Vladimir Nabokov. La Veneciana
Vladimir Nabokov. LA VENEZIANA
"In my days," began the Colonel, lowering himself with ponderous relish into a folding canvas chair, "we preferred real, full-blooded English sports: rugby, cricket, hunting. There is something foreign about today's games, something skinny-legged. I am a staunch advocate of manly holds, juicy meat, an evening bottle of port—which does not prevent me," concluded the Colonel, as he smoothed his large mus-tache with a little brush, "from enjoying robust old paintings that ha