As was customary, the reception was held at the home of the bride's parents, where the new couple would be spending there first night of married bliss. It was a lovely party and many gentlement danced with the new bride. As was also customary, they each slipped her some Lira. Having no place to put the cash, Maria stuffed it in her long evening gloves.

Maria and Antonio retired upstairs near the end of the party, and Maria realized she had removed her gloves and left them downstairs. Knowing there was a small fortune in them, she rushed down the stairs shouting "Papa, Papa, where are my gloves?"

"Oh, don't worry Maria," said the patrone. "Just touch it with your bare hands."