第14部分(第4/7 頁)

　to　sleep。

〃It's　never　bothered　me。〃

〃A　bump　like　that　could　make　you　crazy。　It　never　bothers　you？〃

〃No。〃

〃You're　a　lucky　young　man。　Have　you　the　letter　done？　I'm　going　down。〃

〃It's　here；〃　I　said。

〃You　ought　to　ask　her　not　to　do　night　duty　for　a　while。　She's　getting　very　tired。〃

〃All　right。　I　will。〃

〃I　want　to　do　it　but　she　won't　let　me。　The　others　are　glad　to　let　her　have　it。　You　might　give　her　just　a　little　rest。〃

〃All　right。〃

〃Miss　Van　Campen　spoke　about　you　sleeping　all　the　forenoons。〃

〃She　would。〃

〃It　would　be　better　if　you　let　her　stay　off　nights　a　little　while。〃

〃I　want　her　to。〃

〃You　do　not。　But　if　you　would　make　her　I'd　respect　you　for　it。〃

〃I'll　make　her。〃

〃I　don't　believe　it。〃　She　took　the　note　and　went　out。　I　rang　the　bell　and　in　a　little　while　Miss　Gage　came　in。

〃What's　the　matter？〃

〃I　just　wanted　to　talk　to　you。　Don't　you　think　Miss　Barkley　ought　to　go　off　night　duty　for　a　while？　She　looks　awfully　tired。　Why　does　she　stay　on　so　long？〃

Miss　Gage　looked　at　me。

〃I'm　a　friend　of　yours；〃　she　said。　〃You　don't　have　to　talk　to　me　like　that。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Don't　be　silly。　Was　that　all　you　wanted？〃

〃Do　you　want　a　vermouth？〃

〃All　right。　Then　I　have　to　go。〃　She　got　out　the　bottle　from　the　armoire　and　brought　a　glass。

〃You　take　the　glass；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　drink　out　of　the　bottle。〃

〃Here's　to　you；〃　said　Miss　Gage。

〃What　did　Van　Campen　say　about　me　sleeping　late　in　the　mornings？〃

〃She　just　jawed　about　it。　She　calls　you　our　privileged　patient。〃

〃To　hell　with　her。〃

〃She　isn't　mean；〃　Miss　Gage　said。　〃She's　just　old　and　cranky。　She　never　liked　you。〃

〃No。〃