Crossing himself , whilst softly mumbling the likes of which some spiritual repetition , the little man carefully removed the embroidery , thus displaying upon the stand the disrobed image of Santina Mazzaglia .
Don Allisandru Palatino gasped , taking a step back . The light of the flickering lamp giving the image a warm , animated quality and whilst staring into the eyes of the most beautiful woman he could ever imagine , the dark eyes returned his gaze , finding their way to a place deep within his soul . Many copies of her beauty were to be found illustrated in journals , books and even galleries , but according to the man standing alongside him , this was the original , and the Don was not about to enquire as to how it had been acquired , nor from where , or by whom .
He had for so many years been mesmerised by her beauty , bewitched by her eyes , drawn into a craving to touch and possess her so powerful , a king ’ s ransom had been paid the gargoyle as agent , to find and obtain this single work of art , and it was the sound of a slight cough , that drew the Don from his trance-like state . made aware he ’ d been stood for some time , without drawing so much as a single breath since the coverings had been removed .
As the sun ’ s panoramic rays exploded across the eastern horizon , and the twinkling lights of the Augusta peninsula diminished into the distance beyond the bay , was when the Don lit his first cheroot of the morning . It had been a long night and although deeply fatigued , Palatino was ecstatic with his purchase . Now positioned in
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