Table of Contents
Dramatis Personae

Please note that characters are added as they reveal themselves and become part of the story. 

The Melancholy Korean is a former derivatives trader living in New York.  He loves Dante, James Joyce and Flaubert.  He has studied French, German, Japanese, Sanskrit, and Hebrew, but of these languages, he remembers only, "avez-vous un cendrier?"  Yes, he smokes.  No, he doesn't know Korean.

Leon Badges is a painter, illustrator, draftsman, and cartoonist.

Felicity

Barbara, Felicity's Mother

Harry Best

Prune

Dr. Ken Coffin

Broker Bill and his wife Kate

Mumbai

Nicky, the Greek

Blue Stocking

Rev Hezekiah Bartholomew Smith

Kitty

Marco

The Critic

Sybil

« Monaldo | Main | Intermezzo »
Wednesday
02Apr

Introductions

Ah.  Hello. 

Yes. 

I didn't expect so many...

Allow me to introduce myself. 

Harry Best.

What wonderful manners you have!  No, the pleasure is all mine.  I apologize for this odd interruption, but, as you can see, Melancholy has suddenly taken ill.  The post about the law professor exhausted the poor man, I'm afraid.  He can be so enthusiastic, you see, and he has such strong feelings about things. 

Felicity wanted me to come out and, ah, well, explain the situation.  I'm also to provide the entertainment, which is far too embarrassing for me, and, perhaps, even more unfortunate for you.  I don't know as much as Melancholy, and I can't say I'm much of a reader.  I do like memoirs.  Memoirs.  Funny word.  Memoirs. 

Have you ever read the autobiography of Count Monaldo Leopardi? 

No? 

No, I haven't either.  But Melancholy used to translate the most amazing passages for me.  Lovely stuff.  I wish I could remember some of the stories.  Hmm.  Well, let me check the library.  I don't read Italian, but there might be a translation somewhere.  

I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail.