第1部分(第5/7 頁)

；　in　order　that　I　might　understand　perfectly；　that　nothing　should　be　lost。

〃Priest　to…day　with　girls；〃　the　captain　said　looking　at　the　priest　and　at　me。　The　priest　smiled　and　blushed　and　shook　his　head。　This　captain　baited　him　often。

〃Not　true？〃　asked　the　captain。　〃To…day　I　see　priest　with　girls。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　priest。　The　other　officers　were　amused　at　the　baiting。

〃Priest　not　with　girls；〃　went　on　the　captain。　〃Priest　never　with　girls；〃　he　explained　to　me。　He　took　my　glass　and　filled　it；　looking　at　my　eyes　all　the　time；　but　not　losing　sight　of　the　priest。

〃Priest　every　night　five　against　one。〃　Every　one　at　the　table　laughed。　〃You　understand？　Priest　every　night　five　against　one。〃　He　made　a　gesture　and　laughed　loudly。　The　priest　accepted　it　as　a　joke。

〃The　Pope　wants　the　Austrians　to　win　the　war；〃　the　major　said。　〃He　loves　Franz　Joseph。　That's　where　the　money　es　from。　I　am　an　atheist。〃

〃Did　you　ever　read　the　'Black　Pig'？〃　asked　the　lieutenant。　〃I　will　get　you　a　copy。　It　was　that　which　shook　my　faith。〃

〃It　is　a　filthy　and　vile　book；〃　said　the　priest。　〃You　do　not　really　like　it。〃

〃It　is　very　valuable；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　〃It　tells　you　about　those　priests。　You　will　like　it；〃　he　said　to　me。　I　smiled　at　the　priest　and　he　smiled　back　across　the　candle…light。　〃Don't　you　read　it；〃　he　said。

〃I　will　get　it　for　you；〃　said　the　lieutenant。

〃All　thinking　men　are　atheists；〃　the　major　said。　〃I　do　not　believe　in　the　Free　Masons　however。〃

〃I　believe　in　the　Free　Masons；〃　the　lieutenant　said。　〃It　is　a　noble　organization。〃　Some　one　came　in　and　as　the　door　opened　I　could　see　the　snow　falling。

〃There　will　be　no　more　offensive　now　that　the　snow　has　e；〃　I　said。

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　the　major。　〃Yo