第6部分（第1页）

〃He　does　really；〃　said　Rinaldi。　〃He　has　a　rendezvous。　I　know　all　about　it。〃

〃I　have　to　go。〃

〃Another　night；〃　said　Bassi。　〃Another　night　when　you　feel　stronger。〃　He　slapped　me　on　the　shoulder。　There　were　lighted　candles　on　the　table。　All　the　officers　were　very　happy。　〃Good…night；　gentlemen；〃　I　said。

Rinaldi　went　out　with　me。　We　stood　outside　the　door　on　the　patch　and　he　said；　〃You　better　not　go　up　there　drunk。〃

〃Im　not　drunk；　Rinin。　Really。〃

〃Youd　better　chew　some　coffee。〃

〃Nonsense。〃

〃Ill　get　some；　baby。　You　walk　up　and　down。〃　He　came　back　with　a　handful　of　roasted　coffee　beans。　〃Chew　those；　baby；　and　God　be　with　you。〃

〃Bacchus；〃　I　said。

〃Ill　walk　down　with　you。〃

〃Im　perfectly　all　right。〃

We　walked　along　together　through　the　town　and　I　chewed　the　coffee。　At　the　gate　of　the　driveway　that　led　up　to　the　British　villa；　Rinaldi　said　good…night。

〃Good…night；〃　I　said。　〃Why　dont　you　e　in？〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　like　the　simpler　pleasures。〃

〃Thank　you　for　the　coffee　beans。〃

〃Nothing；　baby。　Nothing。〃

J　started　down　the　driveway。　The　outlines　of　the　cypresses　that　lined　it　were　sharp　and　clear。　I　looked　back　and　saw　Rinaldi　standing　watching　me　and　waved　to　him。

I　sat　in　the　reception　hail　of　the　villa；　waiting　for　Catherine　Barkley　to　e　down。　Some　one　was　ing　down　the　hallway。　I　stood　up；　but　it　was　not　Catherine。　It　was　Miss　Ferguson。

〃Hello；〃　she　said。　〃Catherine　asked　me　to　tell　you　she　was　sorry　she　couldnt　see　you　this　evening。〃

〃Im　so　sorry。　I　hope　shes　not　ill。〃

〃Shes　not　awfully　well。〃

〃Will　you　tell　her　how　sorry　I　am？〃

〃Yes；　I　will。〃

〃Do　you　think　it　would　be　any　good　to　try　and　see　her　tomorrow？〃

〃Yes；　I　do。〃

〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　I　said。　〃Good…night。〃

I　went　out　the　door　and　suddenly　I　felt　lonely　and　empty。　I　had　treated　seeing　Catherine　very　lightly；　I　had　gotten　somewhat　drunk　and　had　nearly　forgotten　to　e　but　when　I　could　not　see　her　there　I　was　feeling　lonely　and　hollow。

The　next　afternoon　we　heard　there　was　to　be　an　attack　up　the　river　that　night　and　that　we　were　to　take　four　cars　there。　Nobody　knew　anything　about　it　although　they　all　spoke　with　great　positiveness　and　strategical　knowledge。　I　was　riding　in　the　first　car　and　as　we　passed　the　entry　to　the　British　hospital　I　told　the　driver　to　stop。　The　other　cars　pulled　up。　I　got　out　and　told　the　driver　to　go　on　and　that　if　we　had　not　caught　up　to　them　at　the　junction　of　the　road　to　Cormons　to　wait　there。　I　hurried　up　the　driveway　and　inside　the　reception　hall　I　asked　for　Miss　Barkley。

〃Shes　on　duty。〃

〃Could　I　see　her　just　for　a　moment？〃

They　sent　an　orderly　to　see　and　she　came　back　with　him。

〃I　stopped　to　ask　if　you　were　better。　They　told　me　you　were　on　duty；　so　I　asked　to　see　you。〃

〃Im　quite　well；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　the　heat　knocked　me　over　yesterday。〃

〃I　have　to　go。〃

〃Ill　just　step　out　the　door　a　minute。〃

〃And　youre　all　right？〃　I　asked　outside。

〃Yes；　darling。　Are　you　ing　to…night？〃

〃No。　Im　leaving　now　for　a　show　up　above　Plava。〃