24765936 Greene Graham 21 Stories

8/13/2019 24765936 Greene Graham 21 Stories

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Graham Greene21 Stories

Contents

THE BASEMENT ROOMTHE END OF THE PARTYI SPYTHE INNOCENTA DRIVE IN THE CO NTRYACROSS THE BRIDGE! BI"EEBROTHERPROOF POSITIVEA CHANCE FOR MR# "EVERTHE HINT OF AN E$P"ANATIONTHE SECOND DEATHA DAY SAVEDA "ITT"E P"ACE OFF THE EDG%ARE ROADTHE CASE FOR THE DEFENCE%HEN GREE& MEETS GREE&MEN AT %OR&A"AS' POOR MA"INGTHE B" E FI"MSPECIA" D TIESTHE DESTR CTORS

The Basement Room

1

%hen the (ront )oor ha) sh*t them o*t an) the +*t,er Baines ha) t*rne) +a-. intothe )ar. hea/0 ha,,' Phi,i +e an to ,i/e# He stoo) in (ront o( the n*rser0 )oor',istenin *nti, he hear) the en ine o( the ta3i )ie o*t a,on the street# His

arents 4ere one (or a (ortni ht5s ho,i)a06 he 4as 7+et4een n*rses'7 one)ismisse) an) the other not arri/e)6 he 4as a,one in the reat Be, ra/ia ho*se4ith Baines an) Mrs# Baines#

He -o*,) o an04here' e/en thro* h the reen +ai8e )oor to the antr0 or)o4n the stairs to the +asement ,i/in 9room# He (e,t a stran er in his home+e-a*se he -o*,) o into an0 room an) a,, the rooms 4ere em t0#

Yo* -o*,) on,0 *ess 4ho ha) on-e o--* ie) them: the ra-. o( i es in thesmo.in 9room +esi)e the e,e hant t*s.s' the -ar/e) 4oo) to+a--o ;ar6 in the+e)room the in. han in s an) a,e er(*mes an) the three9


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ee/ish e0es' 4hi,e she mo/e) ro*n)' ettin e/er0thin in or)er' meti-*,o*s an),o/e,ess an) )oin her )*t0#

Phi,i "ane 4ent )o4nstairs an) *she) at the +ai8e )oor6 he ,oo.e) into theantr0' +*t Baines 4as not there' then he set (oot (or the (irst time on the

stairs to the +asement# A ain he ha) the sense: this is ,i(e# A,, his se/enn*rser0 0ears /i+rate) 4ith the stran e' the ne4 e3 erien-e# His -ro4)e) +*s0+rain 4as ,i.e a -it0 4hi-h (ee,s the earth trem+,e at a )istant earth


3/98

)a0 4itho*t ,oosin ho,)' ro4n men6 +*t it 4asn5t ,o/e6 it )i)n5t mean an0thin4e -o*,) *n)erstan)#7

7Eatin +et4een mea,s'7 Mrs# Baines sai)# 7%hat 4o*,) 0o*r mother sa0'Master Phi,i =7

She -ame )o4n the stee stairs to the +asement' her han)s (*,, o( ots o(-ream an) sa,/e' t*+es o( rease an) aste# 7Yo* o* htn5t to en-o*ra e him'Baines'7 she sai)' sittin )o4n in a 4i-.er arm-hair an) s-re4in * her sma,,i,,9h*mo*re) e0es at the Cot0 ,i sti-.' Pon)5s -ream' the "ei-hner ro* e an)C0-,a3 o4)er an) E,i8a+eth Ar)en astrin ent#

She thre4 them one +0 one into the 4aste a er +as.et# She sa/e) on,0 the-o,) -ream# 7Te,,in the +o0 stories'7 she sai)# 7Go a,on to the n*rser0' MasterPhi,i ' 4hi,e I et ,*n-h#7

Phi,i -,im+e) the stairs to the +ai8e )oor# He hear) Mrs# Baines5s/oi-e ,i.e the /oi-e in a ni htmare 4hen the sma,, Pri-e ,i ht has *ttere) in thesa*-er an) the -*rtains mo/e6 it 4as shar an) shri,, an) (*,, o( ma,i-e' ,o*)erthan eo ,e o* ht to s ea.' e3 ose)#

7Si-. to )eath o( 0o*r 4a0s' Baines' s oi,in the +o0# Time 0o* )i) some4or. a+o*t the ho*se'7 +*t he -o*,)n5t hear 4hat Baines sai) in re ,0# He *she)o en the +ai8e )oor' -ame * ,i.e a sma,, earth anima, in his re0 (,anne, shortsinto a 4ash o( s*n,i ht on a ar


4/98

7Yo*5,, o an) ha/e a rest#77I 4i,, o (or a 4a,.#77Master Phi,i '7 Mrs# Baines sai)# She ot * (rom the ta+,e' ,ea/in her

merin *e *n(inishe)' an) -ame to4ar)s him' thin' mena-in ' )*st0 in the +asementroom# 7Master Phi,i ' 0o* )o as 0o*5re to,)#7 She too. him +0 the arm an) s


5/98

D*),e0' 4ho -ame * on-e a 0ear (rom Penstan,e0 in S*((o,. 4ith a reen *m+re,,aan) an enormo*s +,a-. han)+a ' as he -o*,) ma.e them * a+o*t the * er ser/antsin a,, the ho*ses 4here he 4ent to tea an) ames# She ;*st )i)n5t +e,on 6 hetho* ht o( mermai)s an) n)ine6 +*t she )i)n5t +e,on there either' nor to thea)/ent*res o( Emi,' nor to the Basta+,es# She sat there ,oo.in at an i-e) in.-a.e in the )eta-hment an) m0ster0 o( the -om ,ete,0 )isinherite)' ,oo.in at theha,(9*se) ots o( o4)er 4hi-h Baines ha) set o*t on the mar+,e9to e) ta+,e+et4een them#

Baines 4as *r in ' ho in ' entreatin ' -omman)in ' an) the ir, ,oo.e) atthe tea an) the -hina ots an) -rie)# Baines asse) his han).er-hie( a-ross theta+,e' +*t she 4o*,)n5t 4i e her e0es6 she s-re4e) it in her a,m an) ,et thetears r*n )o4n' 4o*,)n5t )o an0thin ' 4o*,)n5t s ea.' 4o*,) on,0 *t * a si,ent)es airin resistan-e to 4hat she )rea)e) an) 4ante) an) re(*se) to ,isten to atan0 ri-e# The t4o +rains +att,e) o/er the tea9-* s ,o/in ea-h other' an) there-ame to Phi,i o*tsi)e' +e0on) the ham an) 4as s an) )*st0 Pim,i-o ane' a-on(*se) in)i-ation o( the str* ,e#

He 4as in


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)r0in *n)er his +,o4s' 4ith a resistan-e 0o* 4o*,)n5t +e,ie/e it to ossess# 7Theto* h one 4ins'7 Baines sai)#

He ot * an) ai) the +i,, an) o*t the0 4ent into the street# Baines sai)'7I )on5t as. 0o* to sa0 4hat isn5t tr*e# B*t 0o* nee)n5t mention to Mrs# Baines0o* met *s here#7

7O( -o*rse not'7 Phi,i sai)' an) -at-hin somethin o( Sir H*+ert Ree)5smanner' 7I *n)erstan)' Baines#7 B*t he )i)n5t *n)erstan) a thin 6 he 4as -a* ht *in other eo ,e5s )ar.ness#

7It 4as st* i)'7 Baines sai)# 7So near home' +*t I ha)n5t time to thin.' 0o*see# I5) ot to see her#7

7O( -o*rse' Baines#77I ha/en5t time to s are'7 Baines sai)# 7I5m not 0o*n # I5/e ot to see that

she5s a,, ri ht#77O( -o*rse 0o* ha/e' Baines#77Mrs# Baines 4i,, et it o*t o( 0o* i( she -an#77Yo* -an tr*st me' Baines'7 Phi,i sai) in a )r0 im ortant Ree) /oi-e6 an)

then' 7"oo. o*t# She5s at the 4in)o4 4at-hin #7 An) there in)ee) she 4as' ,oo.in* at them' +et4een the ,a-e -*rtains' (rom the +asement room' s e-*,atin #7Nee) 4e o in' Baines=7 Phi,i as.e)' -o,) ,0in hea/0 on his stoma-h ,i.e toom*-h *))in 6 he -,*t-he) Baines5s arm#

7Care(*,'7 Baines sai) so(t,0' 7-are(*,#77B*t nee) 4e o in' Baines= It5s ear,0# Ta.e me (or a 4a,. in the ar.#77Better not#77B*t I5m (ri htene)' Baines#77Yo* ha/en5t an0 -a*se'7 Baines sai)# 7Nothin 5s oin to h*rt 0o*# Yo* ;*st

r*n a,on * stairs to the n*rser0# I5,, o )o4n +0 the area an) ta,. to Mrs#Baines#7 B*t e/en he stoo) hesitatin at the to o( the stone ste s' reten)innot to see her 4here she 4at-he) +et4een the -*rtains# 7In at the (ront )oor'Phi,' an) * the stairs#7

Phi,i )i)n5t ,in er in the ha,,6 he ran' s,itherin on the ar*een5s

*))in 4itho*t the merin *e# He ha) no a etite6 he straine) his ears (or Mrs#Baines5s -omin ' (or the so*n) o( /oi-es' +*t the +asement he,) its se-rets6 the

reen +ai8e )oor sh*t o(( that 4or,)# He )ran. the mi,. an) ate the +is-*it' +*the )i)n5t to*-h the rest' an) resent,0 he -o*,) hear the so(t re-ise (oot(a,,so( Mrs# Baines on the stairs: she 4as a oo) ser/ant' she 4a,.e) so(t,06 she 4as a)etermine) 4oman' she 4a,.e) re-ise,0#

B*t she 4asn5t an r0 4hen she -ame in6 she 4as in ratiatin as she o ene)the ni ht n*rser0 )oor997Di) 0o* ha/e a oo) 4a,.' Master Phi,i =799 *,,e) )o4nthe +,in)s' ,ai) o*t his 0;amas' -ame +a-. to -,ear his s* er# 7I5m ,a) Baines(o*n) 0o*# Yo*r mother 4o*,)n5t ha/e ,i.e) 0o*r +ein o*t a,one#7 She e3amine) thetra0# 7Not m*-h a etite' ha/e 0o*' Master Phi,i = %h0 )on5t 0o* tr0 a ,itt,e o(this ni-e *))in = I5,, +rin 0o* * some more ;am (or it#7

7No' no' than. 0o*' Mrs# Baines'7 Phi,i sai)#7Yo* o* ht to eat more'7 Mrs# Baines sai)# She sni((e) ro*n) the room ,i.e a)o # 7Yo* )i)n5t ta.e an0 ots o*t o( the 4aste a er +as.et in the .it-hen' )i)0o*' Master Phi,i =7

7No'7 Phi,i sai)#7O( -o*rse 0o* 4o*,)n5t# I ;*st 4ante) to ma.e s*re#7 She atte) his

sho*,)er an) her (in ers (,ashe) to his ,a e,6 she i-.e) o(( a tin0 -r*m+ o( in.s* ar# 7Oh' Master Phi,i '7 she sai)' 7that5s 4h0 0o* ha/en5t an0 a etite# Yo*5/e+een +*0in s4eet -a.es# That5s not 4hat 0o*r o-.et mone05s (or#7

7B*t I )i)n5t'7 Phi,i sai)# 7I )i)n5t#7She taste) the s* ar 4ith the ti o( her ton *e#


7/98

7Don5t te,, ,ies to me' Master Phi,i # I 4on5t stan) (or it an0 more than0o*r (ather 4o*,)#7

7I )i)n5t' I )i)n5t'7 Phi,i sai)# 7The0 a/e it me# I mean Baines'7 +*t sheha) o*n-e) on the 4or) 7the0#7 She ha) ot 4hat she 4ante)6 there 4as no )o*+ta+o*t that' e/en 4hen 0o* )i)n5t .no4 4hat it 4as she 4ante)# Phi,i 4as an r0 an)misera+,e an) )isa ointe) +e-a*se he ha)n5t .e t Baines5s se-ret# Baines o* htn5tto ha/e tr*ste) him6 ro4n9* eo ,e sho*,) .ee their o4n se-rets' an) 0et here4as Mrs# Baines imme)iate,0 entr*stin him 4ith another#

