Andre at 60 began unwinding his life: How invincible he felt at 45 with three major diplomatic postings notched up and a civilized Parisian divorce.
Then, free, delving into the sensual, the languorous afternoon in North Africa and the women from around the world, female academics being a favored conquest. But, another marriage to an English Oxonian who lacked his libertine values. They partied for awhile. She fled willingly back to her ex. The children from the first marriage, grew, spent summers with him as they hiked summers in the Atlas Mountains and tanned to a caramel gold. A short third marriage to an American heiress, disastrous after only sixty days. She thought him willing to be an American sop, but, he was after all French and very experienced. Annulled with no alimony in HIS favor. Finally a passage of peace, time on the Atlantic coast of Morocco and then a soiree where he met Vera, a potter, a lawyer, newly of Santa Fe New Mexico, lately of Berkeley, CA and all brain and creativity without the cunning.