Franz woke up first the next morning and immediately rang for service. Before the bell's echo even faded, their hotel manager Signor Pastrini burst through the door, looking way too pleased with himself.
"Gentlemen," Pastrini announced triumphantly, not even waiting for Franz to ask, "I was right to be cautious yesterday. Just as I feared, there's not a single car available for rent. Not for the last three days of the carnival, anyway."
"Of course," Franz muttered. "The exact three days we actually need one."
Albert stumbled in, still half-asleep. "Wait, no cars at all?"
"You got it in one," Franz confirmed.
"Man, this 'Eternal City' is really something," Albert said sarcastically.
Pastrini bristled at the insult to his beloved capital. "What I mean, sirs, is that from Sunday through Tuesday evening, yes, everything's booked solid. But right now until Sunday? I could get you fifty vehicles if you wanted."
