The dinner would drag on like that, and it was anyone's guess how many hours it would last, with the same old talk, with my father every now and then recalling, with bitter glee, the various "affronts" he had suffered during the past months, starting from when the Federal secretary Consul Bolognesi had told him, in the Federation office, looking pained and guilty, that he was forced to "cross him off" the list of party members, and ending with the time when, looking no less sad, the President of the Circolo dei Commercianti had sent for him to tell him he must accept his resignation.
Afaria horrela luzatuko zen, solasgai berbera behin eta berriro astinduz, auskalo zenbat orduz, eta aitak, erdi minduta erdi harro, aldika-aldika hizpidera ekarriz azken hilabeteetan jasandako "irain" desberdinak: hasteko, Federazioan, idazkari federalak, Bolognesi kontsulak, errudun begiekin nola iragarri zion "ezabatu" behar izan zuela alderdikide-zerrendatik, eta, bukatzeko, nola deitu zion Merkataritza Kamarako lehendakariak, berak ere begi tristeak zituela, "dimititutzat" hartzen zutela jakinarazteko.