第31部分(第2/7 頁)

ish。〃

〃Good；〃　I　said。　〃I　wish　you　to　do　something　for　me。　Do　not　tell　any　one　you　have　seen　me。　It　is　very　important。〃

〃I　won't　tell　any　one；〃　the　porter　said。　I　gave　him　a　ten…lira　note。　He　pushed　it　away。

〃I　promise　you　I　will　tell　no　one；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　want　any　money。〃

〃What　can　we　do　for　you；　Signor　Tenente？〃　his　wife　asked。

〃Only　that；〃　I　said。

〃We　are　dumb；〃　the　porter　said。　〃You　will　let　me　know　anything　I　can　do？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃Good…by。　I　will　see　you　again。〃

They　stood　in　the　door；　looking　after　me。

I　got　into　the　cab　and　gave　the　driver　the　address　of　Simmons；　one　of　the　men　I　knew　who　was　studying　singing。

Simmons　lived　a　long　way　out　in　the　town　toward　the　Porta　Magenta。　He　was　still　in　bed　and　sleepy　when　I　went　to　see　him。

〃You　get　up　awfully　early；　Henry；〃　he　said。

〃I　came　in　on　the　early　train。〃

〃What's　all　this　retreat？　Were　you　at　the　front？　Will　you　have　a　cigarette？　They're　in　that　box　on　the　table。〃　It　was　a　big　room　with　a　bed　beside　the　wall；　a　piano　over　on　the　far　side　and　a　dresser　and　table。　I　sat　on　a　chair　by　the　bed。　Simmons　sat　propped　up　by　the　pillows　and　smoked。

〃I'm　in　a　jam；　Sim；〃　I　said。

〃So　am　I；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　always　in　a　jam。　Won't　you　smoke？〃

〃No；〃　I　said。　〃What's　the　procedure　in　going　to　Switzerland？〃

〃For　you？　The　Italians　wouldn't　let　you　out　of　the　country。〃

〃Yes。　I　know　that。　But　the　Swiss。　What　will　they　do？〃

〃They　intern　you。〃

〃I　know。　But　what's　the　mechanics　of　it？〃

〃Nothing。　It's　very　simple。　You　can　go　anywhere。　I　think　you　just　have　to　report　or　something。　Why？　Are　you　fleeing　the　police？〃

〃Nothing　definite　yet。〃

〃Don't　tell　me　if　you　don't　want。　But　i