第17部分(第2/7 頁)

much。　At　the　last　minute；〃　Meyers　said；　〃they　put　a　lot　of　money　on　him。〃

〃No。〃

〃Kempton　and　the　boys。　You'll　see。　He　won't　pay　two　to　one。〃

〃Then　we　won't　get　three　thousand　lire；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　don't　like　this　crooked　racing！〃

〃We'll　get　two　hundred　lire。〃

〃That's　nothing。　That　doesn't　do　us　any　good。　I　thought　we　were　going　to　get　three　thousand。〃

〃It's　crooked　and　disgusting；〃　Ferguson　said。

〃Of　course；〃　said　Catherine；　〃if　it　hadn't　been　crooked　we'd　never　have　backed　him　at　all。　But　I　would　have　liked　the　three　thousand　lire。〃

〃Let's　go　down　and　get　a　drink　and　see　what　they　pay；〃　Crowell　said。　We　went　out　to　where　they　posted　the　numbers　and　the　bell　rang　to　pay　off　and　they　put　up　18。50　after　Japalac　to　win。　That　meant　he　paid　less　than　even　money　on　a　ten…lira　bet。

We　went　to　the　bar　under　the　grand…stand　and　had　a　whiskey　and　soda　apiece。　We　ran　into　a　couple　of　Italians　we　knew　and　McAdams；　the　vice…consul；　and　they　came　up　with　us　when　we　joined　the　girls。　The　Italians　were　full　of　manners　and　McAdams　talked　to　Catherine　while　we　went　down　to　bet　again。　Mr。　Meyers　was　standing　near　the　pari…mutuel。

〃Ask　him　what　he　played；〃　I　said　to　Crowell。

〃What　are　you　on；　Mr。　Meyers？〃　Crowell　asked。　Meyers　took　out　his　programme　and　pointed　to　the　number　five　with　his　pencil。

〃Do　you　mind　if　we　play　him　too？〃　Crowell　asked。

〃Go　ahead。　Go　ahead。　But　don't　tell　my　wife　I　gave　it　to　you。〃

〃Will　you　have　a　drink？〃　I　asked。

〃No　thanks。　I　never　drink。〃

We　put　a　hundred　lire　on　number　five　to　win　and　a　hundred　to　place　and　then　had　another　whiskey　and　soda　apiece。　I　was　feeling　very　good　and　we　picked　up　a　couple　more　Italians；　who　each　had　a　drink　with　us；　and