7"et me ti-.,e 0o*r a,m an) see i( 0o* -an .ee a se-ret#7 B*t he *t hishan) +ehin) him6 he 4o*,)n5t +e to*-he)# 7It5s a se-ret +et4een *s' Master Phi,i 'that I .no4 a,, a+o*t them# I s* ose she 4as ha/in tea 4ith him'7 shes e-*,ate)#

7%h0 sho*,)n5t she=7 he sai)' the res onsi+i,it0 (or Baines 4ei hin on hiss irit' the i)ea that he ha) ot to .ee her se-ret 4hen he ha)n5t .e t Baines5sma.in him misera+,e 4ith the *n(airness o( ,i(e# 7She 4as ni-e#7

7She 4as ni-e' 4as she=7 Mrs# Baines sai) in a +itter /oi-e he 4asn5t *se)to#

7An) she5s his nie-e#77So that5s 4hat he sai)'7 Mrs# Baines str*-. so(t,0 +a-. at him ,i.e the

-,o-. *n)er the )*ster# She trie) to +e ;o-*,ar# 7The o,) s-o*n)re,# Don5t 0o*te,, him I .no4' Master Phi,i #7 She stoo) /er0 sti,, +et4een the ta+,e an) the)oor' thin.in /er0 har)' ,annin somethin # 7Promise 0o* 4on5t te,,# I5,, i/e0o* that Me--ano set' Master Phi,i ####7

He t*rne) his +a-. on her6 he 4o*,)n5t romise' +*t he 4o*,)n5t te,,# He4o*,) ha/e nothin to )o 4ith their se-rets' the res onsi+i,ities the0 4ere)etermine) to ,a0 on him# He 4as on,0 an3io*s to (or et# He ha) re-ei/e) a,rea)0 a,ar er )ose o( ,i(e than he ha) +ar aine) (or' an) he 4as s-are)# 7A 2A Me--anoset' Master Phi,i #7 He ne/er o ene) his Me--ano set a ain' ne/er +*i,t an0thin 'ne/er -reate) an0thin ' )ie)' the o,) )i,ettante' si3t0 0ears ,ater' 4ith nothinto sho4 rather than reser/e the memor0 o( Mrs# Baines5s ma,i-io*s /oi-e sa0in

oo) ni ht' her so(t )etermine) (oot(a,,s on the stairs to the +asement' oin)o4n' oin )o4n#

?

The s*n o*re) in +et4een the -*rtains an) Baines 4as +eatin a tattoo on the4ater9-an# 7G,or0' ,or0'7 Baines sai)# He sat )o4n on the en) o( the +e) an)sai)' 7I +e to anno*n-e that Mrs# Baines has +een -a,,e) a4a0# Her mother5s)0in # She 4on5t +e +a-. ti,, tomorro4#7

7%h0 )i) 0o* 4a.e me * so ear,0=7 Phi,i sai)# He 4at-he) Baines 4ith*neasiness6 he 4asn5t oin to +e )ra4n in6 he5) ,earnt his ,esson# It 4asn5tri ht (or a man o( Baines5s a e to +e so merr0# It ma)e a ro4n erson h*man in

the same 4a0 that 0o* 4ere h*man# For i( a ro4n9* -o*,) +eha/e so -hi,)ish,0'0o* 4ere ,ia+,e too to (in) 0o*rse,( in their 4or,)# It 4as eno* h that it -ame at0o* in )reams: the 4it-h at the -orner' the man 4ith a .ni(e# So 7It5s /er0ear,0'7 he -om ,aine)' e/en tho* h he ,o/e) Baines' e/en tho* h he -o*,)n5t he,+ein ,a) that Baines 4as ha 0# He 4as )i/i)e) +0 the (ear an) the attra-tion o(,i(e#

7I 4ant to ma.e this a ,on )a0'7 Baines sai)# 7This is the +est time#7 He*,,e) the -*rtains +a-.# 7It5s a +it mist0# The -at5s +een o*t a,, ni ht# There

she is' sni((in ro*n) the area# The0 ha/en5t ta.en in an0 mi,. at @ # Emma5ssha.in o*t the mats at ?#7 He sai)' 7This 4as 4hat I *se) to thin. a+o*t on theCoast: some+o)0 sha.in mats an) the -at -omin home# I -an see it to)a0'7 Baines


8/98

sai)' 7;*st as i( I 4as sti,, in A(ri-a# Most )a0s 0o* )on5t noti-e 4hat 0o*5/eot# It5s a oo) ,i(e i( 0o* )on5t 4ea.en#7 He *t a enn0 on the 4ashstan)# 7%hen

0o*5/e )resse)' Phi,' r*n an) et a Mai, (rom the +arro4 at the -orner# I5,, +e-oo.in the sa*sa es#7

7Sa*sa es=77Sa*sa es'7 Baines sai)# 7%e5re oin to -e,e+rate to)a0# A (air +*st#7 He

-e,e+rate) at +rea.(ast' re-.,ess' -ra-.in ;o.es' *na--o*nta+,0 merr0 an)ner/o*s# It 4as oin to +e a ,on ' ,on )a0' he .e t on -omin +a-. to that: (or0ears he ha) 4aite) (or a ,on )a0' he ha) s4eate) in the )am Coast heat' -han e)shirts' one )o4n 4ith (e/er' ,ain +et4een the +,an.ets an) s4eate)' a,, in theho e o( this ,on )a0' that -at sni((in ro*n) the area' a +it o( mist' the mats+eaten at ?# He ro e) the Mai, in (ront o( the -o((ee9 ot an) rea) ie-esa,o*)# He sai)' 7Cora Do4n5s +een marrie) (or the (o*rth time#7 He 4as am*se)' +*tit 4asn5t his i)ea o( a ,on )a0# His ,on )a0 4as the Par.' 4at-hin the ri)ersin the Ro4' seein Sir Arth*r Sti,,4ater ass +e0on) the rai,s 7He )ine) 4ith *son-e in Bo6 * (rom Freeto4n6 he 4as o/ernor there7 ' ,*n-h at the Corner Ho*se(or Phi,i 5s sa.e he5) ha/e re(erre) himse,( a ,ass o( sto*t an) some o0stersat the Yor. +ar ' the oo' the ,on +*s ri)e home in the ,ast s*mmer ,i ht: the,ea/es in the Green Par. 4ere +e innin to t*rn an) the motors n*88,e) o*t o(Ber.e,e0 Street 4ith the ,o4 s*n ent,0 ,o4in on their 4in)9s-reens# Bainesen/ie) no one' not Cora Do4n' or Sir Arth*r Sti,,4ater' or "or) San)a,e' 4ho -ameo*t on to the ste s o( the Arm0 an) Na/0 an) then 4ent +a-. a ain +e-a*se heha)n5t ot an0thin to )o an) mi ht as 4e,, ,oo. at another a er# 7I sai) )on5t,et me see 0o* to*-h that +,a-. a ain#7 Baines ha) ,e) a man5s ,i(e6 e/er0one onto o( the +*s ri-.e) their ears 4hen he to,) Phi,i a,, a+o*t it#

7%o*,) 0o* ha/e shot him=7 Phi,i as.e)' an) Baines *t his hea) +a-. an)ti,te) his )ar. res e-ta+,e manser/ant5s hat to a +etter an ,e as the +*s s4er/e)ro*n) the arti,,er0 memoria,#

7I 4o*,)n5t ha/e tho* ht t4i-e a+o*t it# I5) ha/e shot to .i,,'7 he +oaste)'an) the +o4e) (i *re 4ent +0' the stee, he,met' the hea/0 -,oa.' the )o4n9t*rne)ri(,e an) the (o,)e) han)s#

7Ha/e 0o* ot the re/o,/er=77O( -o*rse I5/e ot it'7 Baines sai)# 7Don5t I nee) it 4ith a,, the

+*r ,aries there5/e +een=7 This 4as the Baines 4hom Phi,i ,o/e): not Bainessin in an) -are(ree' +*t Baines res onsi+,e' Baines +ehin) +arriers' ,i/in hisman5s ,i(e#

A,, the +*ses streame) o*t (rom Vi-toria ,i.e a -on/o0 o( aero ,anes to+rin Baines home 4ith hono*r# 7Fort0 +,a-.s *n)er me'7 an) there 4aitin near thearea ste s 4as the ro er -on/entiona, re4ar)' ,o/e at ,i htin 9* time#

7It5s 0o*r nie-e'7 Phi,i sai)' re-o ni8in the 4hite ma-.intosh' +*t notthe ha 0 s,ee 0 (a-e# She (ri htene) him ,i.e an *n,*-.0 n*m+er6 he near,0 to,)Baines 4hat Mrs# Baines ha) sai)6 +*t he )i)n5t 4ant to +other' he 4ante) to ,ea/ethin s a,one#

7%h0' so it is'7 Baines sai)# 7I sho*,)n5t 4on)er i( she 4as oin to ha/e a+ite o( s* er 4ith *s#7 B*t he sai) the05) ,a0 a ame' reten) the0 )i)n5t .no4her' s,i )o4n the area ste s' 7an) here'7 Baines sai)' 74e are'7 ,a0 the ta+,e'

*t o*t the -o,) sa*sa es' a +ott,e o( +eer' a +ott,e o( in er o ' a (,a on o(

har/est +*r *n)0# 7E/er0one his o4n )rin.'7 Baines sai)# 7R*n * stairs' Phi,' an)see i( there5s +een a ost#7Phi,i )i)n5t ,i.e the em t0 ho*se at )*s. +e(ore the ,i hts 4ent on# He

h*rrie)# He 4ante) to +e +a-. 4ith Baines# The ha,, ,a0 there in


9/98

mi ht +e 4ron # He ran to the +ai8e )oor an) the stairs# The ir, 4as a,rea)0there an) Baines 4as .issin her# She ,eant +reath,ess a ainst the )resser#

7This is Emm0' Phi,#77There5s a ,etter (or 0o*' Baines#77Emm0'7 Baines sai)' 7it5s (rom her#7 B*t he 4o*,)n5t o en it# 7Yo* +et

she5s -omin +a-.#77%e5,, ha/e s* er' an04a0'7 Emm0 sai)# 7She -an5t harm that#77Yo* )on5t .no4 her'7 Baines sai)# 7Nothin 5s sa(e# Damn it'7 he sai)' 7I

4as a man on-e'7 an) he o ene) the ,etter#7Can I start=7 Phi,i as.e)' +*t Baines )i)n5t hear6 he resente) in his

sti,,ness an) attention an e3am ,e o( the im ortan-e ro4n9* eo ,e atta-he) tothe 4ritten 4or): 0o* ha) to 4rite 0o*r than.s' not 4ait an) s ea. them' as i(,etters -o*,)n5t ,ie# B*t Phi,i .ne4 +etter than that' s ra4,in his than.sa-ross a a e to A*nt A,i-e 4ho ha) i/en him a )o,, he 4as too o,) (or# "etters-o*,) ,ie a,, ri ht' +*t the0 ma)e the ,ie ermanent: the0 ,a0 as e/i)en-e a ainst0o*6 the0 ma)e 0o* meaner than the s o.en 4or)#

7She5s not -omin +a-. ti,, tomorro4 ni ht'7 Baines sai)# He o ene) the+ott,es' he *,,e) * the -hairs' he .isse) Emm0 a ain a ainst the )resser#

7Yo* o* htn5t to'7 Emm0 sai)' 74ith the +o0 here#77He5s ot to ,earn'7 Baines sai)' 7,i.e the rest o( *s'7 an) he he, e)

Phi,i to three sa*sa es# He on,0 too. one himse,(6 he sai) he 4asn5t h*n r06 +*t4hen Emm0 sai) she 4asn5t h*n r0 either he stoo) o/er her an) ma)e her eat# He 4astimi) an) ro* h 4ith her6 he ma)e her )rin. the har/est +*r *n)0 +e-a*se he sai)she nee)e) +*i,)in * 6 he 4o*,)n5t ta.e no (or an ans4er' +*t 4hen he to*-he) herhis han)s 4ere ,i ht an) -,*ms0 too' as i( he 4ere a(rai) to )ama e somethin)e,i-ate an) )i)n5t .no4 ho4 to han),e an0thin so ,i ht#

