Page 339 - The Grotesque Children's Book

But Santi would prove no fool. He did not show that morning, nor in the early afternoon,
all the while with Allori growing more and more agitated, until even Carola, posing for the
portrait, was moved to notice, “You’re sweating today, Master Allori. Are you ill?” Allori
barked at her to attend to her own business, which is sitting still and looking buxomic.

Santi never showed up that day.
When Allori tried to find Santi afterwards, he had gone home already. The following
day, when Santi didn’t appear yet a second time, Santi explained sheepishly that his fellow
painter Tozzo had been in a chatty mood, and Santi had not been able to get away without being
obvious. “Tomorrow, tomorrow,” he promised, “We’ll try tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is Saturday, Santi.” hissed Allori. “And if I didn’t know better, I’d say you
were stalling, on purpose. We do this on Monday or you’ll not live to see Tuesday.”

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