Nabokov's Gloves
Fran: Did you know that Nabokov was a lepidopterist? By the way. While we're waiting . . .Nick: Waiting?
Joe: Really? Amazing.
Nick: Fran.
Fran: He discovered new species. Madeleina lolita.
Joe: What? Really?
Fran: Pseudolucia humbert.
Joe: No.
Fran: Yes. Actually.
Joe: Brilliant.
Fran: Amazing. They're Latin-American blues. Lolita and humbert. How long do you suppose they'd been around without a name? Before him. Before Nabokov found them. With his net and his white cotton gloves.
Joe: White cotton gloves.
Fran: It's what he wore. For butterfly hunting. Delicate hands, you see. Cotton gloves out there in the heat of the day.
- More information on Peter Moffat.
- With many, many thanks to Akiko Nakata for the reference and quote.
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