7This is +etter than mi,. an) +is-*its' eh=77Yes'7 Phi,i sai)' +*t he 4as s-are)' s-are) (or Baines as m*-h as (or

himse,(# He -o*,)n5t he, 4on)erin at e/er0 +ite' at e/er0 )ra* ht o( the in ero ' 4hat Mrs# Baines 4o*,) sa0 i( she e/er ,earnt o( this mea,6 he -o*,)n5t

ima ine it' there 4as a )e th o( +itterness an) ra e in Mrs# Baines 0o* -o*,)n5tso*n)# He sai)' 7She 4on5t +e -omin +a-. toni ht=7 +*t 0o* -o*,) te,, +0 the 4a0the0 imme)iate,0 *n)erstoo) him that she 4asn5t rea,,0 a4a0 at a,,6 she 4as therein the +asement 4ith them' )ri/in them to ,on er )rin.s an) ,o*)er ta,.' +i)inher time (or the ri ht -*ttin 4or)# Baines 4asn5t rea,,0 ha 06 he 4as on,04at-hin ha iness (rom -,ose to instea) o( (rom (ar a4a0#

7No'7 he sai)' 7she5,, not +e +a-. ti,, ,ate tomorro4#7 He -o*,)n5t .ee hise0es o(( ha iness6 he5) ,a0e) aro*n) as m*-h as other men' he .e t on re/ertinto the Coast as i( to e3-*se himse,( (or his inno-en-e6 he 4o*,)n5t ha/e +een soinno-ent i( he5) ,i/e) his ,i(e in "on)on' so inno-ent 4hen it -ame to ten)erness#7I( it 4as 0o*' Emm0'7 he sai)' ,oo.in at the 4hite )resser' the s-r*++e) -hairs'7this5) +e ,i.e a home#7 A,rea)0 the room 4as not


10/98

a man 4ith a tri-o,o*r hat +eat at the )oor on His Ma;est05s ser/i-e' a +,ee)inhea) ,a0 on the .it-hen ta+,e in a +as.et' an) the Si+erian 4o,/es -re t -,oser#He 4as +o*n) han) an) (oot an) -o*,)n5t mo/e6 the0 ,ea t ro*n) him +reathinhea/i,06 he o ene) his e0es an) Mrs# Baines 4as there' her re0 *nti)0 hair inthrea)s o/er his (a-e' her +,a-. hat as.e4# A ,oose hair in (e,, on the i,,o4an) one m*st0 threa) +r*she) his mo*th# 7%here are the0=7 she 4his ere)# 7%hereare the0=7

Phi,i 4at-he) her in terror# Mrs# Baines 4as o*t o( +reath as i( she ha) +eensear-hin a,, the em t0 rooms' ,oo.in *n)er ,oose -o/ers#

%ith her *nti)0 re0 hair an) her +,a-. )ress +*ttone) to her throat' her,o/es o( +,a-. -otton' she 4as so ,i.e the 4it-hes o( his )reams that he )i)n5t

)are to s ea.# There 4as a sta,e sme,, in her +reath#7She5s here'7 Mrs# Baines sai)6 70o* -an5t )en0 she5s here#7 Her (a-e 4as

sim*,taneo*s,0 mar.e) 4ith -r*e,t0 an) miser06 she 4ante) to 7)o thin s7 toeo ,e' +*t she s*((ere) a,, the time# It 4o*,) ha/e )one her oo) to s-ream' +*t

she )aren5t )o that: it 4o*,) 4arn them# She -ame in ratiatin ,0 +a-. to the +e)4here Phi,i ,a0 ri i) on his +a-. an) 4his ere)' 7I ha/en5t (or otten the Me--anoset# Yo* sha,, ha/e it tomorro4' Master Phi,i # %e5/e ot se-rets to ether'ha/en5t 4e= !*st te,, me 4here the0 are#7

He -o*,)n5t s ea.# Fear he,) him as (irm,0 as an0 ni htmare# She sai)' 7Te,,Mrs# Baines' Master Phi,i # Yo* ,o/e 0o*r Mrs# Baines' )on5t 0o*=7 That 4as toom*-h6 he -o*,)n5t s ea.' +*t he -o*,) mo/e his mo*th in terri(ie) )enia,' 4in-ea4a0 (rom her )*st0 ima e#

She 4his ere)' -omin -,oser to him' 7S*-h )e-eit# I5,, te,, 0o*r (ather#I5,, sett,e 4ith 0o* m0se,( 4hen I5/e (o*n) them# Yo*5,, smart6 I5,, see 0o*smart#7 Then imme)iate,0 she 4as sti,,' ,istenin # A +oar) ha) -rea.e) on the(,oor +e,o4' an) a moment ,ater' 4hi,e she stoo e) ,istenin a+o/e his +e)'there -ame the 4his ers o( t4o eo ,e 4ho 4ere ha 0 an) s,ee 0 to ether a(ter a,on )a0# The ni ht9,i ht stoo) +esi)e the mirror an) Mrs# Baines -o*,) see+itter,0 there her o4n re(,e-tion' miser0 an) -r*e,t0 4a/erin in the ,ass' a ean) )*st an) nothin to ho e (or# She so++e) 4itho*t tears' a )r0' +reath,essso*n)6 +*t her -r*e,t0 4as a .in) o( ri)e 4hi-h .e t her oin 6 it 4as her +est


11/98

4as he, ,ess' more he, ,ess e/en than Baines' an) -r*e,t0 re4 at the si ht o( himan) )ro/e her * the stairs# The ni htmare 4as on him a ain an) he -o*,)n5t mo/e6he ha)n5t an0 more -o*ra e ,e(t (or e/er6 he5) s ent it a,,' ha) +een a,,o4e) notime to ,et it ro4' no 0ears o( ra)*a, har)enin 6 he -o*,)n5t e/en s-ream#

B*t the (irst -r0 ha) +ro* ht Baines o*t o( the +est s are +e)room an) hemo/e)


12/98

-a,,e) o*t to him a-ross the street an) the -ommissionaire o*tsi)e a -inema 4o*,)ha/e sto e) him i( he ha)n5t -rosse) the roa)# He 4ent )ee er: 0o* -o*,) o(arther an) ,ose 0o*rse,( more -om ,ete,0 here than amon the ,ane9trees# On the(rin e o( the s


13/98


14/98

oo) to 0o*=7 The0 4ere tr0in to et somethin o*t o( him6 he 4as s*s i-io*s o(the 4ho,e room(*, o( them6 he sai) 70es7 4itho*t -on/i-tion +e -a*se he 4as a(rai)at an0 moment o( more res onsi+i,ities' more se-rets#

7An) Mrs# Baines=77Yes#7The0 -ons*,te) to ether +0 the )es.: Rose 4as hoarse,0 a rie/e)6 she 4as

,i.e a (ema,e im ersonator' she +ore her 4omanhoo) 4ith an *nnat*ra, em hasis e/en4hi,e she s-orne) it in her -rease) sto-.in s an) her 4eathere3 ose) (a-e# The-har-oa, shi(te) in the sto/e6 the room 4as o/erheate) in the mi,) ,ate s*mmere/enin # A noti-e on the 4a,, )es-ri+e) a +o)0 (o*n) in the Thames' or rather the+o)05s -,othes: 4oo, /est' 4oo, ants' 4oo, shirt 4ith +,*e stri es' si8e ten+oots' +,*e ser e s*it 4orn at the e,+o4s' (i(teen an) a ha,( -e,,*,oi) -o,,ar#The0 -o*,)n5t (in) an0thin to sa0 a+o*t the +o)0' e3-e t its meas*rements' it 4as;*st an or)inar0 +o)0#

7Come a,on '7 the -onsta+,e sai)# He 4as intereste)' he 4as ,a) to +eoin ' +*t he -o*,)n5t he, +ein em+arrasse) +0 his -om an0' a sma,, +o0 in0;amas# His nose sme,t somethin ' he )i)n5t .no4 4hat' +*t he smarte) at the

si ht o( the am*sement the0 -a*se): the *+s ha) -,ose) an) the streets 4ere (*,,a ain o( men ma.in as ,on a )a0 o( it as the0 -o*,)# He h*rrie) thro* h the ,ess(re


15/98

7He -an5t ha/e )one# I tho* ht he 4as in +e)# Ha)n5t he +etter o * = It5s asho-.in thin # Oh'7 Baines sai)' ,osin -ontro,' 7it5s a sho-.in thin (or a-hi,)#7

7She5s thro* h there=7 the -onsta+,e as.e)#7I ha/en5t mo/e) her an in-h'7 Baines sai)#7He5) +etter then9977Go * the area an) thro* h the ha,,'7 Baines sai) an) a ain he +e e)

)*m+,0 ,i.e a )o : one more se-ret' .ee this se-ret' )o this (or o,) Baines' he4on5t as. another#

7Come a,on '7 the -onsta+,e sai)# 7I5,, see 0o* * to +e)# Yo*5re aent,eman6 0o* m*st -ome in the ro er 4a0 thro* h the (ront )oor ,i.e the master

sho*,)# Or 4i,, 0o* o a,on 4ith him' Mr# Baines' 4hi,e I see the )o-tor=77Yes'7 Baines sai)' 7I5,, o#7 He -ame a-ross the room to Phi,i ' +e in '

+e in ' a,, the 4a0 4ith his so(t o,) st* i) e3 ression: this is Baines' the o,)Coaster6 4hat a+o*t a a,m9oi, -ho ' eh=6 a man5s ,i(e6 (ort0 ni ers6 ne/er *se)a *n6 I te,, 0o* I -o*,)n5t he, ,o/in them: it 4asn5t 4hat 4e -a,, ,o/e'nothin 4e -o*,) *n)erstan)#

The messa es (,i-.ere) o*t (rom the ,ast osts at the +or)er' im ,orin '+esee-hin ' remin)in : this is 0o*r o,) (rien) Baines6 4hat a+o*t an e,e/en5s6 a

,ass o( in er o 4on5t )o 0o* an0 harm6 sa*sa es6 a ,on )a0# B*t the 4ires4ere -*t' the messa es ;*st (a)e) o*t into the enormo*s /a-an-0 o( the neats-r*++e) room in 4hi-h there ha) ne/er +een a ,a-e 4here a man -o*,) hi)e hisse-rets#

7Come a,on ' Phi,' it5s +e)time# %e5,, ;*st o * the ste s###7 Ta ' ta 'ta ' at the te,e ra h6 0o* ma0 et thro* h' 0o* -an5t te,,' some+o)0 ma0 men) theri ht 4ire# 7An) in at the (ront )oor#7

7No'7 Phi,i sai)' 7no# I 4on5t o# Yo* -an5t ma.e me o# I5,, (i ht# I4on5t see her#7

The -onsta+,e t*rne) on them


16/98

Peter Morton 4o.e 4ith a start to (a-e the (irst ,i ht# Thro* h the 4in)o4 he-o*,) see a +are +o* h )ro in a-ross a (rame o( si,/er# Rain ta e) a ainst the

,ass# It 4as !an*ar0 the (i(th#He ,oo.e) a-ross a ta+,e' on 4hi-h a ni ht9,i ht ha) *ttere) into a oo, o(

4ater' at the other +e)# Fran-is Morton 4as sti,, as,ee ' an) Peter ,a0 )o4n a ain4ith his e0es on his +rother# It am*se) him to ima ine that it 4as himse,( 4hom he4at-he)' the same hair' the same e0es' the same ,i s an) ,ine o( -hee.# B*t thetho* ht soon a,,e)' an) the min) 4ent +a-. to the (a-t 4hi-h ,ent the )a0im ortan-e# It 4as the (i(th o( !an*ar0# He -o*,) har),0 +e,ie/e that a 0ear ha)

asse) sin-e Mrs# Henne9Fa,-on ha) i/en her ,ast -hi,)ren5s art0#Fran-is t*rne) s*))en,0 * on his +a-. an) thre4 an arm a-ross his (a-e'

