Everywhere For You. Imperative You Contact Me.’ Signed, Zoparella.

The telephone line sounded as though cats were fighting in the junction-boxes, but it was just possible to make out what was being said.

‘You must come to Messina, Signor. As soon as possible.’

‘Is the Signora in trouble?’

There was a pause before Zoparella’s voice came again. ‘No, Signor,’ he said slowly. ‘There are no problems now. This is business. You are needed here. A great deal of money is involved. I have been instructed to ask you to bring an engineer with you. The name of Ingenièro Nanchino has been suggested. All his expenses will be paid, of course.’

‘Let’s not worry about that, Carlo. I think I can persuade Signor Nankidno to come. But I’d be glad if you could give me some idea what it’s all about.’

But Zoparella would not be drawn.

‘I’ve been asked to go to Messina,’ he told Ginny.

‘Your old flame?’

‘That was over a long time ago.’

She smiled.

‘And if you are worried, Sam will be coming along as my chaperone.’

They were met at Reggio di Calabria by Zoparella. ‘We will go to my office,’ he announced.

He seemed unusually solemn.

‘Can you tell me now what this is all about, Carlo?’ Edward asked.

Zoparella held up this hand. ‘I beg you to wait, until–’

‘Until the Signora arrives?’

‘No, Signor Edward. Not the Signora. Just me and Evrone and Avvocato Montesi. I have booked rooms for you at the hotel. But I have to ask Ingenièro Nanchino if he would mind waiting there until the first part of our business is concluded.’

Sam wasn’t bothered, and they dropped him off with the luggage at the hotel. Edward couldn’t make head or tail of it.

‘Why aren’t we going to the Casa Orlando? Why isn’t Rafaela here?’

Zoparella hesitated for a moment before he answered. ‘The Signora,’ he said, ‘is dead.’

It hit Edward like a blow in the face.

‘I’m afraid it’s true, Signor Edward. It was the ’flu that started it. My father died of it. So did many friends. The Signora caught it. She recovered but it left her weak. Two months ago, she insisted on visiting the docks at Genoa where we have interests. It was cold. She caught a chill. It turned to pneumonia.’

The car drew up at Zoparella’s office, and Edward climbed out in a daze.

Seated at a table, Edward pulled himself together and studied the three men. Zoparella had lost a lot of hair. Evrone had grown fat. Montesi seemed thinner and graver than ever.

From a drawer in his desk Zoparella produced photographs which depicted a funeral in all the barbarous majesty of Sicily, with draped horses wearing tall black-dyed plumes, and black curtains edged with silver on the hearse. A crowd of mourners walked behind among whom Edward recognised the three men facing him, and their wives, all heavily veiled.

Evrone shook his head. ‘A tragedy,’ he said.

Zoparella took a deep breath. ‘Signora Rafaela,’ he said, ‘made sure she put her affairs in order before she…before she died. Avvocato Montesi will explain in more detail but, briefly, she left shares in the organisation to me, to Carlo and to the avvocato. It makes us extremely wealthy men.’

‘What about her husband? Wasn’t he included?’

‘Her husband was killed last year. An automobile accident in America.’

‘Poor Rafaela.’

‘She also left documents for you,’ Zoparella confirmed. ‘And a lot of money.’

‘Why me?’

‘You are a director and shareholder of Orlandos. You have been ever since 1909.’

Edward could hardly believe his ears. Rafaela had talked about giving him a directorship once upon a time, but he had never given it a second’s thought.

‘The Commandante, as you may know, was an engineer. He produced an engine, a fine marine engine. It was the Signora’s wish that you should examine it and give an opinion on it.’

‘Where is it?’

‘At the Casa Orlando.’

‘So that’s why you wanted Sam along.’

There was a long pause.

‘She loved you, Signor Edward. She always did.’