第20部分（第1页）

〃I　could　get　a　pheasant；　or　a　woodcock。〃

〃A　woodcock；〃　I　said。　We　walked　down　the　corridor。　The　carpet　was　worn。　There　were　many　doors。　The　manager　stopped　and　unlocked　a　door　and　opened　it。

〃Here　you　are。　A　lovely　room。〃

The　small　boy　in　buttons　put　the　package　on　the　table　in　the　centre　of　the　room。　The　manager　opened　the　curtains。

〃It　is　foggy　outside；〃　he　said。　The　room　was　furnished　in　red　plush。　There　were　many　mirrors；　two　chairs　and　a　large　bed　with　a　satin　coverlet。　A　door　led　to　the　bathroom。

〃I　will　send　up　the　menu；〃　the　manager　said。　He　bowed　and　went　out。

I　went　to　the　window　and　looked　out；　then　pulled　a　cord　that　shut　the　thick　plush　curtains。　Catherine　was　sitting　on　the　bed；　looking　at　the　cut　glass　chandelier。　She　had　taken　her　hat　off　and　her　hair　shone　under　the　light。　She　saw　herself　in　one　of　the　mirrors　and　put　her　hands　to　her　hair。　I　saw　her　in　three　other　mirrors。　She　did　not　look　happy。　She　let　her　cape　fall　on　the　bed。

〃Whats　the　matter；　darling？〃

〃I　never　felt　like　a　whore　before；〃　she　said。　I　went　over　to　the　window　and　pulled　the　curtain　aside　and　looked　out。　I　had　not　thought　it　would　be　like　this。

〃Youre　not　a　whore。〃

〃I　know　it；　darling。　But　it　isnt　nice　to　feel　like　one。〃　Her　voice　was　dry　and　flat。

〃This　was　the　best　hotel　we　could　get　in；〃　I　said。　I　looked　out　the　window。　Across　the　square　were　the　lights　of　the　station。　There　were　carriages　going　by　on　the　street　and　I　saw　the　trees　in　the　park。　The　lights　from　the　hotel　shone　on　the　wet　pavement。　Oh；　hell；　I　thought；　do　we　have　to　argue　now？

〃e　over　here　please；〃　Catherine　said。　The　flatness　was　all　gone　out　of　her　voice。　〃e　over；　please。　Im　a　good　girl　again。〃　I　looked　over　at　the　bed。　She　was　smiling。

I　went　over　and　sat　on　the　bed　beside　her　and　kissed　her。

〃Youre　my　good　girl。〃

〃Im　certainly　yours；〃　she　said。

After　we　had　eaten　we　felt　fine；　and　then　after；　we　felt　very　happy　and　in　a　little　time　the　room　felt　like　our　own　home。　My　room　at　the　hospital　had　been　our　own　home　and　this　room　was　our　home　too　in　the　same　way。

Catherine　wore　my　tunic　over　her　shoulders　while　we　ate。　We　were　very　hungry　and　the　meal　was　good　and　we　drank　a　bottle　of　Capri　and　a　bottle　of　St。　Estephe。　I　drank　most　of　it　but　Catherine　drank　some　and　it　made　her　feel　splendid。　For　dinner　we　had　a　woodcock　with　souffl？potatoes　and　pur閑　de　marron；　a　salad；　and　zabaione　for　dessert。

〃Its　a　fine　room；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Its　a　lovely　room。　We　should　have　stayed　here　all　the　time　weve　been　in　Milan。〃

〃Its　a　funny　room。　But　its　nice。〃

〃Vice　is　a　wonderful　thing；〃　Catherine　said。　〃The　people　who　go　in　for　it　seem　to　have　good　taste　about　it。　The　red　plush　is　really　fine。　Its　just　the　thing。　And　the　mirrors　are　very　attractive。〃

〃Youre　a　lovely　girl。〃

〃I　dont　know　how　a　room　like　this　would　be　for　waking　up　in　the　morning。　But　its　really　a　splendid　room。〃　I　poured　another　glass　of　St。　Estephe。

〃I　wish　we　could　do　something　really　sinful；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Everything　we　do　seems　so　innocent　and　simple。　I　cant　believe　we　do　anything　wrong。〃

〃Youre　a　grand　girl。〃

〃I　only　feel　hungry。　I　get　terribly　hungry。〃

〃Youre　a　fine　simple　girl；〃　I　said。

〃I　am　a　simple　girl。　No　one　ever　understood　it　except　you。〃

〃Once　when　I　first　met　you　I　spent　an　afternoon　thinking　how　we　would　go　to　the　Hotel　Cavour　together　and　how　it　would　be。〃

〃That　was　awfully　cheeky　of　you。　This　isnt　the　Cavour　is　it？〃

〃No。　They　wouldnt　have　taken　us　in　there。〃

〃Theyll　take　us　in　some　time。　But　thats　how　we　differ；　darling。　I　never　thought　about　anything。〃

〃Didnt　you　ever　at　all？〃

〃A　little；〃　she　said。

〃Oh　youre　a　lovely　girl。〃

I　poured　another　glass　of　wine。

〃Im　a　very　simple　girl；〃　Catherine　said。

〃I　didnt　think　so　at　first。　I　thought　you　were　a　crazy　girl。〃

〃I　was　a　little　crazy。　But　I　wasnt　crazy　in　any　plicated　manner。　I　didnt　confuse　you　did　I；　darling？〃

〃Wine　is　a　grand　thing；〃　I　said。　〃It　makes　you　forget　all　the　bad。〃