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Vera was feeling conflicted. This Bois Aussi character was certainly a handsome man. He had a steady and well-paying job. He had huge tracts of land in France. He was charming and a delight to talk to. He had read all the latest novels. He was pretty much everything that Harv was not.
But Harv was... well Harv. Which didn't have much going for it, if she really thought about it. But for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to get rid of the image of his ruggedly handsome face and his mastery of the art of risotto.
Right now, Bois Aussi was regaling her with a tale of the French President's state visit to the US three years ago. Vera didn't have the heart to tell him that she had been at the dinner as a guest of Del and El and certainly refrained from editing his version. She hadn't the heart.
"And then, right at the height of the ceremony, voila! The President's wife asks for a glass of champagne! The silence was deafening. Isuppose that there are no adequate champagne style sparkling wines grown in your country, eh? The embarrassment!"
"Not since Prohibition started, no. Where do you suppose that Frau Miyatake has her headquarters?" One thing about Harv, he may not talk much, but when he did, he stayed on topic.
"Well, looking a the map that les deux chiens described, it could be anywhere from 'musty and somewhat largish poodle' to 'indeterminate ancestry bitch with weak kidneys.' I am uncertain how to visualize that as a human, though."
"It does pose a problem. I wish Vivaldi was here. He could sort this out for me in an instant."
"Musty and largish poodle is at the corner of Avenida 5 and Calle de los Otras Revoluciones. Ms Weak Kidneys really is a bitch and stuck up to boot. She hangs out at Avenida 30 near the Mercado," said a voice near the floor.
"Thanks!" said Vera.
"No problem. Any bacon around here?"
Vera paused, looked down, pondered, and said, "Just wat the hell are you doing here?"
"Glad to see you, too, toots," said Vivaldi. "Who's the pimp with the outrageous French accent?"
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