+,o-.in his mo*th# Peter5s heart +e an to +eat (ast' not 4ith ,eas*re no4 +*t4ith *neasiness# He sat * an) -a,,e) a-ross the ta+,e' 7%a.e * #7 Fran-is5ssho*,)ers shoo. an) he 4a/e) a -,en-he) (ist in the air' +*t his e0es remaine)-,ose)# To Peter Morton the 4ho,e room seeme) s*))en,0 to )ar.en' an) he ha) theim ression o( a reat +ir) s4oo in # He -rie) a ain' 7%a.e * '7 an) on-e morethere 4as si,/er ,i ht an) the to*-h o( rain on the 4in)o4s# Fran-is r*++e) hise0es# 7Di) 0o* -a,, o*t=7 he as.e)#

7Yo* are ha/in a +a) )ream'7 Peter sai) 4ith -on(i)en-e# A,rea)0 e3 erien-eha) ta* ht him ho4 (ar their min)s re(,e-te) ea-h other# B*t he 4as the e,)er' +0a matter o( min*tes' an) that +rie( e3tra inter/a, o( ,i ht' 4hi,e his +rothersti,, str* ,e) in ain an) )ar.ness' ha) i/en him se,(9re,ian-e an) an instin-to( rote-tion to4ar)s the other 4ho 4as a(rai) o( so man0 thin s#

7I )reame) that I 4as )ea)'7 Fran-is sai)#7%hat 4as it ,i.e=7 Peter as.e) 4ith -*riosit0#7I -an5t remem+er'7 Fran-is sai)' an) his e0es t*rne) 4ith re,ie( to the

si,/er o( )a0' as he a,,o4e) the (ra mentar0 memories to (a)e#7Yo* )reame) o( a +i +ir)#77Di) I=7 Fran-is a--e te) his +rother5s .no4,e) e 4itho*t


17/98


18/98

-o*,)n5t ma.e him o to the art0# 7I5,, s-ream# I5,, s-ream#77 Fran-is' -ome a,on #7 He hear) the n*rse5s /oi-e a-ross the )im,0

hos hores-ent ,a4n an) sa4 the sma,, 0e,,o4 -ir-,e o( her tor-h 4hee, (rom treeto shr*+ an) +a-. to tree a ain# 7I5m -omin '7 he -a,,e) 4ith )es air' ,ea/in the,i hte) )oor4a0 o( the ho*se6 he -o*,)n5t +rin himse,( to ,a0 +are his ,astse-rets an) en) reser/e +et4een his mother an) himse,(' (or there 4as sti,, in the,ast resort a (*rther a ea, ossi+,e to Mrs# HenneFa,-on# He -om(orte) himse,(4ith that' as he a)/an-e) stea)i,0 a-ross the ha,,' /er0 sma,,' to4ar)s herenormo*s +*,.# His heart +eat *ne/en,0' +*t he ha) -ontro, no4 o/er his /oi-e' ashe sai) 4ith meti-*,o*s a--ent' 7Goo) e/enin ' Mrs# Henne9Fa,-on# It 4as /er0 oo)o( 0o* to as. me to 0o*r art0#7 %ith his straine) (a-e ,i(te) to4ar)s the -*r/eo( her +reasts' an) his o,ite set s ee-h' he 4as ,i.e an o,) 4ithere) man# ForFran-is mi3e) /er0 ,itt,e 4ith other -hi,)ren# As a t4in he 4as in man0 4a0s anon,0 -hi,)# To a))ress Peter 4as to s ea. to his o4n ima e in a mirror' an ima e a,itt,e a,tere) +0 a (,a4 in the ,ass' so as to thro4 +a-. ,ess a ,i.eness o( 4hathe 4as than o( 4hat he 4ishe) to +e' 4hat he 4o*,) +e 4ith o*t his *nreasonin(ear o( )ar.ness' (ootste s o( stran ers' the (,i ht o( +ats in )*s.9(i,,e)

ar)ens#7S4eet -hi,)'7 sai) Mrs# Henne9Fa,-on a+sent9min)e),0' +e(ore' 4ith a 4a/e

o( her arms' as tho* h the -hi,)ren 4ere a (,o-. o( -hi-.ens' she 4hir,e) theminto her set ro ramme o( entertainments: e 9an)9s oon ra-es' three9,e e) ra-es'the s earin o( a ,es' ames 4hi-h he,) (or Fran-is nothin 4orse thanh*mi,iation# An) in the (re


19/98

(o-*se) *n4a/erin ,0 on her e3*+erant +reasts' 7it 4i,, +e no *se m0 ,a0in # M0n*rse 4i,, +e -a,,in (or me /er0 soon#7

7Oh' +*t 0o*r n*rse -an 4ait' Fran-is'7 sai) Mrs# Henne9Fa,-on a+sent9min)e),0' 4hi,e she -,a e) her han)s to ether to s*mmon to her si)e a (e4-hi,)ren 4ho 4ere a,rea)0 stra0in * the 4i)e stair-ase to * er (,oors# 7Yo*rmother 4i,, ne/er min)#7

That ha) +een the ,imit o( Fran-is5s -*nnin # He ha) re(*se) to +e,ie/e thatso 4e,, re are) an e3-*se -o*,) (ai,# A,, that he -o*,) sa0 no4' sti,, in the

re-ise tone 4hi-h other -hi,)ren hate)' thin.in it a s0m+o, o( -on-eit' 4as' 7Ithin. I ha) +etter not ,a0#7 He stoo) motion,ess' retainin ' tho* h a(rai)'*nmo/e) (eat*res# B*t the .no4,e) e o( his terror' or the re(,e-tion o( the terroritse,(' rea-he) his +rother5s +rain# For the moment' Peter Morton -o*,) ha/e -rie)a,o*) 4ith the (ear o( +ri ht ,i hts oin o*t' ,ea/in him a,one in an is,an) o()ar. s*rro*n)e) +0 the ent,e ,a in o( stran e (ootste s# Then he remem+ere)that the (ear 4as not his o4n +*t his +rother5s# He sai) im *,si/e,0 to Mrs#Henne9Fa,-on' 7P,ease# I )on5t thin. Fran-is sho*,) ,a0# The )ar. ma.es him ;*mso#7 The0 4ere the 4ron 4or)s# Si3 -hi,)ren +e an to sin ' 7Co4ar)0' -o4ar)0-*star)'7 t*rnin tort*rin (a-es 4ith the /a-an-0 o( 4i)e s*n(,o4ers to4ar)sFran-is Morton#

%itho*t ,oo.in at his +rother' Fran-is sai)' 7O( -o*rse I 4i,, ,a0# I amnot a(rai)# I on,0 tho* ht###7 B*t he 4as a,rea)0 (or otten +0 his h*mantormentors an) 4as a+,e in ,one,iness to -ontem ,ate the a roa-h o( thes irit*a,' the more *n+o*n)e)' tort*re# The -hi,)ren s-ram+,e) ro*n) Mrs# Henne9Fa,-on' their shri,, /oi-es e-.in at her 4ith


20/98

A ta str*-. the (,oor an) the meta,,i- so*n) set a host o( -a*tio*s (eet mo/inin his )ire-tion# B*t +0 that time he 4as in his sto-.in s an) 4o*,) ha/e ,a* he)in4ar),0 at the *rs*it ha) not the noise o( someone st*m+,in on his a+an)one)shoes ma)e his heart tri in the re(,e-tion o( another5s s*r rise# No more +oar)sre/ea,e) Peter Morton5s ro ress# On sto-.in e) (eet he mo/e) si,ent,0 an)*nerrin ,0 to4ar)s his o+;e-t# Instin-t to,) him that he 4as near the 4a,,' an)'e3ten)in a han)' he ,ai) the (in ers a-ross his +rother5s (a-e#

Fran-is )i) not -r0 o*t' +*t the ,ea o( his o4n heart re/ea,e) to Peter aro ortion o( Fran-is5s terror# 7It5s a,, ri ht'7 he 4his ere)' (ee,in )o4n the

s


21/98


22/98

o((# A stit-h in time# I5,, et m0 -oat#77One o( *s5,, -ome 4ith 0o*' i( 0o* )on5t min)'7 sai) the stran er ent,0#7Yo* nee)n5t tro*+,e# It5s on the e here# There' I5m a,, rea)0#7The other man sai) in an em+arrasse) 4a0: 7Don5t 0o* 4ant to s ea. to 0o*r

4i(e=7 The thin /oi-e 4as )e-i)e)# 7Not me# Ne/er )o to)a0 4hat 0o* -an *t o((ti,, tomorro4# She5,, ha/e her -han-e ,ater' 4on5t she=7

7Yes' 0es'7 one o( the stran ers sai) an) he +e-ame /er0 -heer(*, an)en-o*ra in # 7Don5t 0o* 4orr0 too m*-h# %hi,e there5s ,i(e###7 An) s*))en,0 his(ather trie) to ,a* h#

%hen the )oor ha) -,ose) Char,ie Sto4e ti toe) * stairs an) ot into +e)# He4on)ere) 4h0 his (ather ha) ,e(t the ho*se a ain so ,ate at ni ht an) 4ho thestran ers 4ere# S*r rise an) a4e .e t him (or a ,itt,e 4hi,e a4a.e# It 4as as i( a(ami,iar hoto ra h ha) ste e) (rom the (rame to re roa-h him 4ith ne ,e-t# Heremem+ere) ho4 his (ather ha) he,) ti ht to his -o,,ar an) (orti(ie) himse,( 4ith

ro/er+s' an) he tho* ht (or the (irst time that' 4hi,e his mother 4as +oistero*san) .in),0' his (ather 4as /er0 ,i.e himse,(' )oin thin s in the )ar. 4hi-h(ri htene) him# It 4o*,) ha/e ,ease) him to o )o4n to his (ather an) te,, himthat he ,o/e) him' +*t he -o*,) hear thro* h the 4in)o4 the


23/98

inno-en-e#I sai) to "o,a' 7It5s a oo) inn' an) there5,, +e nothin here' 0o*5,, see'

to .ee *s * # %e5,, ha/e )inner an) )rin.s an) o to +e)#7 B*t the 4orst o( it4as that I -o*,)n5t he, 4ishin that I 4ere a,one# I ha)n5t +een +a-. a,, these0ears6 I ha)n5t rea,i8e) ho4 4e,, I remem+ere) the ,a-e# Thin s I5)


24/98

+een ;*st on the oint o( ei ht# I ,o/e) her 4ith an intensit0 I ha/e ne/er (e,tsin-e' I +e,ie/e' (or an0one# At ,east I ha/e ne/er ma)e the mista.e o( ,a* hinat -hi,)ren5s ,o/e# It has a terri+,e ine/ita+i,it0 o( se aration +e-a*se there-an +e no satis(a-tion# O( -o*rse one in/ents ta,es o( ho*ses on (ire' o( 4ar an)(or,orn -har es 4hi-h ro/e one5s -o*ra e in her e0es' +*t ne/er o( marria e# One.no4s 4itho*t +ein to,) that that -an5t ha en' +*t the .no4,e) e )oesn5t meanthat one s*((ers ,ess# I remem+ere) a,, the ames o( +,in)9man5s9+*(( at +irth)a0

arties 4hen I /ain,0 ho e) to -at-h her' so that I mi ht ha/e the e3-*se to to*-han) ho,) her' +*t I ne/er -a* ht her6 she a,4a0s .e t o*t o( m0 4a0#

B*t on-e a 4ee. (or t4o 4inters I ha) m0 -han-e: I )an-e) 4ith her# Thatma)e it 4orse it 4as -*ttin o(( o*r on,0 -onta-t 4hen she to,) me )*rin one o(the ,ast ,essons o( the 4inter that ne3t 0ear she 4o*,) ;oin the o,)er -,ass# She,i.e) me too' I .ne4 it' +*t 4e ha) no 4a0 o( e3 ressin it# I *se) to o to her+irth)a0 arties an) she 4o*,) -ome to mine' +*t 4e ne/er e/en ran home to ethera(ter the )an-in -,ass# It 4o*,) ha/e seeme) o))6 I )on5t thin. it o--*rre) to*s# I ha) to ;oin m0 o4n +oistero*s teasin ma,e -om anions' an) she the +esie e)'the h*st,e)' the shri,,0 in)i nant se3 on the 4a0 )o4n the hi,,#

I shi/ere) there in the mist an) t*rne) m0 -oat -o,,ar * # The iano 4as,a0in a )an-e (rom an o,) C# B# Co-hran re/*e# It seeme) a ,on ;o*rne0 to ha/e

ta.en to (in) on,0 "o,a at the en) o( it# There is somethin a+o*t inno-en-e oneis ne/er


