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

« Martin | Main | Intermezzo »
Thursday
03Apr

Welcome

Ah. 

Hello again.

It seems I've been called to the stage once more, sooner, perhaps, than you or I would wish.  Felicity and Melancholy have decided to take a walk in the garden, and, as the weather today has been so mild, they may eat dinner in the open air among the flowers, makes a rather pretty picture I should think, so this evening, my friends, we have only each other for company.  

You must allow me to apologize.  I quite agree we are being terrible hosts, but Melancholy has such a way about him, you see, and he gets so upset when he is surprised.  You see, this sounds awful, but I don't think we quite knew when you were due to arrive.  To be frank, I had thought the invitation said next week, and I know Prune thought so too.  Perhaps also Melancholy.  In these matters, we defer to Felicity, as she has a keen social sense, but, this is between ourselves, with dates she can be distressingly, how might I put it, scattered.  I'm not sure any of us were ready when you first showed up at the gate. 

But this is all terribly rude of me.  Here I am apologizing to you and yet making you feel as though you have intruded when of course you were invited.  Please.  We are happy you have come.  Stay as long as you wish.  I think you will like it here.