"It is ten years ago I meet her. Ah, so beautiful, so sweet, so
light--like this." And the great Salvini traced the wavering elfin
proportions of the Lucia of his youth in the air with his hands.
"And I say to her, 'My beloved, my queen, you and I will be married and we
will work together and grow famous and rich.' And she say, 'Yes.' So we
marry and begin work at once. I am in Milan, in Italy. And all through the
honeymoon I study my Lucia. For my work is hard. All through the honeymoon
I use only little stickers I throw at her. I begin that way. Five, six,
seven hours a day we practice. Ah, so sweet and beautiful she is as she
stand against the board and I throw the little stickers at her. She smile
at me, 'Have courage, Salvini.' And I see the love in her eyes and am
happy and my arm and wrist are sure.
"Then I buy the knives to throw at her. I buy the best. Beautiful knives.
I have them made for her special. For not a hair of my beloved's head must
be touched. And we practice with the knives. I am then already famous.
Everybody in Italy knows Salvini, the great knife thrower. They say,
'Never has there been a young man of such genius with the knives.' But I
am only begin.
* * * * *
"Our debut is a success.
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