ATDTDA 706

[Michael Bailey]

706 3 "Was I asking?" - a touch of the old insouciance,
although filtered through the fact (of not asking) that
attests to its lapse...

706 5 Mestre bridge - Mestre was a suburb but was annexed
to Venice, it's on the mainland shore of the Venice lagoon -
not sure what strategic or symbolic significance this might have

Venice isn't far from Trieste, though.

On this page, badinage occurs between Cyprian ("always
baiting his master") and Theign.

706 9 "Theign held a commission in the Navy"
cf 705 - "may as well join the Navy"

706 12-13 San Bartolomeo works @ Spezia
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2qsfcw
shows pix, in conjunction with info about Marconi
(Tesla's competitor) doing experiments there

706 25 "sandwich boards" a much more common sight
in those days, but probably raised a smile then as now

706 32 "that facility for creeping about which one associates
with the Italian character"
ironic in that Theign himself is a spy, or at least a spymaster

706 "They are as direct as children."
"Indeed.  Most of the children of your acquaintance, being,
at best, corrupted, how 'direct' is that, exactly?"
"Get about more and you'll see."

This is flirting.  On Theign's part.  Cyprian's answer
is still hewing to the disputed nature of the Italians -
ie Theign should get about more and meet more Italians.
At least, I don't _think_ Cyprian means for Theign
to get about more and meet more corrupted children...