Goliarda Sapienza - The Art of Joy

‘May I come in, Princess?’

How much time had passed? Hours probably, and Beatrice was behind the door calling her. No, Beatrice didn’t call her ‘Princess’ and that was a male voice. Carlo?

‘Come in.’

Pietro, standing there with cap in hand, stared down at her with his round, expressionless eyes, his marble-smooth skull bowed in respect. What fear that man had once roused in her and Beatrice! Whereas now, if she weren’t the ‘Princess’ she had to be, she would have run and thrown her arms around him. Another sign of the condition in which she found herself again: wanting only to be embraced, protected, cradled by the strong arms of that good man who was as gentle as a child. His eyes weren’t really expressionless; they were just too docile for that massive physique, and the contrast was frightening. What did that man do without a woman, totally devoted as he was to his dear prince? He probably masturbated, and visited whores in the afternoon like Tuzzu used to say his father did: ‘ What was he supposed to do, as a widower, bring home a stepmother to drive us all crazy? ’

‘ Vossignoria will forgive me for disturbing her. I swear to God I wouldn’t have done so, Princess, if it weren’t a matter of great urgency.’

‘Of course. Don’t be silly, Pietro, you’re not disturbing me. What is this urgent matter?’

‘It’s that … I don’t know where to start. It’s a matter without rhyme or reason, but it’s complicated. I swear to God, Princess, very complicated.’

‘Begin wherever you like, Pietro. It’s up to you. You know we two understand each other.’

‘So kind of you, Princess, but I’m afraid that you might take it amiss.’

‘Does it concern the Prince?’

‘No. It concerns Signorina Inès.’

‘Signorina Inès? What about Signorina Inès, Pietro? I see you’re upset. Don’t you get along with each other?’

‘No, it’s not that. She’s polite, agreeable and devoted to the Prince but…’

‘Pietro, with me you can speak frankly, you know that. Are you perhaps in love with Signorina Inès?’

‘Me, fall in love with such an educated, proper young lady? Vossignoria will forgive me, Princess, but you are mistaken to think that. Pietro is sensible, and knows his place, what he can have and what he cannot have.’

‘Then what is it? I can see that you’re worked up.’

‘Perhaps the Princess hasn’t looked at the expense accounts in recent months and in particular at the expenditures for my dear Prince’s “amusement”. And I can understand it, because you’ve been worried about Principessina Beatrice and the curse that…’

‘Affliction, you must say, Pietro, not a curse, an affliction.’

‘You’re right, and the affliction that has struck the young Prince.’

‘That struck him, Pietro. You’ve seen yourself that everything is back to normal now.’

‘Of course, of course, a miracle, Princess, a miracle that you…’

‘All right, Pietro, I understand. What’s in the accounts? Was too much spent for the Prince’s “amusement”?’

‘Oh, no, Princess, on the contrary. For months and months he’s no longer wanted those women. Well, I should have realized right away! But who would have thought that such a respectable, level-headed young woman like Signorina Inès…’

‘Don’t tell me! The Prince has fallen in love?’

‘Seeing you smile instead of getting angry takes a weight off my shoulders, Princess. A saint is what you are! Now I feel I have the courage to continue’.

‘So continue, Pietro, go on. Don’t be so embarrassed.’

‘The fact is that I discovered that Signorina Inès — who would have thought it! — gave … how can I say certain words before a woman? Well, she allowed the Prince liberties. There! I said it and now it’s up to Voscenza to make the decision to send Signorina Inès back to Turin.’

‘Why would I do that, Pietro? How is the Prince doing?’

‘Oh, he’s really happy about it, happy as a three-year-old child!’

‘So then why should we send Signorina Inès back to Turin?’

‘That’s what the Princess, God rest her soul, would have done.’

‘Pietro, you and I care about the Prince, don’t we?’

‘Oh, so help me God, very much!’

‘Well then, if he’s happy this way, isn’t Signorina Inès better than those other women? Not to mention, how can we be certain that sooner or later he wouldn’t catch some awful disease? Don’t blush like that, Pietro.’

‘I hadn’t thought about that. Vossignoria is truly as firm and tolerant as a man! Like the Princess Gaia, buonanima , may God rest her soul! And seeing that for Voscenza things are fine the way they are, I can tell you that for me it’s a relief, a real relief to see my dear Prince so content.’

‘Good Pietro. As long as you’re content and Ippolito is content, I’m at peace. What more can you ask for? Now go.’

‘Of course, of course. I’ve already taken too much time from Voscenza ’s work. Bacio le mani , my respects, and may God bless you, Princess.’

‘God bless you too, Pietro … Oh, listen! Tell Signorina Inès about our conversation and tell her that I must speak to her right away.’

I don’t have to tell you that I sent Pietro away just in time. A fit of uncontrollable laughter shook me so that I had to throw myself on the bed and stifle it with a pillow. Gradually, the laughter turned into a deep exhaustion. ‘ I hadn’t laughed so hard since I was six or seven years old, Princess … Laughing is good for you. It’s tiring, but it’s a good, pleasant fatigue, like after a good swim. ’

* * *

It must have been late, because the window panes were slowly darkening. Had she fallen asleep? Argentovivo had in fact come to wake her, knocking lightly at the door. Since she had become a princess, not by virtue of lineage but by the force of nature, as Mimmo used to say, Argentovivo no longer burst into the room, but knocked quietly, and she never spoke unless she was given permission.

Avanti , come in, entrez … She was already laughing again. ‘ There, that’s how I like to see you, princess, laughing! Even in a bad situation, one must enjoy a good laugh. ’ That’s right, Mimmo, you taught me to laugh and no one will take that away from me.

Mimmo’s calm, serious face gently draws away from my eyelashes and backs off toward the window. Talking with his principessina does him good, and he finds it hard to leave even if it is almost night. At the window, the light still lingered uncertainly, bemused by the languid season already waiting around the corner. Soon the sunsets would lengthen, exhausting the expectant sea with their caresses. The sea awaited her, as usual. Would she still be able to swim after the long winter? ‘ Quannu s’è imparato un mestiere, principessina mia, non lu si scorda cchiù. Once you learn to do something, you never forget it. Listen to Mimmo, who can do many things, build tables, mend socks… It’s the same for you. Now that you’ve learned to swim, no one can take this skill away from you. Carlo says so .’

‘Oh, forgive me, Princess, were you sleeping? I’ll let you rest! Forgive me, but Pietro told me that you wanted to speak with me right away. I … well! I’ll come back another time. When would you like me to come back, Princess?’

Signorina Inès, frozen in front of the window, spoke of leaving, but she didn’t budge. Rigid, her silhouette stood out against the last glimmer in the sky.

‘Forgive me, Inès, but I’m very tired.’

‘Of course, Princess, I’ll go now. I apologize again.’