第36部分(第6/7 頁)

ery　much。〃

〃Good…by；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Thank　you　both　very　much。〃

They　bowed　us　to　the　dooi　the　champion　of　Locarno　a　little　coldly。　We　went　down　the　steps　and　into　the　carriage。

〃My　God；　darling；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Couldn't　we　have　gotten　away　any　sooner？〃　I　gave　the　name　of　a　hotel　one　of　the　officials　had　remended　to　the　driver。　He　picked　up　the　reins。

〃You've　forgotten　the　army；〃　Catherine　said。　The　soldier　was　standing　by　the　carriage。　I　gave　him　a　ten…lira　note。　〃I　have　no　Swiss　money　yet；〃　I　said。　He　thanked　me；　saluted　and　went　off。　The　carriage　started　and　we　drove　to　the　hotel。

〃How　did　you　happen　to　pick　out　Montreux？〃　I　asked　Catherine。　〃Do　you　really　want　to　go　there？〃

〃It　was　the　first　place　I　could　think　of；〃　she　said。　〃It's　not　a　bad　place。　We　can　find　some　place　up　in　the　mountains。〃

〃Are　you　sleepy？〃

〃I'm　asleep　right　now。〃

〃We'll　get　a　good　sleep。　Poor　Cat；　you　had　a　long　bad　night。〃

〃I　had　a　lovely　time；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Especially　when　you　sailed　with　the　umbrella。〃

〃Can　you　realize　we're　in　Switzerland？〃

〃No；　I'm　afraid　I'll　wake　up　and　it　won't　be　true。〃

〃I　am　too。〃

〃It　is　true；　isn't　it；　darling？　I'm　not　just　driving　down　to　the　stazione　in　Milan　to　see　you　off。〃

〃I　hope　not。〃

〃Don't　say　that。　It　frightens　me。　Maybe　that's　where　we're　going。〃

〃I'm　so　groggy　I　don't　know；〃　I　said。

〃Let　me　see　your　hands。〃

I　put　them　out。　They　were　both　blistered　raw。

〃There's　no　hole　in　my　side；〃　I　said。

〃Don't　be　sacrilegious。〃

I　felt　very　tired　and　vague　in　the　head。　The　exhilaration　was　all　gone。　The　carriage　was　going　along　the　Street。

〃Poor　hands；〃　Catherine　said。

〃Don't　touch　them；〃　I　said。　〃B