The Tar Pit
"Go and see who that is, Titta!" Maria said on hearing a knock on their hotel suite door. She was sitting at her dressing table, applying her make up as they were due to have a late lunch with Elsa Maxwell before leaving Venice.
Titta obediently did as he was told, and opened the door to find a bellboy standing with a man who had come to deliver a large bouquet of flowers (yellow roses and violets).
"Flower delivery for Madam Maria Meninghini-Callas" the Bellboy said.
Titta nodded for them to come into the suite, and directed them to put the flowers on the table. He also noticed that a bottle of Dom Perignon had also arrived with the flowers. Both the bellboy and the delivery boy looked at Titta expectantly waiting for a tip, but he simply ushered them out and shut the door in their faces.
"Who was that?" Maria called.
"Some flowers and some champagne have been delivered for you".
"Who from?"
Titta checked the card, it was written in Greek. He knew exactly who it was from.
"The card is written in Greek, so it is probably from Mr Onassis".
Maria paused, her heart beating. She had vowed last night, that she would keep Ari at an arms length as much as possible, but nevertheless she was excited that he had sent her flowers. Almost like a schoolgirl, she came skipping out of the bedroom, and snatched the card from Titta and read it excitedly.
"What does it say?" Titta asked looking at her flushed face.
"To La Divina, Madam Maria Meninghini-Callas, in friendship from Mr and Mrs Aristotle Onassis".
Maria put a hand to her heart.
"Why has he sent you champagne?" Titta huffed. He thought it was a vulgar display.
"Because perhaps he knows that I like Dom Perignon" Maria said picking up a rose and smelling it.
"Simply beautiful" she sighed shutting her eyes.
"Maria, if we don't hurry, we will be late for lunch".
Clutching her purse to her and wearing dark glasses, Maria left the hotel with Titta. The press were always out to photograph her, and either she acknowledged them when they called out "Madam Meninghini-Callas" and gave them a smile, or she pursed her bright red lips and ignored them if they asked her questions. It depended on her mood. Today she flashed them smiles. Her fans were a different matter, she always had time for them. They approached her with awe, asking for autographs or just wanting to congratulate to her on her triumphs, or tell her how much they loved her, and Maria as a star who could respond in one of four languages when approached, was accessible.
The manager of the restaurant (where Maria and Titta were due to dine with Elsa Maxwell), to put an end to the heated discussion between his staff as to whom was going to have the honor of serving Maria, had declared that he would be the one to wait upon her. As soon as he was told that Maria was approaching, he met her at the door beaming.
"The incomparable Madam Meninghini-Callas!" he beamed, practically bowing low to her, "Welcome to my establishment. Thank you gracing my business. I hope our food and wine are to the taste of the Queen of Opera! I am Signor Rossi."
"Oh well, thank you" Maria said feeling every eye in the restaurant upon her as he kissed her hand.
"Let me guide you to your table. Signora Maxwell has requested a private room".
He did not mention that he had cancelled all the reservations for that afternoon, which had included some members of European aristocracy. He held open the door, and then took Maria's coat, bearing it away as if it were a sacred relic. Maria later discovered that parts of the fur had been snipped off, probably by the staff who wanted a memento. Later, Signor Rossi would put up a sign saying that this was the favorite Venice restaurant of Maria Callas, rename the private dining room after her, and advertised the white wine served at the table to her as her favorite vintage.
"Maria! Darling!" Elsa rose from her seat, her arms open when Maria entered the private room she had booked for the luncheon. She had also requested a few more touches, such as a candle burning on the table (despite the fact that it was the afternoon), and fresh orchids by Maria's plate.
"Elsa!" Maria said kissing her politely on both cheeks.
"Titta" Elsa said kissing him and noting the bags under his eyes, "You know Maria, I don't think that late nights suit your husband."
"The last few days have been very busy" Maria said sitting. "And I only have a short time at home, and even then I must work".
"Wine, dear?"
"Oh no, I think I had enough last night, and I have a long journey ahead of me."
