第34部分(第1/7 頁)

〃You　are　sure　you　don't　want　more？〃

〃Yes。〃　He　stood　up。

〃I　hope　you　will　be　very　fortunate　and　very　happy　and　very；　very　healthy。〃

〃Thank　you。　And　I　hope　you　will　live　forever。〃

〃Thank　you。　I　have。　And　if　you　ever　bee　devout　pray　for　me　if　I　am　dead。　I　am　asking　several　of　my　friends　to　do　that。　I　had　expected　to　bee　devout　myself　but　it　has　not　e。〃　I　thought　he　smiled　sadly　but　I　could　not　tell。　He　was　so　old　and　his　face　was　very　wrinkled；　so　that　a　smile　used　so　many　lines　that　all　gradations　were　lost。

〃I　might　bee　very　devout；〃　I　said。　〃Anyway；　I　will　pray　for　you。〃

〃I　had　always　expected　to　bee　devout。　All　my　family　died　very　devout。　But　somehow　it　does　not　e。〃

〃It's　too　early。〃

〃Maybe　it　is　too　late。　Perhaps　I　have　outlived　my　religious　feeling。〃

〃My　own　es　only　at　night。〃

〃Then　too　you　are　in　love。　Do　not　forget　that　is　a　religious　feeling。〃

〃You　believe　so？〃

〃Of　course。〃　He　took　a　step　toward　the　table。　〃You　were　very　kind　to　play。〃

〃It　was　a　great　pleasure。〃

〃We　will　walk　up　stairs　together。〃

36

That　night　there　was　a　storm　and　I　woke　to　hear　the　rain　lashing　the　window…panes。　It　was　ing　in　the　open　window。　Some　one　had　knocked　on　the　door。　I　went　to　the　door　very　softly；　not　to　disturb　Catherine；　and　opened　it。　The　barman　stood　there。　He　wore　his　overcoat　and　carried　his　wet　hat。

〃Can　I　speak　to　you；　Tenente？〃

〃What's　the　matter？〃

〃It's　a　very　serious　matter。〃

I　looked　around。　The　room　was　dark。　I　saw　the　water　on　the　floor　from　the　window。　〃e　in；〃　I　said。　I　took　him　by　the　arm　into　the　bathroom；　locked　the　door　and　put　on　the　light。　I　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　bathtub。

〃What's　the　matter；　Emilio？　Are　you　in