Antonio inclined his head, accepting the apology. “Will there be anything else, Señor?”
“No, thank you.”
When Antonio had left the sitting, Clete looked at the priest. “In English, we call that ‘el footo in el moutho,’” he said. “I’m very good at it, as you just saw.”
Welner chuckled. “So was your father,” he said. “Why do you think Perón wants you to go to the German
’s reception?”
The door opened before Clete could reply, and Señora Claudia Carzino-Cormano walked into the sitting. She was alone. She went to Welner and gave him her cheek. Then she turned to Clete. “You weren’t supposed to be here,” she said as she gave him her cheek.
“I didn’t know I was going to be,” he said. “Dorotéa has to go to the obstetrician.”
“Everything’s all right?”
“So far as I know. We got a little bored in Mar del Plata,” Clete said. “And she hasn’t been to the obstetrician yet. Name of Sarrario. You know him? Is he any good?”
“The best,” Welner said.
“He delivered both Isabela and Alicia,” Claudia said. “Why hasn’t she seen him before?”
“Because she didn’t have a wedding ring before,” Clete said.
“He is something of a prude.” Claudia chuckled. “Did Father Kurt tell you what we’re doing here?”
“He said you were going to burgle the place, and wanted him here for an alibi. Claudia, you don’t ever have to sneak in here. And take whatever you want.”
“There are some personal things…”
“You wouldn’t be interested in buying the place, would you?” Clete said.
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“You can’t be thinking of selling the place, Cletus,” Welner said.
“Why can’t I be?”
“Because it’s the Frade mansion.”
“The Frade museum is more like it. I don’t like it, Dorotéa hates it, and, for that matter, my father referred to it as ‘my money sewer on Coronel Díaz.’”
“Yes, he did.” Claudia laughed.
“But it never entered his mind to sell it,” Welner argued.
“Why not? Do you know how many people are working here? In this almost-always-empty marble barn? The only reason we’re here today is because Perón is in the guest house, and I can’t think of a way to get him out.”
“It is the Frade mansion,” Welner repeated. “If you sold it, people would talk.”
“Not that I give a damn, but what would they say? ‘Gee, it took him a long time to figure out he was pouring money into that museum of his for no good reason, and to decide to get rid of it’?”
“It would suggest you are having financial difficulty…,” Welner said.
“Yes, it would, Cletus,” Claudia agreed. “Try to think of it as an advertising expense.”
“…and had to move into the guest house. That would almost certainly cause you business problems, Cletus.”
“He’s right, Cletus,” Claudia said.