Un Lampo di Bianco Scene 62

And yet, he threw it all away. Why, Niccoldi wondered. The rumors had been that it had ended over an affair with a student and Niccoldi believed that at the time. Publically, it was what he suggested to others. Privately, he had his doubts. Surely, a man of Valence’s gifts would realize the foolishness of it. Surely, he would have exercised the utmost discretion even if he did pursue. And surely he would have been protected. Chancellor Hand would not have come down on him the way he did over a fling with Suzy Q. Nobody. No, it had to be someone important. Someone…
Niccoldi opened his eyes. There was an annoying, persistent scraping sound coming from somewhere overhead. Were it daylight, he would have dismissed it as a squirrel on the roof or maybe a bird. But at this hour?