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After dinner Urbino telephoned the Contessa in Bologna to see how she was doing. She spoke in a calm and almost emotionless voice, and spent most of the time telling him about Clementina, who was fortunately out of danger. He told her that he hoped she was taking care of herself as well, and left it at that for now. Although he had no intention of keeping silent about her strange behavior after sounding the bell of the Ca’ Pozza, as she had vehemently told him he should, he didn’t want to speak about it over the telephone.

“I’ll be back late tomorrow night,” she said, “but there’s no need to call, caro. I’ll be going straight to bed. We’ll all be losing an hour of sleep.”

Tomorrow was March 31 when the clocks were turned ahead one hour for summertime.

“I won’t bother you. Give Clementina my love, and have a safe return.” But he couldn’t say good-bye without adding, “Possle is expecting us on Monday.”

“I haven’t forgotten.”