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| | March 10, 1998 |
| Anastasia, |
| I know it has been ages since my last letter, but I have been so very busy on this trip that I have hardly had a moment to sit down and take a little breather. Who would have thought that my trip to Italy would turn over such interesting finds. |
| Several weeks ago I stumbled upon the most intriguing man in a small café near the Vatican. Oh darling… you have never seen such a man. Had I, on first seeing him, been asked to guess his name I would have said "Antonio" in an instant. The man is a perfect example of Italian beauty. Good thing I didn’t guess though, for as it seems (though I cannot tell for sure it is the truth) his name is Xavier… Never would I have guessed him for a Frenchman… |
| Oh you would laugh at my escapades! I have watched him for weeks, and have yet to talk to him. Oh! He is an artiste! I have watched him sitting on the steps of the Vatican so many many times… staring into nothing… his eyes glazed with a lost child look… painting or sketching in a book. |
| The woman at the hotel knows little about him, but told me that he arrived in Italy several months ago, and that to her it seems he is searching for something… that he is lost. |
| She has given me several of his sketch books and paintings. One of his sketch books is enclosed. They all seem to depict the same figure… it is my mission now to know him and learn of this woman (?) in the paintings. |
| Don’t know when I will return darling, but I hope all is well. Could you perhaps water my plants? Thank you! |
| Love and Kisses, |
| Bethany |