The Bellini Card

84

Yashim was gone again the next morning when Palewski and Maria sat down to breakfast. Maria, too, had errands to perform, so Palewski spent the morning in the yard with the unemployed men, trying to penetrate their dialect and taking the occasional whiff of a very cheap cigar. An old man without teeth had been at the battle of Borodino. They shared their disappointments and capped each other’s reminiscences for the entertainment of the younger men, until the signora called him in for lunch.

Yashim returned a few minutes later and sat down to a thick lentil soup with evident enjoyment.

After lunch, Yashim spoke quietly to Maria and her mother; Palewski could not quite hear what they said, but the old lady looked thoroughly dubious. Finally she burst out laughing and flipped her apron over her head to hide her bad teeth. Palewski watched Yashim give the signora some money.

Yashim came out into the yard. Palewski threw him an inquiring look.

“The signora,” Yashim explained, “has agreed to spend the afternoon baking. Along with a dozen of her friends.”

“Buns?”

“Buns are traditional in Istanbul. I imagine they’ll be equally appreciated in Venice.”

“Yashim, I’m completely confused.”

“In which case,” Yashim replied, smiling, “my plan is more likely to succeed.”