第16部分(第7/7 頁)

　into　the　race　track　and　the　men　at　the　gate　let　us　in　without　cards　because　we　were　in　uniform。　We　left　the　carriage；　bought　programmes；　and　walked　across　the　infield　and　then　across　the　smooth　thick　turf　of　the　course　to　the　paddock。　The　grand…stands　were　old　and　made　of　wood　and　the　betting　booths　were　under　the　stands　and　in　a　row　out　near　the　stables。　There　was　a　crowd　of　soldiers　along　the　fence　in　the　infield。　The　paddock　was　fairly　well　filled　with　people　and　they　were　walking　the　horses　around　in　a　ring　under　the　trees　behind　the　grandstand。　We　saw　people　we　knew　and　got　chairs　for　Ferguson　and　Catherine　and　watched　the　horses。

They　went　around；　one　after　the　other；　their　heads　down；　the　grooms　leading　them。　One　horse；　a　purplish　black；　Crowell　swore　was　dyed　that　color。　We　watched　him　and　it　seemed　possible。　He　had　only　e　out　just　before　the　bell　rang　to　saddle。　We　looked　him　up　in　the　programme　from　the　number　on　the　groom's　arm　and　it　was　listed　a　black　gelding　named　Japalac。　The　race　was　for　horses　that　had　never　won　a　race　worth　one　thousand　lire　or　more。　Catherine　was　sure　his　color　had