第15部分(第5/7 頁)

ars'　War。　I　put　the　paper　back　on　the　rack　and　left　the　club。　I　went　down　the　steps　carefully　and　walked　up　the　Via　Manzoni。　Outside　the　Gran　Hotel　I　met　old　Meyers　and　his　wife　getting　out　of　a　carriage。　They　were　ing　back　from　the　races。　She　was　a　big…busted　woman　in　black　satin。　He　was　short　and　old；　with　a　white　mustache　and　walked　flat…footed　with　a　cane。

〃How　do　you　do？　How　do　you　do？〃　She　shook　hands。　〃Hello；〃　said　Meyers。

〃How　were　the　races？〃

〃Fine。　They　were　just　lovely。　I　had　three　winners。〃

〃How　did　you　do？〃　I　asked　Meyers。

〃All　right。　I　had　a　winner。〃

〃I　never　know　how　he　does；〃　Mrs。　Meyers　said。　〃He　never　tells　me。〃

〃I　do　all　right；〃　Meyers　said。　He　was　being　cordial。　〃You　ought　to　e　out。〃　While　he　talked　you　had　the　impression　that　he　was　not　looking　at　you　or　that　he　mistook　you　for　some　one　else。

〃I　will；〃　I　said。

〃I'm　ing　up　to　the　hospital　to　see　you；〃　Mrs。　Meyers　said。　〃I　have　some　things　for　my　boys。　You're　all　my　boys。　You　certainly　are　my　dear　boys。〃

〃They'll　be　glad　to　see　you。〃

〃Those　dear　boys。　You　too。　You're　one　of　my　boys。〃

〃I　have　to　get　back；〃　I　said。

〃You　give　my　love　to　all　those　dear　boys。　I've　got　lots　of　things　to　bring。　I've　some　fine　marsala　and　cakes。〃

〃Good…by；〃　I　said。　〃They'll　be　awfully　glad　to　see　you。〃

〃Good…by；〃　said　Meyers。　〃You　e　around　to　the　galleria。　You　know　where　my　table　is。　We're　all　there　every　afternoon。〃　I　went　on　up　the　street。　I　wanted　to　buy　something　at　the　Cova　to　take　to　Catherine。　Inside；　at　the　Cova；　I　bought　a　box　of　chocolate　and　while　the　girl　wrapped　it　up　I　walked　over　to　the　bar。　There　were　a　couple　of　British　and　some　aviators。　I　had　a　martini　alone；　paid　for　it；　picked　up　the　box　of　chocolate　a