25/98

she 4o*,) thin. 4ith )is,i.e that his home 4as ,i.e his o((i-e' r*n on the same,ines' its sa(et0 reser/e) 4ith the same meti-*,o*s -are' so that he -o*,)

resent a (aith(*, ste4ar)5s a--o*nt to the mana in 9)ire-tor# Re *,ar,0 e/er0S*n)a0 he resente) the a--o*nt' a--om anie) +0 his 4i(e an) t4o )a* hters' in the,itt,e neo9Gothi- -h*r-h in Par. Roa)# The0 a,4a0s ha) the same e4' the0 4erea,4a0s (i/e min*tes ear,0' an) her (ather san ,o*),0 4ith no sense o( t*ne'ho,)in an o*t9si8e ra0er +oo. on the ,e/e, o( his e0es# 7Sin in son s o(e3*,tation799he 4as resentin the 4ee.5s a--o*nt one ho*seho,) )*,0sa(e *ar)e) 997mar-hin to the Promise) "an)#7 %hen the0 -ame o*t o( -h*r-h' she,oo.e) -are(*,,0 a4a0 (rom the -orner +0 the Bri-.,a0ers5 Arms 4here Fre) a,4a0sstoo)' a ,itt,e ,it +e-a*se the Arms ha) +een o en (or ha,( an ho*r' 4ith his airo( *n+a,an-e) e3*,tation#

She ,istene): the +a-. )oor -,ose)' she -o*,) hear the -at-h o( the .it-hen4in)o4 -,i-.' an) the rest,ess a) o( his (eet oin +a-. to tr0 the (ront )oor#It 4asn5t on,0 the o*tsi)e )oors he ,o-.e): he ,o-.e) the em t0 rooms' the+athroom' the ,a/ator0# He 4as ,o-.in somethin o*t' +*t o+/io*s,0 it 4assomethin -a a+,e o( enetratin his (irst )e(en-es# He raise) his se-on) ,ine a,,the 4a0 * to +e)#

She ,ai) her ear a ainst the thin 4a,,' o( the ;err09+*i,t /i,,a an) -o*,)hear the (aint /oi-es (rom the nei h+o*rin room6 as she ,istene) the0 -ame-,earer as tho* h she 4ere t*rnin the s-re4 o( a 4ire,ess set# Her mother sai)7### mar arine in the -oo.in ###7 an) her (ather sai) 7### m*-h easier in (i(teen0ears#7 Then the +e) -rea.e) an) there 4ere )im so*n)s o( ten)erness an) -om(ort+et4een the t4o mi)),e9a e) stran ers in the ne3t room# In (i(teen 0ears' shetho* ht *nha i,0' the ho*se 4i,, +e his6 he ha) ai) t4ent09(i/e o*n)s )o4n an)the rest he 4as a0in month +0 month as rent# 7O( -o*rse'7 he 4as in the ha+it o(sa0in a(ter a oo) mea,' 7I5/e im ro/e) the ro ert0'7 an) he e3 e-te) at ,eastone o( them to (o,,o4 him into his st*)0# 7I5/e 4ire) this room (or o4er'7 he

a))e) +a-. ast the ,itt,e )o4nstairs ,a/ator0' 7this ra)iator'7 the (ina, stro.eo( satis(a-tion' 7the ar)en'7 an) i( it 4as a (ine e/enin he 4o*,) (,in the(ren-h 4in)o4 o( the )inin 9room o en on the ,itt,e -ar et o( rass as -are(*,,0.e t as a -o,,e e ,a4n# 7A i,e o( +ri-.s'7 he5) sa0' 7that5s a,, it 4as#7 Fi/e0ears o( Sat*r)a0 a(ternoons an) (ine S*n)a0s ha) one into the at-h o( t*r(' thes*rro*n)in (,o4er9+e)' the one a ,e tree 4hi-h re *,ar,0 ro)*-e) one -rimsontaste,ess a ,e more ea-h 0ear#

7Yes'7 he sai)' 7I5/e im ro/e) the ro ert0'7 ,oo.in ro*n) (or a nai, to)ri/e in' a 4ee) to +e * roote)# 7I( 4e ha) to se,, no4' 4e sho*,) et more thanI5/e ai) +a-. (rom the so-iet0#7 It 4as more than a sense o( ro ert0' it 4as asense o( honest0# Some eo ,e 4ho +o* ht their ho*ses thro* h the so-iet0 ,et them

o to ra-. an) r*in an) then -,eare) o*t#She stoo) 4ith her ear a ainst the 4a,,' a sma,,' )ar.' (*rio*s' immat*re

(i *re# There 4as no more to +e hear) (rom the other room6 +*t in her inner earshe sti,, hear) the -hor*s o( a ro ert0 o4ner' the ta 9ta o( a hammer' thes-ra e o( a s a)e' the 4hist,e o( ra)iator steam' a .e0 t*rnin ' a +o,t *she)home' the ,itt,e tri/ia, so*n)s o( men +*i,)in +arri-a)es# She stoo) ,annin hertrea-her0#

It 4as a


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ha,,' *n,o-.e) the )oor# A,, 4as


27/98

7Gi/e me one then# It has a s-re4 to '7 an) 4ith one han) on her an) one onthe 4hee, he ti e) his hea)' so that she -o*,) o*r a ,itt,e 4his.0 into hismo*th o*t o( the


28/98

sma,, r*st,e in the he) e 4here somethin 4ent to hi)in # The0 +e,on e) to the-it06 the0 ha)n5t a name (or an0thin ro*n) them6 the tin0 +*)s +rea.in in the+*shes 4ere name,ess# He no))e) at a ro* o( )ar. trees at the he) e en)# 7Oa.s=7

7E,ms=7 she as.e) an) their mo*ths 4ent to ether in a m*t*a, i noran-e# Theto*-h e3-ite) her6 she 4as rea)0 (or the most re-.,ess a-t6 +*t (rom his mo*th'the )r0 s irito*s ,i s' she aine) a sense that he 4as ,ess e3-ite) than he ha)ho e) to +e#

She sai)' to reass*re herse,(' 7It5s oo) to +e here 9mi,es a4a0 (rom an0one4e .no4#7

7I )are sa0 Mi-.5s there# Do4n the roa)#77Does he .no4=77No+o)0 .no4s#7She sai)' 7That5s ho4 I 4ante) it# Ho4 )i) 0o* et this -ar=7He rinne) at her 4ith 4i,) *n+a,an-e) am*sement# 7I sa/e) (rom the ten

shi,,in s#77No' +*t ho4= Di) someone ,en) it 0o*=77Yes'7 he sai)# He s*))en,0 *she) the )oor o en an) sai)' 7"et5s ta.e a

4a,.#77%e5/e ne/er 4a,.e) in the -o*ntr0 +e(ore#7 She too. his arm' an) she -o*,)

(ee, the tense ner/es res on)in to her to*-h# It 4as 4hat she ,i.e)6 she -o*,)n5tte,, 4hat he 4o*,) )o ne3t# She sai)' 7M0 (ather -a,,s 0o* -ra80# I ,i.e 0o*-ra80# %hat5s a,, this st*((=7 .i-.in at the ro*n)#

7C,o/er'7 he sai)' 7isn5t it= I )on5t .no4#7 It 4as ,i.e +ein in a (orei n-it0 4here 0o* -an5t *n)erstan) the names on sho s' the tra((i- si ns: nothin to-at-h ho,) o(' to ho,) 0o* )o4n to this an) that' a)ri(t to ether in a )ar./a-**m# 7Sho*,)n5t 0o* t*rn on the hea),am s=7 she sai)# 7It 4on5t +e so eas0(in)in o*r 4a0 +a-.# There5s not m*-h moon#7 A,rea)0 the0 seeme) to ha/e one a,on 4a0 (rom the -ar6 she -o*,)n5t see it -,ear,0 an0 ,on er#

7%e5,, (in) o*r 4a0'7 he sai)# 7Someho4# Don5t 4orr0#7 At the he) e en) the0-ame to the trees# He *,,e) a t4i )o4n an) (e,t the sti-.0 +*)s# 7%hat is it=Bee-h=7

7I )on5t .no4#7He sai)' 7I( it ha) +een 4armer' 4e -o*,) ha/e s,e t o*t here# Yo*5) thin.

4e mi ht ha/e ha) that m*-h ,*-.' toni ht o( a,, ni hts# B*t it5s -o,) an) it5soin to rain#7

7"et5s -ome in the s*mmer'7 +*t he )i)n5t ans4er#Some other 4in) ha) +,o4n' she -o*,) te,, it' an) a,rea)0 he ha) ,ost

interest in her# There 4as somethin har) in his o-.et6 it h*rt her si)e6 she *ther han) in# The meta, -ham+er ha) a+sor+e) a,, the -o,) there ha) +een in the4in)0 ri)e# She 4his ere) (ear(*,,0' 7%h0 are 0o* -arr0in that=7 She ha) a,4a0s+e(ore )ra4n a ,ine ro*n) his re-.,essness# %hen her (ather ha) sai) he 4as -ra80she ha) se-ret,0 an) ossessi/e,0 smi,e) +e-a*se she tho* ht she .ne4 the e3tento( his -ra8iness# No4' 4hi,e she 4aite) (or him to ans4er her' she -o*,) (ee, his-ra8iness o on an) on an) o*t o( her rea-h' o*t o( her si ht6 she -o*,)n5t see4here it en)e)6 it ha) no en)' she -o*,)n5t ossess it an0 more than she -o*,)

ossess a )ar.ness or a )esert#7Don5t +e s-are)'7 he sai)# 7I )i)n5t mean 0o* to (in) that toni ht#7 He

s*))en,0 +e-ame more ten)er than he ha) e/er +een6 he *t his han) on her +reast6it -ame (rom his (in ers' a reat so(t meanin ,ess (,oo) o( ten)erness# He sai)'7Don5t 0o* see= "i(e5s he,,# There5s nothin 4e -an )o#7 He s o.e /er0 ent,0' +*tshe ha) ne/er +een more a4are o( his re-.,essness: he 4as o en to e/er0 4in)' +*tthe 4in) no4 seeme) to ha/e set (rom the east: it +,e4 ,i.e s,eet thro* h his4or)s# 7I ha/en5t a enn0'7 he sai)# 7%e -an5t ,i/e on nothin # It5s no oo)ho in that I5,, et a ;o+#7 He re eate)' 7There aren5t an0 more ;o+s an0 more#An) e/er0 0ear' 0o* .no4' there5s ,ess -han-e' +e-a*se there are more eo ,e0o*n er than I am#7

7B*t 4h0'7 she sai)' 7ha/e 4e -ome99=7He +e-ame so(t,0 an) ten)er,0 ,*-i)# 7%e )o ,o/e ea-h other' )on5t 4e= %e


29/98

-an5t ,i/e 4itho*t ea-h other# It5s no oo) han in aro*n)' is it' 4aitin (or o*r,*-. to -han e# %e )on5t e/en et a (ine ni ht'7 he sai)' (ee,in (or rain 4ithhis han)# 7%e -an ha/e a oo) time toni ht99in the -ar99an) then99in themornin 997

7No' no'7 she sai)# She trie) to et a4a0 (rom him# 7I -o*,)n5t# It5shorri+,e# I ne/er sai)997

7Yo* 4o*,)n5t .no4 an0thin '7 he sai) ent,0 an) ine3ora+,0# Her 4or)s' she-o*,) rea,i8e no4' ha) ne/er ma)e an0 rea, im ression6 he 4as s4a0e) +0 them +*tno more than he 4as s4a0e) +0 an0thin : no4 that the 4in) ha) set' it 4as ,i.ethro4in s-ra s o( a er to4ar)s the s.0 to s ea. at a,,' or to ar *e# He sai)'7O( -o*rse 4e neither o( *s +e,ie/e in Go)' +*t there ma0 +e a -han-e' an) it5s-om an0' oin to ether ,i.e that#7 He a))e) 4ith ,eas*re' 7It5s a am+,e'7 an)she remem+ere) more o--asions than she -o*,) -o*nt 4hen their ,ast -o ers ha)

one rin in )o4n in s,ot ma-hines#He *,,e) her -,oser an) sai) 4ith -om ,ete ass*ran-e' 7%e ,o/e ea-h other#

