第20部分(第1/7 頁)

〃I　could　get　a　pheasant；　or　a　woodcock。〃

〃A　woodcock；〃　I　said。　We　walked　down　the　corridor。　The　carpet　was　worn。　There　were　many　doors。　The　manager　stopped　and　unlocked　a　door　and　opened　it。

〃Here　you　are。　A　lovely　room。〃

The　small　boy　in　buttons　put　the　package　on　the　table　in　the　centre　of　the　room。　The　manager　opened　the　curtains。

〃It　is　foggy　outside；〃　he　said。　The　room　was　furnished　in　red　plush。　There　were　many　mirrors；　two　chairs　and　a　large　bed　with　a　satin　coverlet。　A　door　led　to　the　bathroom。

〃I　will　send　up　the　menu；〃　the　manager　said。　He　bowed　and　went　out。

I　went　to　the　window　and　looked　out；　then　pulled　a　cord　that　shut　the　thick　plush　curtains。　Catherine　was　sitting　on　the　bed；　looking　at　the　cut　glass　chandelier。　She　had　taken　her　hat　off　and　her　hair　shone　under　the　light。　She　saw　herself　in　one　of　the　mirrors　and　put　her　hands　to　her　hair。　I　saw　her　in　three　other　mirrors。　She　did　not　look　happy。　She　let　her　cape　fall　on　the　bed。

〃What's　the　matter；　darling？〃

〃I　never　felt　like　a　whore　before；〃　she　said。　I　went　over　to　the　window　and　pulled　the　curtain　aside　and　looked　out。　I　had　not　thought　it　would　be　like　this。

〃You're　not　a　whore。〃

〃I　know　it；　darling。　But　it　isn't　nice　to　feel　like　one。〃　Her　voice　was　dry　and　flat。

〃This　was　the　best　hotel　we　could　get　in；〃　I　said。　I　looked　out　the　window。　Across　the　square　were　the　lights　of　the　station。　There　were　carriages　going　by　on　the　street　and　I　saw　the　trees　in　the　park。　The　lights　from　the　hotel　shone　on　the　wet　pavement。　Oh；　hell；　I　thought；　do　we　have　to　argue　now？

〃e　over　here　please；〃　Catherine　said。　The　flatness　was　all　gone　out　of　her　voice。　〃e　over；　please。　I'm　a　good　girl　again。〃　I　looked　over　at　the　bed。　She