Viewing page 59 of 150

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-58-

white transparent celluloid. We were both pleased with our presents, which goes to show that an appropriate gift no matter how modest, is just as pleasant to receive as a valuable one. But at the last moment we realized that we had nothing to offer our 'sfollati' in return, should they offer us something. We finally decided that my black and white box and N.'s celluloid microscope would have to be placed discreetly together on a table in the sitting-room, from whence they could be quickly brought forward should the occasion occur, and in fact that is what actually did occur. When our neighbours had departed, the Signora S. ran to her room and came back with a beautiful white handkerchief, the size of a shawl, interwoven in dark blue were the signs of the Zodiac. It was by the same artist who had ensigned a black and white Fascist handkerchief she had already given me. To N. she offered an old I8th.century turquoise-blue kerchief dotted with pink flowers which N. did not like. It appears that the Signora S. was delighted with her microscope but the Professor failed to appreciate the black and white box - 'he only likes bright colours', I was told.
December 28th. Went to see the Countess. I was already deep in the dumps. She had much news to tell us: Rome again bombarded; men joining the Fascist Party for lack of food and money. Germany being encircled. Roosevelt's speech predicts another front somewhere on the Western coast. 'For humanity's sake