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- I47 -

out they stopped to look at my picture 'Boreal'(now playing its part in my present life here).'Che bel quadro'! exclaimed enthusiastically the officer. 'She represents the cold heights of warm countries', I explained to Mr. J.' She looks it', was his blunt remark. We all shook hands, the Italian officer kissing mine and thereby showing his former social status. We were left even more perturbed than before!

By a mere coincidence that very same day in the afternoon when walking back from a visit to our friend the sculptor who lived just beyond us, whom did we see on the other side of the road but the huge form of my former peasant Tomalino and not far off were the three sleuths that had come up to my Villa. Though they saw me they not not salute but got quickly into their car. Here was evidence enough that the whole affair had been concocted out of vengeance by Tomalino. Subsequently we submitted our suspicions to Colonel X who remarked that the SS was getting far too Lively.

The detectives did not reappear and the unpleasant incident died down as quickly as it had cropped up.

The war is now over. Natalie has departed for Paris. I miss her very much. I remain alone seeking to find the other, the artist self that has deserted me during these years of war on the hills of Florence.