第40部分(第2/7 頁)

s　child　without　any　foolishness。　Please　go　and　get　some　breakfast；　darling；　and　then　e　back。　I　won't　miss　you。　Nurse　is　splendid　to　me。〃

〃You　have　plenty　of　time　for　breakfast；〃　the　nurse　said。

〃I'll　go　then。　Good…by；　sweet。〃

〃Good…by；〃　Catherine　said；　〃and　have　a　fine　breakfast　for　me　too。〃

〃Where　can　I　get　breakfast？〃　I　asked　the　nurse。

〃There's　a　caf？down　the　street　at　the　square；〃　she　said。　〃It　should　be　open　now。〃

Outside　it　was　getting　light。　I　walked　down　the　empty　street　to　the　caf？　There　was　a　light　in　the　window。　I　went　in　and　stood　at　the　zinc　bar　and　an　old　man　served　me　a　glass　of　white　wine　and　a　brioche。　The　brioche　was　yesterday's。　I　dipped　it　in　the　wine　and　then　drank　a　glass　of　coffee。

〃What　do　you　do　at　this　hour？〃　the　old　man　asked。

〃My　wife　is　in　labor　at　the　hospital。〃

〃So。　I　wish　you　good　luck。〃

〃Give　me　another　glass　of　wine。〃

He　poured　it　from　the　bottle　slopping　it　over　a　little　so　some　ran　down　on　the　zinc。　I　drank　this　glass；　paid　and　went　out。　Outside　along　the　street　were　the　refuse　cans　from　the　houses　waiting　for　the　collector。　A　dog　was　nosing　at　one　of　the　cans。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　I　asked　and　looked　in　the　can　to　see　if　there　was　anything　I　could　pull　out　for　him；　there　was　nothing　on　top　but　coffee…grounds；　dust　and　some　dead　flowers。

〃There　isn't　anything；　dog；〃　I　said。　The　dog　crossed　the　street。　I　went　up　the　stairs　in　the　hospital　to　the　floor　Catherine　was　on　and　down　the　hall　to　her　room。　I　knocked　on　the　door。　There　was　no　answer。　I　opened　the　door；　the　room　was　empty；　except　for　Catherine's　bag　on　a　chair　and　her　dressing…gown　hanging　on　a　hook　on　the　wall。　I　went　out　and　down　the　hall；　looking　for　somebody。　I　found　a　nurse。

〃Whe