"I have one in the car, Se¤ora."
"Well, after dinner I think we should go over it with Cletus, don't you? To see if he approves?"
"I think that would be a good idea, Se¤ora," Lauffer said, looking at Clete, his facial expression indicating that he was sorry but under the circumstances he had had no choice but to agree with her.
The schedule of events turned out to be something like an Operations Or-der: Viewing of the casket at the Edificio Libertador would cease at 10:30 p.m. that night. At 1 a.m. the body would be moved to the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar, which was adjacent to Recoleta Cemetery. It would be carried there on an artillery caisson of the Second Regiment of Artillery, and accompanied by a mounted escort of the Husares de Pueyrred¢n.
Clete wondered about that, but he quickly saw the logic of it. When they buried Cousin Jorge Alejandro, his casket was moved in the same way the six or seven blocks from his parents' house to the Basilica. Because that happened during the day, it caused a monumental traffic jam. Moving his father's casket from the Edificio Libertador to the Basilica, which was at least two miles away, would be logistically impossible in the daytime, unless closing down the busi-ness center of Buenos Aires was acceptable.
The Basilica would be opened to the public from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. for viewing of the casket, and then closed. Seating of official guests would be-gin at 11:00 a.m. Nuns from the Convent of the Sisters of the Holy Cross would provide appropriate choral music from 11:00 until 12:00, when the mass would begin. The mass would be celebrated by the Cardinal Archbishop of Argentina, assisted by three bishops, a monsignor named Kelly, and one lowly priest, Padre Kurt Welner, S.J.
Following the mass, the casket would be carried by officers of the Husares de Pueyrred¢n from the Basilica to the Frade tomb for interment.
Following the interment, Se¤or and Se¤ora Humberto Duarte would re-ceive mourners, by invitation only, at their residence at 1420 Avenida Alvear. Because of a shortage of parking, it was suggested that mourners move by foot to the Duarte home. A limited number of automobiles would be available to ac-commodate the immediate family, the aged, and the infirm.
"I think, Capitan Lauffer," Beatrice asked thoughtfully, "that it would be appropriate for Cletus to be at Our Lady of Pilar from about nine o'clock until the final viewing is over, don't you?"
Lauffer looked at Clete.
"May I respectfully suggest, Se¤ora, that would be Se¤or Frade's deci-sion?"
Beatrice looked at Cletus.
"Yes, of course, Aunt Beatrice," Clete said.
"But now, Beatrice, we have to send Cletus to bed," Claudia Carzino-Cormano said firmly. "He must be exhausted."
"I am a little tired," Clete said.
"You poor boy," Beatrice said, kissing Clete's cheek. "Of course you mu
st be, with all you've had to do today."
[TWO]
1728 Avenida Coronel Diaz
Palermo, Buenos Aires
2330 9 April 1943
"I know dinner was very difficult for you, Capitan," Clete said to Lauffer as they sat in his car before the door of what his father had called "the money sewer." "I appreciate your understanding."
"Don't be silly," Lauffer said automatically, then blurted, "I felt more sorry for your uncle than your aunt."
Clete grunted.
"I shouldn't have said that," Lauffer said. "Forgive me."
"I was thinking exactly the same thing," Clete said. "Christ, he must have the patience of a saint."
"He loves her very much," Lauffer said. He put out his hand. "You must be exhausted."
"Yeah."
"I will be here at eight-thirty to take you to the Basilica," he said. "Would that be all right?"
"Fine."