It5s the on,0 4a0' 0o* .no4# Yo* -an tr*st me#7 He 4as ,i.e a s.i,,e) ,o i-ian6 he.ne4 a,, the sta es o( the ar *ment# She )es aire) at -at-hin him o*t on an0

oint +*t the romise: 4e ,o/e ea-h other# That she )o*+te) (or the (irst time'(a-e) +0 the mer-i,essness o( his e otism# He re eate)' 7It 4i,, +e -om an0#7

She sai)' 7There m*st +e some 4a0###77%h0 m*st=77Other4ise eo ,e 4o*,) +e )oin it a,, the timee/er04hereJ77The0 are'7 he sai) tri*m hant,0' as i( it 4ere more im ortant (or him to

(in) his ar *ment (,a4,ess than to (in)994e,,' a 4a0' a 4a0 to o on ,i/in #7Yo*5/e on,0 ot to rea) the a ers'7 he sai)# He 4his ere) ent,0' en)earin ,0'as i( he tho* ht the /er0 so*n) o( the 4or)s ten)er eno* h to )is e, a,, (ear#7The0 -a,, it a s*i-i)e a-t# It5s ha enin a,, the time#7

7I -o*,)n5t# I ha/en5t the ner/e#77Yo* nee)n5t )o an0thin '7 he sai)# 7I5,, )o it a,,#7His -a,mness horri(ie) her# 7Yo* mean990o*5) .i,, me=7He sai)' 7I ,o/e 0o* eno* h (or that# I romise it 4on5t h*rt 0o*#7 He mi ht

ha/e +een ers*a)in her to ,a0 some tri/ia, an) *n-on enia, ame# 7%e sha,, +eto ether a,4a0s#7 He a))e) rationa,,0' 7O( -o*rse' i( there is an a,4a0s'7 an)s*))en,0 she sa4 his ,o/e as a mere (,i-.er o( as (,ame ,a0in on the marsh0)e th o( his irres onsi+i,it0# She ha) ,o/e) his irres onsi+i,it0' +*t no4 sherea,i8e) that it 4as 4itho*t an0 ,imit at a,,6 it -,ose) o/er the hea)# She

,ea)e)' 7There are thin s 4e -an se,,# That s*it-ase#7She .ne4 that he 4as 4at-hin her 4ith am*sement' that he ha) rehearse) a,,

her ar *ments an) ha) an ans4er6 he 4as on,0 reten)in to ta.e her serio*s,0# 7%emi ht et (i(teen shi,,in s'7 he sai)# 7%e -o*,) ,i/e a )a0 on that99+*t 4esho*,)n5t ha/e m*-h (*n#7

7The thin s insi)e it=77Ah' that5s another am+,e# The0 mi ht +e 4orth thirt0 shi,,in s# Three

)a0s' that 4o*,) i/e *s994ith e-onom0#77%e mi ht et a ;o+#77I5/e +een tr0in (or a oo) man0 0ears no4#77Isn5t there the )o,e=7

7I5m not an ins*re) 4or.er# I5m one o( the r*,in -,ass#77Yo*r eo ,e' the05) i/e *s somethin #77B*t 4e5/e ot o*r ri)e' ha/en5t 4e=7 he sai) 4ith remorse,ess -on-eit#7The man 4ho ,ent 0o* the -ar=7He sai)' 7Yo* remem+er Corte8' the (e,,o4 4ho +*rnt his +oats= I5/e +*rnt

mine# I5/e ot to .i,, m0se,(# Yo* see' I sto,e that -ar# %e5) +e sto e) in thene3t to4n# It5s too ,ate e/en to o +a-.#7 He ,a* he)6 he ha) rea-he) the -,ima3o( his ar *ment an) there 4as nothin more to )is *te a+o*t# She -o*,) te,, thathe 4as er(e-t,0 satis(ie) an) er(e-t,0 ha 0# It in(*riate) her# 7Yo*5/e ot to'ma0+e# B*t I ha/en5t# %h0 sho*,) I .i,, m0se,(= %hat ri ht ha/e 0o*99=7 She)ra e) herse,( a4a0 (rom him an) (e,t a ainst her +a-. the ro* h massi/e tr*n. o(


30/98

the ,i/in tree#7Oh'7 he sai) in an irritate) tone' 7o( -o*rse i( 0o* ,i.e to o on 4itho*t

me#7 She ha) a)mire) his -on-eit6 he ha) a,4a0s -arrie) his *nem ,o0ment 4ith amanner: no4 0o* -o*,) no ,on er -a,, it -on-eit: it 4as a -om ,ete ,a-. o( an0/a,*es# 7Yo* -an o home'7 he sai)' 7tho* h I )on5t


31/98


32/98

ri)e in the -o*ntr0# "e5s o to Mai)enhea)'7 ho,)in her han) ,im ,0#She *,,e) it a4a0' he )i)n5t resist' an) 4a,.e) )o4n the ha,(9ma)e roa) to

No # # The -ra80 a/in in the (ront ar)en seeme) to ho,) her (eet (irm,0 * #She o ene) the )oor an) hear) thro* h the )ar. an) the rain a -ar rin) intose-on) ear an) )rone a4a099-ertain,0 not to4ar)s Mai)enhea) or De/i8es or the-o*ntr0# Another 4in) m*st ha/e +,o4n#

Her (ather -a,,e) )o4n (rom the (irst ,an)in ' 7%ho5s there=77It5s me'7 she sai)# She e3 ,aine)' 7I ha) a (ee,in 0o*5) ,e(t the )oor

*n+o,te)#77An) ha) I=77No'7 she sai) ent,0' 7it5s +o,te) a,, ri ht'7 )ri/in the +o,t so(t,0 an)

(irm,0 home# She 4aite) ti,, his )oor -,ose)6 she to*-he) the ra)iator to 4arm her(in ers99he ha) *t it in himse,(' he ha) im ro/e) the ro ert06 in (i(teen 0ears'she tho* ht' it 4i,, +e o*rs# She 4as


33/98


34/98

I ran into one o( the o,i-emen in the Bar Antonio# He 4as )is *ste)6 he ha)ha) some i)ea that 4hen he -rosse) the +ri) e ,i(e 4as oin to +e )i((erent' som*-h more -o,o*r an) s*n' an)99I s*s e-t99,o/e' an) a,, he (o*n) 4ere 4i)e m*)streets 4here the no-t*rna, rain ,a0 in oo,s' an) man 0 )o s' sme,,s an)-o-.roa-hes in his +e)room' an) the nearest to ,o/e' the o en )oor o( the A-a)emiaComer-ia,' 4here rett0 mesti8o ir,s sat a,, the mornin ,earnin to t0 e4rite#Ti 9ta 9ti 9ta ti 99 erha s the0 ha) a )ream' too99;o+s on the other si)e o( the+ri) e' 4here ,i(e 4as oin to +e so m*-h more ,*3*rio*s' re(ine) an) am*sin #

%e ot into -on/ersation6 he seeme) s*r rise) that I .ne4 4ho the0 +oth 4erean) 4hat the0 4ante)# He sai)' 7%e5/e ot in(ormation this man Ca,,o4a05s into4n#7

7He5s .no-.in aro*n) some4here'7 I sai)#7Co*,) 0o* oint him o*t=77Oh' I )on5t .no4 him +0 si ht'7 I sai)#He )ran. his +eer an) tho* ht a 4hi,e# 7I5,, o o*t an) sit in the ,a8a#

He5s s*re to ass sometime#7I (inishe) m0 +eer an) 4ent


35/98

an) a 4a,. ro*n) the (ie,) at e/enin 4ith the )o 99that misera+,e imitation o( asetter99 o.in the )it-hes# He5) ne/er +een a-ross' he -o*,)n5t .no4 that it 4as;*st the same thin o/er a ain99e/en the same ,a0o*t6 on,0 the streets 4ere a/e)an) the hote,s ha) ten more stories' an) ,i(e 4as more e3 ensi/e' an) e/er0thin4as a ,itt,e +it -,eaner# There 4asn5t an0thin Mr# Ca,,o4a0 4o*,) ha/e -a,,e),i/in 99no a,,eries' no +oo.9sho s' ;*st Fi,m F*n an) the ,o-a, a er' an) C,i-.an) Fo-*s an) the ta+,oi)s#

7%e,,'7 sai) Mr# Ca,,o4a0' 7I thin. I5,, ta.e a stro,, +e(ore ,*n-h# Yo*nee) an a etite to s4a,,o4 the (oo) here# I enera,,0 o )o4n an) ,oo. at the+ri) e a+o*t no4# Care to -ome too=7

The )ete-ti/e shoo. his hea)# 7No'7 he sai)' 7I5m on )*t0# I5m ,oo.in (or a(e,,o4#7 An) that' o( -o*rse' a/e him a4a0# As (ar as# Mr# Ca,,o4a0 -o*,)*n)erstan)' there 4as on,0 one 7(e,,o47 in the 4or,) an0one 4as ,oo.in (or99his+rain ha) e,iminate) (rien)s 4ho 4ere see.in their (rien)s' h*s+an)s 4ho mi ht +e4aitin (or their 4i/es' a,, o+;e-ti/es o( an0 sear-h +*t ;*st the one# The o4ero( e,imination 4as 4hat ha) ma)e him a (inan-ier99he -o*,) (or et the eo ,e+ehin) the shares#

That 4as the ,ast 4e sa4 o( him (or a 4hi,e# %e )i)n5t see him oin intothe Boti-a Paris to et his as irin' or 4a,.in +a-. (rom the +ri) e 4ith his )o #He sim ,0 )isa eare)' an) 4hen he )isa eare)' eo ,e +e an to ta,.' an) the)ete-ti/es hear) the ta,.# The0 ,oo.e) si,,0 eno* h' an) the0 ot +*s0 a(ter the/er0 man the05) +een sittin ne3t to in the ar)en# Then the0 too )isa eare)#The0' as 4e,, as Mr# Ca,,o4a0' ha) one to the state -a ita, to see the Go/ernoran) the Chie( o( Po,i-e' an) it m*st ha/e +een an am*sin si ht there too' as the0+*m e) into Mr# Ca,,o4a0 an) sat 4ith him in the 4aitin 9rooms# I s*s e-t Mr#Ca,,o4a0 4as enera,,0 sho4n in (irst' (or e/er0one .ne4 he 4as 4orth a mi,,ion#On,0 in E*ro e is it ossi+,e (or a man to +e a -rimina, as 4e,, as a ri-h man#

An04a0' a(ter a+o*t a 4ee. the 4ho,e a-. o( them ret*rne) +0 the sametrain# Mr# Ca,,o4a0 tra/e,,e) P*,,man' an) the t4o o,i-emen tra/e,,e) in the )a0-oa-h# It 4as e/i)ent that the0 ha)n5t ot their e3tra)ition or)er#

"*-ia ha) ,e(t +0 that time# The -ar -ame an) 4ent a-ross the +ri) e# Istoo) in Me3i-o an) 4at-he) her et o*t at the nite) States C*stoms# She 4asn5tan0thin in arti-*,ar +*t she ,oo.e) +ea*ti(*, at a )istan-e as she a/e me a4a/e o*t o( the nite) States an) ot +a-. into the -ar# An) I s*))en,0 (e,ts0m ath0 (or Mr# Ca,,o4a0' as i( there 4ere somethin o/er there 4hi-h 0o*-o*,)n5t (in) here' an) t*rnin ro*n) I sa4 him +a-. on his o,) +eat' 4ith the )oat his hee,s#

I sai) 7Goo) a(ternoon'7 as i( it ha) +een a,, a,on o*r ha+it to reet ea-hother# He ,oo.e) tire) an) i,, an) )*st0' an) I (e,t sorr0 (or him99to thin. o(the .in) o( /i-tor0 he5) +een 4innin ' 4ith so m*-h e3 en)it*re o( -ash an) -are99the ri8e this )irt0 an) )rear0 to4n' the +ooths o( the mone09-han ers' the a4(*,,itt,e +ea*t0 ar,o*rs 4ith their 4i-.er -hairs an) so(as ,oo.in ,i.e there-e tion rooms o( +rothe,s' that hot an) st*((0 ar)en +0 the +an)stan)#

