Anna Maria's Gift Read Online Free PDF Page A

me—”
    Maestro Vivaldi held up his hand for silence. “Permit me to explain,
signore.”
He cast a look at Anna Maria that told her to keep quiet.
    “This young lady is indeed Anna Maria Lombardini, daughter of Nicolo. She is also a student of mine. As you know, her father recently passed away. His last gift to her was that marvelous violin. She arrived at the Pietà clutching it to her heart.”
    The maestro paused. But Signor Braga said nothing.
    “Unfortunately, another student became jealous. She stole the violin and threw it in the canal.” Maestro Vivaldi looked steadily at the shop owner. “May I ask,
signore
, where you found it?”
    Signor Braga drew a sharp breath. “I do not go about looking for violins in canals, Don Vivaldi. Nor do I sell stolen goods. Theviolin was brought to my shop by a fish merchant. He said someone threw it out of a window into the canal.”
    “It was stolen!” Anna Maria blurted.
    Signor Braga made a curt bow. “I am afraid there is nothing more I can do for you.” He turned and walked to the back of his shop.

A s Francesco rowed them home, Maestro Vivaldi turned to Anna Maria. “I once played for Count Contarini in his palace. I shall send a letter to him and ask for a meeting.”
    Anna Maria stood up, rocking the gondola. “Maestro, may I go with you?”
    Sister Lidia held the side of the gondola and gasped.
    “Signorina!”
Francesco said. “Please sit down or we shall capsize.”
    She sat. “I’m sorry, I forgot.”
    Maestro Vivaldi chuckled. When the gondola stopped rocking, he went on. “You and Sister Lidia may go on one condition. You must let me do the talking.”
    “Sì, Maestro. But the count probably paid a lot of gold for my violin. How can you persuade him to give it back?”
    “Leave it to me, child. I know how to deal with nobles. They all want flattery.”
    Two weeks later, Maestro Vivaldi received a letter from Count Contarini. He invited them to his palace the next day.
    Late in the afternoon Anna Maria, the maestro, and Sister Lidia again stepped aboard Francesco’s gondola. He rowed along the Riva, and into the Grand Canal.
    “Watch for violins flying out of windows,” Francesco said.
    Anna Maria laughed out loud.
“Signore
,you can make anything funny.”
    “I try,” he said.
    They passed palace after palace on both sides of the canal. Anna Maria saw a girl standing on a balcony and waved. The girl turned away.
People who live in palaces don’t care about other people
, Anna Maria thought.
    A little farther on, Maestro Vivaldi said, “There it is. The pink one on the right.”
    Anna Maria caught her breath. The afternoon sun cast watery reflections on the three-story marble palace. The middle floor had tall, arched windows, pointed at the top.
    “I won’t know how to act in such a palace,” said Anna Maria. “Should I curtsy?”
    “Just be yourself,” said Francesco, “and the count will be charmed.”
    “Curtsy when I do,” said Sister Lidia.
    “And let me do the talking,” said Maestro Vivaldi.
    Anna Maria nodded and kept her mouth tightly closed.
    Francesco pulled up to the steps and helped the three of them out. “Good luck.”
    “Thank you,” said Anna Maria. “We’ll need it.”
    Maestro Vivaldi rang the bell while Anna Maria peered through the gate. A long room reached all the way to the other side of the palace. The only light came from openings at either end. An elderly servant appeared, shuffling along the tile floor.
    “Don Antonio Vivaldi to see Count Contarini, please,” said the maestro.
    “Ah, Don Vivaldi.” The man opened the gate and bowed. “It is a pleasure to see you again. Please, follow me.”
    Anna Maria glanced back at Francesco, who stood beside his gondola. He curtsied like a lady. She had to hold in a giggle.
    They climbed marble steps up to the first floor and entered another long room. This one was flooded with light from the tall, pointed windows. Straight chairs lined the walls around