Every time she plunged the end of her croissant in the coffee, she blessed the moment when she had decided to spend the summer holidays in Rapallo. During this first part of the XX century, the Ligurian town had in fact become one of the most sought for resorts of European high society and she, M.me Satie, after having lost her dear husband, had to keep the name she held as high as possible. Besides, her dear childhood friend Maria lived in Rapallo, happily married to colonel Olivieri, commanding officer of the Carabinieri station of the town.
- And then Paris was unbearable in summer! With that heat and the dust the carriages lifted up when passing...- she thought to herself.