He re ,ie) ,oomi,0' 7Goo) mornin '7 an) the )o starte) to sni(( at someor)*re an) he t*rne) an) .i-.e) it 4ith (*r0' 4ith )e ression' 4ith )es air#

An) at that moment a ta3i 4ith the t4o o,i-emen in it asse) *s on its 4a0to the +ri) e# The0 m*st ha/e seen that .i-.6 erha s the0 4ere -,e/erer than I

ha) i/en them -re)it (or' erha s the0 4ere ;*st sentimenta, a+o*t anima,s' an)tho* ht the05) )o a oo) )ee)' an) the rest ha ene) +0 a--i)ent# B*t the (a-tremains 9those t4o i,,ars o( the ,a4 set a+o*t the stea,in o( Mr# Ca,,o4a05s)o #

He 4at-he) them o +0# Then he sai)' 7%h0 )on5t 0o* o a-ross=77It5s -hea er here'7 I sai)#7I mean ;*st (or an e/enin # Ha/e a mea, at that ,a-e 4e -an see at ni ht

in the s.0# Go to the theatre#77There isn5t a -han-e#7He sai) an ri,0' s*-.in his o,) tooth' 7%e,,' an04a0' et a4a0 (rom here#7

He stare) )o4n the hi,, an) * the other si)e# He -o*,)n5t see that that street


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-,im+in * (rom the +ri) e -ontaine) on,0 the same mone0-han ers5 +ooths as thisone#

I sai)' 7%h0 )on5t 0o* o=7He sai) e/asi/e,0' 7Oh99+*siness#7I sai)' 7It5s on,0 a


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semisetter an) am+o,,e) (*rio*s,0 )o4n the street# One o( the )ete-ti/es99thesentimenta, one994as into the -ar +e(ore 4e ot to the )oor an) 4as o(( a(ter the)o # Near the +ottom o( the ,on roa) to the +ri) e 4as Mr# Ca,,o4a09I )o +e,ie/ehe5) -ome )o4n to ,oo. at the Me3i-an si)e 4hen he (o*n) there 4as nothin +*t the)r* store an) the -inemas an) the a er sho s on the Ameri-an# He sa4 the )o-omin an) 0e,,e) at it to o home7home' home' home'7 as i( the0 4ere in Nor(o,.99it too. no noti-e at a,,' e,tin to4ar)s him# Then he sa4 the o,i-e -ar -ominan) ran# A(ter that' e/er0thin ha ene) too


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ha)n5t +,o4n 4hist,es or thro4n a er ri++ons6 he -ertain,0 ha)n5t )an-e) to an0harmoni*ms# His neat (i *re 4as ,i.e a s0m+o, o( Goo) Taste as he 4aite) 4ith(o,)e) *m+re,,a (or the tra((i- ,i hts to o reen6 he ha) ,earne) to ho,) hishan) so that the one (ra0e) at-h on his s,ee/e )i)n5t sho4' an) the rathere3-,*si/e -,*+ tie' (resh,0 irone)' mi ht ha/e +een +o* ht that mornin # It 4asn5t,a-. o( atriotism or ,o0a,t0 4hi-h ha) .e t Mr# Cha,(ont in)oors a,, thro* h;*+i,ee 4ee.# No+o)0 )ran. the toast o( the &in more sin-ere,0 than Mr# Cha,(ontso ,on as someone e,se 4as stan)in the )rin.6 +*t an instin-t )ee er than oo)(orm ha) 4arne) him not to +e a+o*t# Too man0 eo ,e 4hom he ha) on-e .no4n so hee3 ,aine) it 4ere -omin * (rom the -o*ntr06 the0 mi ht 4ant to ,oo. him * ' an)a (e,,o4 ;*st -o*,)n5t as. them +a-. to a room ,i.e this# That e3 ,aine) his)is-retion6 it )i)n5t e3 ,ain his sense o( o ression 4hi,e he 4aite) (or the!*+i,ee to +e o/er#

No4 he 4as +a-. at the o,) ame#He -a,,e) it that himse,(' smoothin his neat re0 mi,itar0 mo*sta-he# The

o,) ame# Some+o)0 oin ra i),0 ro*n) the -orner into Ber.e,e0 Street n*) e) him,a0(*,,0 an) sai)' 7H*,,o' 0o* o,) )e/i,'7 an) 4as one a ain' ,ea/in the memor0

o( man0 ,a0(*, n*) es in the o,) )a0s' o( Mer)0 an) the Boo+# For he -o*,)n5t)is *ise the (a-t that he 4as a(ter the ,a)ies# He )i)n5t 4ant to )is *ise it# Itma)e his 4ho,e ro(ession a ear e/en to himse,( rather a,,ant an) -are(ree# It)is *ise) the (a-t that the ,a)ies 4ere not so 0o*n as the0 mi ht +e an) that it4as the ,a)ies Go) +,ess themJ 4ho ai)# It )is *ise) the (a-t that Mer)0 an)the Boo+ ha) ,on a o /anishe) (rom his .no4,e) e# The ,ist o( his a-


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7 !erm0n Street'7 Mr# Cha,(ont sai)# 7S*re,0 not !erm0n Street# I5/ene/er### S*re,0 it m*st ha/e +een 4hen I ha) m0 (,at in C*r8on Street# De,e-ta+,ee/enin s one ha) there# I5/e mo/e) sin-e then to a rather h*m+,er a+o)e 4here I4o*,)n5t )ream o( in/itin 0o*#### B*t erha s 4e -o*,) s,i a4a0 to some ,itt,enest o( 0o*r o4n# Yo*r hea,th' m0 )ear# Yo* ,oo. 0o*n er than e/er#7

7Ha 0 )a0s'7 Am0 sai)# Mr# Cha,(ont 4in-e)# She (in ere) her min. -oat#7B*t 0o* .no49I5/e retire)#7

7Ah' ,ost mone0' eh=7 Mr# Cha,(ont sai)# 7Dear ,a)0' I5/e s*((ere) in that4a0 too# %e m*st -onso,e ea-h other a ,itt,e# I s* ose +*siness is +a)# Yo*rh*s+an)99I seem to re-a,, a tr0in man 4ho )i) his +est to inter(ere 4ith o*ri)0,,# It 4as an i)0,,' 4asn5t it' those e/enin s in C*r8on Street=7

7Yo*5/e ot it 4ron ' )ear# I ne/er 4as in C*r8on Street# B*t i( 0o* )ate+a-. to the time I trie) that h*s+an) ra-.et' 4h0 that oes 0ears +a-.' to theme4s o(( Bon) Street# Fan-0 0o*r remem+erin # It 4as 4ron o( me# I -an see thatno4# An) it ne/er rea,,0 4or.e)# I )on5t thin. he ,oo.e) ,i.e a h*s+an)# B*t no4I5/e retire)# Oh' no'7 she sai)' ,eanin (or4ar) *nti, he -o*,) sme,, the +ran)0on her ,*m ,itt,e ,i s' 7I ha/en5t ,ost mone06 I5/e ma)e it#7

7Yo*5re ,*-.0'7 Mr# Cha,(ont sai)#7It 4as a,, the !*+i,ee'7 Am0 e3 ,aine)#7I 4as -on(ine) to m0 +e) )*rin the !*+i,ee'7 Mr# Cha,(ont sai)# 7I

*n)erstan) it a,, 4ent o(( /er0 4e,,#77It 4as ,o/e,0'7 Am0 sai)# 7%h0' I sai) to m0se,(' e/er0one o* ht to )o

somethin to ma.e it a s*--ess# So I -,eane) * the streets#77I )on5t


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+e on me'7 an) as he 4at-he) her +an (or the 4aiter in the )im entee, ,a-e an))ominate his )isa ro/a, 4hen he -ame' Mr# Cha,(ont -o*,)n5t he, 4on)erin at the*n(airness o( her -on(i)en-e an) her hea,th# He ha) a to*-h o( ne*ritis' +*t she4as -arni/a,6 she rea,,0 seeme) to +e,on to the +anners an) )rin.s an) ,*mes an)

ro-essions# He sai)


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The ro rietor o( the -a( sa4 them -omin 4hen the0 4ere sti,, a ,on 4a0 o((6 the ,am s at that time 4ere sti,, a,i ht it 4as ,ater that the +*,,ets +ro.ethe +*,+s an) )ro e) )ar.ness a,, o/er that


42/98

on +,*e stee, he,mets6 the Gar)es Mo+i,es 4ere ,inin o*t a-ross the entran-e tothe Fa*+o*r ' an) a ma-hine9 *n ointe) )ire-t,0 at the -a( 4in)o4s#

So' the ro rietor tho* ht' m0 ra0ers are ans4ere)# No4 I m*st )o m0 artnot ,oo.' not 4arn them' sa/e m0se,(# Ha/e the0 -o/ere) the si)e )oor= I 4i,, etthe other +ott,e# Rea, Na o,eon +ran)0# Share an) share a,i.e#

He (e,t a -*rio*s ,a-. o( tri*m h as he o ene) the tra o( the +ar an) -ameo*t# He trie) not to 4a,.


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7Yo* see'7 the o((i-er sai) 4ith si ni(i-an-e' 74e a0#7 He no))e) to4ar)sthe si)e )oor# 7Those others: )i) the0 a0=7

No' the ro rietor a)mitte)' the0 ha) not ai)' +*t as he -o*nte) the -oinsan) s,i e) them into the ti,,' he -a* ht himse,( si,ent,0 re eatin the o((i-er5sor)er997A +o-. (or ea-h o( these men#7 Those others' he tho* ht' one5s ot to sa0that (or them' the0 4eren5t mean a+o*t the )rin.# It 4as (o*r -o na-s 4ith them#B*t' o( -o*rse' the0 )i) not a0# 7An) m0 4in)o4s'7 he -om ,aine) a,o*) 4iths*))en as erit0' 74hat a+o*t m0 4in)o4s=7

7Ne/er 0o* min)'7 the o((i-er sai)' 7the o/ernment 4i,, a0# Yo* ha/e on,0to sen) in 0o*r +i,,# H*rr0 * no4 4ith m0 -o na-# I ha/e no time (or ossi #7

7Yo* -an see (or 0o*rse,('7 the ro rietor sai)' 7ho4 the +ott,es ha/e +een+ro.en# %ho 4i,, a0 (or that=7

7E/er0thin 4i,, +e ai) (or'7 the o((i-er sai)#7An) no4 I m*st o to the -e,,ar to (et-h more#7He 4as an r0 at the reiteration o( the 4or) a0# The0 enter m0 -a( ' he

tho* ht' the0 smash m0 4in)o4s' the0 or)er me a+o*t an) thin. that a,, is 4e,, i(the0 a0' a0' a0# It o--*rre) to him that these men 4ere intr*)ers#

7Ste to it'7 the o((i-er sai) an) t*rne) an) re+*.e) one o( the men 4ho ha),eant his ri(,e a ainst the +ar#

At the to o( the -e,,ar stairs the ro rietor sto e)# The0 4ere in)ar.ness' +*t +0 the ,i ht (rom the +ar he -o*,) ;*st ma.e o*t a +o)0 ha,(94a0)o4n# He +e an to trem+,e /io,ent,0' an) it 4as some se-on)s +e(ore he -o*,)stri.e a mat-h# The 0o*n German ,a0 hea) )o4n4ar)s' an) the +,oo) (rom his hea)ha) )ro e) on to the ste +e,o4# His e0es 4ere o en an) stare) +a-. at the

ro rietor 4ith the o,) )es airin e3 ression o( ,i(e# The ro rietor 4o*,) not+e,ie/e that he 4as )ea)# 7&amera)'7 he sai) +en)in )o4n' 4hi,e the mat-h sin e)his (in ers an) 4ent o*t' tr0in to re-a,, some hrase in German' +*t he -o*,)on,0 remem+er' as he +ent ,o4er sti,,' 7mein Br*)er#7 Then s*))en,0 he t*rne) an)ran * the ste s' 4a/e) the mat-h9+o3 in the o((i-er5s (a-e' an) -a,,e) o*t in a,o4 h0steri-a, /oi-e to him an) his men an) to the -*stomer stoo in *n)er the ,o4

reen sha)e' 7Co-hons# Co-hons#77%hat 4as that= %hat 4as that=7 the o((i-er e3-,aime)# 7Di) 0o* sa0 that he

4as 0o*r +rother= It5s im ossi+,e'7 an) he (ro4ne) in-re)*,o*s,0 at the ro rietoran) ratt,e) the -oins in his o-.et#

1 ?

