Buenos Aires, the Twenty Third of June, 1937
(my second week in Argentina)

Dear Milonguero Friend,

I learnt the most extraordinary thing about ‘cortinas’. If these short musical pauses between tandas feel like intermissions in a theatre play, it is because ‘cortina’ means ‘curtain’ in Spanish. Consequently, when the cortina is on, it signals that one shall get prepared for the next act. Antonio, a milonguero chap, has been so kind as to give me a précis about cortinas :

Sampling: A stratagem used by seasoned milongueros. One invites a lady one is not acquainted with, only on the second or third song of a tanda. Because once a tanda has started, one is in for a penny, in for a pound. I say this is the cleverest way not to expose oneself, shall the tanda turn sour.

Reserving: Interrupting a couple engaged in some tittle-tattle on the dance floor in between two songs to ‘pre-order’ the lady or the gentleman for the next tanda would not be quite so proper here. Antonio was flabbergasted that I should even entertain such a thought!

Swapping: Once on the dance floor, ladies here are well advised to discard any other invitation, even from a smoothie. Swapping during a tanda would be quite enough to send anyone over the edge.

I shall write again next week. Toodle pip old boy!

Arthur