第31部分(第4/7 頁)

I'll　bet　you　can　sing。〃

He　lay　back　in　bed　smoking　a　cigarette。

〃Don't　bet　too　much。　But　I　can　sing　though。　It's　damned　funny；　but　I　can。　I　like　to　sing。　Listen。〃　He　roared　into　〃Africana；〃　his　neck　swelling；　the　veins　standing　out。　〃I　can　sing；〃　he　said。　〃Whether　they　like　it　or　not。〃　I　looked　out　of　the　window。　〃I'll　go　down　and　let　my　cab　go。〃

〃e　back　up；　my　dear　fellow；　and　we'll　have　breakfast。〃　He　stepped　out　of　bed；　stood　straight；　took　a　deep　breath　and　menced　doing　bending　exercises。　I　went　downstairs　and　paid　off　the　cab。

34

In　civilian　clothes　I　felt　a　masquerader。　I　had　been　in　uniform　a　long　time　and　I　missed　the　feeling　of　being　held　by　your　clothes。　The　trousers　felt　very　floppy。　I　had　bought　a　ticket　at　Milan　for　Stresa。　I　had　also　bought　a　new　hat。　I　could　not　wear　Sim's　hat　but　his　clothes　were　fine。　They　smelled　of　tobacco　and　as　I　sat　in　the　partment　and　looked　out　the　window　the　new　hat　felt　very　new　and　the　clothes　very　old。　I　myself　felt　as　sad　as　the　wet　Lombard　country　that　was　outside　through　the　window。　There　were　some　aviators　in　the　partment　who　did　not　think　much　of　me。　They　avoided　looking　at　me　and　were　very　scornful　of　a　civilian　my　age。　I　did　not　feel　insulted。　In　the　old　days　I　would　have　insulted　them　and　picked　a　fight。　They　got　off　at　Gallarate　and　I　was　glad　to　be　alone。　I　had　the　paper　but　I　did　not　read　it　because　I　did　not　want　to　read　about　the　war。　I　was　going　to　forget　the　war。　I　had　made　a　separate　peace。　I　felt　damned　lonely　and　was　glad　when　the　train　got　to　Stresa。

At　the　station　I　had　expected　to　see　the　porters　from　the　hotels　but　there　was　no　one。　The　season　had　been　over　a　long　time　and　no　one　met　the　train。　I　got　down　from　the　train　with　my　bag；　it　was　Sim's　bag；　and　very　lig