Elsa poured some for herself, while Titta poured some white wine for Maria.
"Titta, I said I didn't want wine" Maria said, "pour me some water, oh and look in my purse for some aspirin will you? I have a headache"
"So, how did you like Mr. Onassis?"
"He was very interesting, I thought Tina was very sweet. He sent me the most beautiful flowers".
Elsa was a little jealous at hearing this, and stiffened slightly. She didn't like to think of anyone else paying attention to Maria, and Maria paying attention to anybody else. She was about to tell Maria that Ari always sent flowers to the guests of honor at her parties, but she was interrupted.
"Knock, knock!"
"Your Ladyship!" Elsa said rising to her feet, a little irritated.
Carlotta, a young woman probably in her late twenties or early thirties, walked quickly into the room and kissed the air above Elsa's cheeks. She exuded old world Italian money, expensive perfume, and European charm.
"I am very sorry to intrude on your lunch, but I was dining here with an acquaintance when I saw Madam Meninghini-Callas enter," Carlotta explained in her Italian accented English, "and I thought I would come in and greet greet her as we did not meet yesterday."
"Not at all" Elsa said despite herself, "Madam Meninghini-Callas, may I introduce to you Carlotta, Countess of Forreno".
"Pleased to meet you" Carlotta said smiling.
"Charmed" Maria said.
Carlotta then switched to Italian and addressed Maria.
"My apologies that I could not speak with you at the ball yesterday, but there was just too many people. I believe you live in Sirmione?"
"Yes, just outside of the old town" Titta said.
"I maintain a family villa in Verona. You must come and visit. I will extend invitations when I return from Switzerland. How long are you in Venice?"
"We are leaving later this afternoon" Titta said.
"That is a shame, I would have invited you for cocktails on my yacht this evening. Anyway, I believe I have taken up enough of your time, I must be going now. Enjoy your lunch! I recommend the baccalà mantecato! Ciao!"
Carlotta waved to everyone by raising a hand and moving her fingers elegantly, before leaving the room.
"You seem to be winning hearts everywhere" Elsa said a little sulkily.
"The countess was very eager to invite me to her villa in Verona. She was going to invite me aboard her yacht this evening for cocktails, but alas we have to leave soon. I think it would have been the perfect end to a hectic week."
Elsa couldn't bear the thought. One of the perks of her job was that she knew everyone's secrets, and she didn't hesitate to use them to get what she wanted. Carlotta hadn't invited her, if anything, she had never invited her.
"I don't want to say this, but between you and me, Maria, I would advise that you don't accept any invitations from the Countess of Forreno. She's not a woman with whom you should associate, and I am sure that your husband would not approve of her as a friend".
"Why is that?" Maria asked puzzled. "She seemed so friendly".
"Her husband, the Count, spends most of his time in Monte Carlo, and very little with his young attractive wife. He's a little too fond of the gaming tables, which he can afford thanks to his wife's family, assorted de Medici, Habsburg-Bourbon and high ranking Vatican cardinals bailing him out and covering up his indiscretions. He is also in the habit of picking up the leftovers left behind by royalty, once gambling no longer satisfies him that is. Did you happen to notice who the countess was with when you entered? That is not her husband. That is Luis Escarra, a Spanish bullfighter. They call him "Las Tres Espadas", "The Three Swords."
"Why should they call him that?" Maria said naively.
"Because the third sword is not in his hands".
"I don't understand" Maria said, "Where else would it be?"
Elsa leaned over and patted Maria's hand, drawing her large manicured fingers lingeringly over Maria's knuckles, and along her fingers, "My dear, sometimes I think you are too innocent for society".
Signor Rossi entered the room beaming, and took Maria's order reverently. She was hungry, but habitually ordered only salad. Her meal arrived on the table in record time.
Much to Elsa's disappointment, she hardly had Maria to herself as she had planned. The "private word" that she had craved kept being interrupted, it was either by the manager bringing in food, waiters making excuses to come into the room, members of the jet set popping in to talk to Maria, just as Carlotta had done, and of course some fans found their way in too before being shown out by the restaurant staff.
