No one knew her real name, but she appeared to be Greek.
She posed nude for painters, when she could find them.
She could slap hard enough to draw blood.
She slept around.
She was not one of those women who behave like cats,
   jumping into your lap when you sit down to read.
Ignore her, and she ignored you.
Yet she was jealous. She would wound.
She dressed in classical rags, shawls and hobble skirts, the
   shot-silk cloak and snood.
She spoke many languages and was not interested in
   disguising her intelligence.
Incense-laden atmosphere drove her wild. She loved the
   pagan remains of festivals and insisted on visiting
   cathedrals.
Although she had no compunction about lying, as a character
   witness she was useless: she had substance-abuse problems
   and no known address.