The big drama came at the end of the meal. Word had gotten around that La Davina was lunching at the restaurant and a crowd of paparazzi, fans and the curious, had assembled outside. Signor Rossi had to shut and lock the doors, as the presence of so many people was startling to his patrons as they were spilling in. A few waiters were even drafted to escort people out through the crowd, elbowing and pushing their way through so titled diners could leave.
"Madam Meninghini-Callas" Signor Rossi said apologetically, "most unfortunately, a crowd has assembled at the entrance, I will take you through the kitchen to the backdoor if you so please".
Maria rose quickly, Signor Rossi bought her her coat, and she slipped on her dark glasses. She gripped her purse like a cudgel.
Elsa looked a little scared.
"There must be about two hundred people out there" Titta said peeping through the door.
"Come away from the door, Titta" Maria said.
Signor Rossi returned with some waiters, and with them flanking Maria, Elsa following behind, and Titta bringing up the rear. Maria was escorted out into the main restaurant. The diners turned to look at her in silence, as the crowd outside shrieked, "There she is!" and burst into applause and cheers. Photographers threw themselves at the glass doors and the windows, snapping pictures wildly determined to get a shot. Briskly, Signor Rossi walked Maria, Titta and Elsa to the kitchen. As they passed through this steamy, humid fetid place, the chefs gave her a standing ovation. Maria did not acknowledge them, she only wished to get away.
When they reached the back door, which led out to an alley where the restaurant put their trash, Signor Rossi looked out.
"There is no one here. I do not think they know this entry. Giuseppe! Come here!"
A young kitchen boy of about twelve or thirteen came over.
"Yes Signor Rossi?"
"Find a launch, and tell it to wait. When it comes back let us know".
"Yes Signor Rossi"
Giuseppe, who seemed completely unphased by Maria (probably because he didn't know who he was) and what was happening, ran off down the alleyway. It seemed like an eternity until he came back, but it was probably only a few minutes. One of the chefs went to stand by the door to the main dining room, his machete drawn. The other stepped outside to guard the back door. Outside in the main restaurant, they could hear the waiters arguing with someone.
"I got one Signor Rossi! He's waiting there now. But you better hurry, there are people entering the alley".
Signor Rossi nodded and stepped outside, and quickly ushered Maria, Elsa and Titta, plus the two waiters and the machete wielding chef out. He looked down the alley, and then giving Giuseppe a gentle shove to lead them to the launch, he set off at a quick pace. Maria found it easy to keep up with him, Titta was nervously looking around and almost lagged behind, and Elsa was puffing with exhaustion after a few steps. She had never before been in a situation like this, but each time she looked at Maria, cool, calm, like a statue, she took courage and her heart beat wildly in her chest.
"Here Signor Rossi!" Giuseppe said when they reached the small dock, pointing down to a wooden motorized launch.
The driver looked up and almost fell overboard when he saw his passengers.
Titta helped Maria and Elsa into the launch, before clapping Signor Rossi on the shoulder and thanking him. But there was very little time to waste, as the small dock was suddenly crowded with people. Some of whom even fell in the canal in the great press, as the boat pulled away.
As soon as they were safely out on the water, Elsa sat back and took a deep breath.
Titta wiped his brow with his handkerchief.
"Are you all right, Maria?" he asked.
"I am quite fine Titta" she replied in a clipped tone.
Elsa looked at Maria in awe. All those people were chasing her, and yet Maria had taken it all in her stride. Elsa had been terrified, with what felt like a long hard walk from the backdoor of the restaurant to the dock, she had felt as if any moment she was going to be trampled underfoot, and Maria torn to shreds in front of her.
"Look Maria" Titta said pointing, "St Mark's Campanile. It fell down in 1902 you know. I was a little boy of seven years old, and I remember seeing it in the papers."
"Oh."
Elsa took Maria's hand and squeezed it.
"I was so scared" she whispered, "but you were fantastic". She half imagined that Maria squeezed her hand back.
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