Proo( Positi/e

The tire) /oi-e 4ent on# It seeme) to s*rmo*nt enormo*s o+sta-,es to s ee-h# Theman5s si-.' Co,one, Crasha4 tho* ht 4ith it0 an) irritation# %hen a 0o*n man heha) -,im+e) in the Hima,a0as' an) he remem+ere) ho4 at reat hei hts se/era,

+reaths ha) to +e ta.en (or e/er0 ste a)/an-e)# The (i/e9(oot9hi h ,at(orm inthe M*si- Rooms o( The S a seeme) to entai, (or the s ea.er some o( the samee((ort# He sho*,) ne/er ha/e -ome o*t on s*-h a ra4 a(ternoon' tho* ht Co,one,Crasha4' o*rin o*t a ,ass o( 4ater an) *shin it a-ross the ,e-t*rer5s ta+,e#The rooms 4ere +a),0 heate)' an) 0e,,o4 (in ers o( 4inter (o (e,t (or -ra-.s inthe man0 4in)o4s# There 4as ,itt,e )o*+t that the s ea.er ha) ,ost a,, to*-h 4ithhis a*)ien-e# It 4as s-attere) in at-hes a+o*t the ha,,99e,)er,0 ,a)ies 4ho ma)eno attem t to hi)e their -r*e, +ore)om' an) a (e4 men' 4ith the a earan-e o(retire) o((i-ers' 4ho *t * a sho4 o( attention#

Co,one, Crasha4' as resi)ent o( the ,o-a, Ps0-hi-a, So-iet0' ha) re-ei/e) anote (rom the s ea.er a ,itt,e more than a 4ee. +e(ore# %ritten +0 a han) 4hi-h


44/98

trem+,e) 4ith si-.ness' a e or )r*n.enness' it as.e) *r ent,0 (or a s e-ia,meetin o( the so-iet0# An e3traor)inar0' a rea,,0 im ressi/e' e3 erien-e 4as to+e )es-ri+e) 4hi,e sti,, (resh in the min)' tho* h 4hat the e3 erien-e ha) +een4as ,e(t /a *e# Co,one, Crasha4 4o*,) ha/e hesitate) to -om ,0 i( the note ha) not+een si ne) +0 a Ma;or Phi,i %ea/er' In)ian Arm0' retire)# One ha) to )o 4hat one-o*,) (or a +rother o((i-er6 the trem+,in o( the han) m*st +e either a e orsi-.ness#

It ro/e) rin-i a,,0 to +e the ,atter 4hen the t4o men met (or the (irsttime on the ,at(orm# Ma;or %ea/er 4as not more than si3t0' ta,,' thin' an) )ar.'4ith an * ,0 o+stinate nose an) satire in his e0e' the most *n,i.e,0 erson toe3 erien-e an0thin *ne3 ,aina+,e# %hat anta oni8e) Crasha4 most 4as that %ea/er*se) s-ent6 a 4hite han).er-hie( 4hi-h )roo e) (rom his +reast o-.et e3ha,e) asri-h an) s4eet an o)o*r as a 4ho,e a,tar o( ,i,ies# Se/era, ,a)ies rin.e) theirnoses' an) Genera, "ea)+itter as.e) ,o*),0 4hether he mi ht smo.e#

It 4as


45/98

a ain that the s irit )i) not )ie 4hen the +o)0 )ie)' +*t that the +o)0 on,0 mo/e)at the s irit5s 4i,,# One ha) to +e o+stinate' to ra ,e###

Patheti-' Crasha4 tho* ht' the si-. man5s -,in in to his +e,ie(# It 4as asi( ,i(e 4ere an on,0 son 4ho 4as )0in an) 4ith 4hom he 4ishe) to reser/e some(orm o( -omm*ni-ation####

A note 4as asse) to Crasha4 (rom the a*)ien-e# It -ame (rom a Dr# Bro4n' asma,, a,ert man in the thir) ro46 the so-iet0 -herishe) him as a .in) o( ets-e ti-# The note rea): 7Can5t 0o* ma.e him sto = The man5s o+/io*s,0 /er0 i,,#An) 4hat oo) is his ta,.' an04a0=7

Crasha4 t*rne) his e0es si)e4a0s an) * 4ar)s an) (e,t his it0 /anish at thesi ht o( the ro/in satiri-a, e0es that a/e the ,ie to the ton *e' an) at thesme,,' o/er o4erin ,0 s4eet' o( the s-ent in 4hi-h %ea/er ha) stee e) hishan).er-hie(# The man 4as an 7o*tsi)er76 he 4o*,) ,oo. * his re-or) in the o,)Arm0 "ists 4hen he ot home#

7Proo( ositi/e'7 %ea/er 4as sa0in ' si hin a shri,, +reath o( e3ha*stion+et4een the 4or)s# Crasha4 ,ai) his 4at-h * on the ta+,e' +*t %ea/er ai) him noattention# He 4as s* ortin himse,( on the rim o( the ta+,e 4ith one han)# 7I5,,

i/e 0o*'7 he sai)' s ea.in 4ith in-reasin )i((i-*,t0' 7 roo( os###7 His /oi-es-ra e) into sti,,ness' ,i.e a nee),e at a re-or)5s en)' +*t the


46/98


47/98

Don5t (or et99It 4as ,i.e ,i/in 4ith a ,ot o( -o4s#7The -hie('7 his +o0 4his ere)' an) +et4een the h*ts *n)er a 4a/in tor-h

-ame an o,) sto*t man 4earin a ro+e o( nati/e -,oth an) a +attere) +o4,er hat#Behin) him his men -arrie) si3 +o4,s o( ri-e' a +o4, o( a,m oi,' t4o +o4,s o(+ro.en meat# 7Cho (or the ,a+o*rers'7 the +o0 e3 ,aine)' an) Mr# "e/er ha) to et* an) smi,e an) no) an) tr0 to -on/e0 4itho*t 4or)s that he 4as ,ease)' that the-ho 4as e3-e,,ent' that the -hie( 4o*,) et a oo) )ash in the mornin # At (irstthe sme,, ha) +een a,most too m*-h (or Mr# "e/er#

7As. him'7 he sai) to his +o0' 7i( he5s seen a 4hite man -ome thro* h here,ate,0# As. him i( a 4hite man5s +een )i in aro*n) here# Damn it'7 Mr# "e/er+*rst o*t' the s4eat +rea.in on the +a-.s o( his han)s an) on his +a,) hea)' 7as.him i( he5s seen Da/i)son=7

7 Da/i)son=77Oh' he,,'7 Mr# "e/er sai)' 70o* .no4 4hat I mean# The 4hite man I5m ,oo.in

(or#77%hite man=77%hat )o 0o* ima ine I5m here (or' eh= %hite man= O( -o*rse 4hite man# I5m

not here (or m0 hea,th#7 A -o4 -o* he)' r*++e) its horns a ainst the h*t' an) t4ooats +ro.e thro* h +et4een the -hie( an) him' * settin the +o4,s o( meat s-ra s6

no+o)0 -are)' the0 i-.e) the meat o*t o( the )*st an) )*n #Mr# "e/er sat )o4n an) *t his han) o/er his (a-e' (at 4hite 4e,,9-are)9(or

han)s 4ith 4rin.,es o( (,esh o/er the rin s# He (e,t too o,) (or this#7Chie( sa0 no 4hite man +een here ,on time#77Ho4 ,on =77Chie( sa0 not sin-e he a0 h*t ta3#77Ho4 ,on 5s that=77"on ' ,on time#77As. him ho4 (ar is it to Greh' tomorro4#77Chie( sa0 too (ar#77Nonsense'7 Mr# "e/er sai)#7Chie( sa0 too (ar# Better sta0 here# Fine to4n# No h*m+* #7Mr# "e/er roane)# E/er0 e/enin there 4as the same tro*+,e# The ne3t to4n

4as a,4a0s too (ar# The0 4o*,) in/ent an0 e3-*se to )e,a0 him' to i/e themse,/esa rest#

7As. the -hie( ho4 man0 ho*rs99=77P,ent0' ,ent0#7 The0 ha) no i)ea o( time#7This (ine -hie(# Fine -ho # "a+o*rers tire)# No h*m+* #77%e are oin on'7 Mr# "e/er sai)#7This (ine to4n# Chie( sa0997He tho* ht: i( this 4asn5t the ,ast -han-e' I5) i/e * # The0 na e) him so'

an) s*))en,0 he ,on e) (or another 4hite man not Da/i)son' he )aren5t sa0an0thin to Da/i)son to 4hom he -o*,) e3 ,ain the )es eration o( his ,ot# It4asn5t (air' that a man a(ter thirt0 0ears5 -ommer-ia, tra/e,,in sho*,) nee) to

o (rom )oor to )oor as.in (or a ;o+# He ha) +een a oo) tra/e,,er' he ha) ma)emone0 (or man0 eo ,e' his re(eren-es 4ere e3-e,,ent' +*t the 4or,) ha) mo/e) onsin-e his )a0# He 4asn5t stream9,ine)6 he -ertain,0 4asn5t stream9,ine)# He ha)+een ten 0ears retire) 4hen he ,ost his mone0 in the )e ression#

Mr# "e/er 4a,.e) * an) )o4n Vi-toria Street sho4in his re(eren-es# Man0 o(the men .ne4 him' a/e him -i ars' ,a* he) at him in a (rien),0 4a0 (or 4antin tota.e on a ;o+ at his a e 7I -an5t someho4 sett,e at home# The o,) 4arhorse 0o*.no4####7 ' -ra-.e) a ;o.e or t4o in the assa e' 4ent +a-. that ni ht toMai)enhea)' si,ent in the (irst9-,ass -arria e' sh*t in 4ith a e an) r*in an) ho4+a) thin s 4ere an) oor )e/i, his 4i(e5s ro+a+,0 si-.#

It 4as in the rather sha++0 ,itt,e o((i-e o(( "ea)enha,, Street that Mr#"e/er met his -han-e# It -a,,e) itse,( an en ineerin (irm' +*t there 4ere on,0t4o rooms' a t0 e4riter' a ir, 4ith o,) teeth an) Mr# "*-as' a thin narro4 man4ith a ti- in one e0e,i)# A,, thro* h the inter/ie4 the e0e,i) (,i-.ere) at Mr#"e/er# Mr# "e/er ha) ne/er +e(ore (a,,en so ,o4 as this#


48/98

B*t Mr# "*-as str*-. him as reasona+,0 honest# He *t 7a,, his -ar)s on theta+,e#7 He ha)n5t ot an0 mone0' +*t he ha) e3 e-tations6 he ha) the han),in o( a

atent# It 4as a ne4 -r*sher# There 4as mone0 in it# B*t 0o* -o*,)n5t e3 e-t the+i tr*sts to -han e o/er their ma-hiner0 no4# Thin s 4ere too +a)# Yo*5) ot to

et in at the start' an) that 4as 4here994h0' that 4as 4here this -hie(' the +o4,so( -ho ' the na in an) the rats an) the heat -ame in# The0 -a,,e) themse,/es are *+,i-' Mr# "*-as sai)' he )i)n5t .no4 an0thin a+o*t that' the0 4ere not as+,a-. as the0 4ere ainte)' he s* ose) ha' ha' ner/o*s,0' ha' ha 6 an04a0' this-om an0 ha) s,i e) a ents o/er the +or)er an) ra++e) a -on-ession: o,) an))iamon)s# He -o*,) te,, Mr# "e/er in -on(i)en-e that the tr*st 4as (ri htene) o(4hat the05) (o*n)# No4 an enter risin man -o*,) ;*st s,i a-ross Mr# "*-as ,i.e)the 4or) s,i ' it ma)e e/er0thin so*n) eas0 an) se-ret an) intro)*-e this ne4-r*sher to them: it 4o*,) sa/e them tho*san)s 4hen the0 starte) 4or.' there5) +e a(at -ommission' an) a(ter4ar)s' 4ith that start### There 4as a (ort*ne (or thema,,#

7B*t -an5t 0o* (i3 it * in E*ro e=7Ti-' ti-' 4ent Mr# "*-as5s e0e,i)# 7A ,ot o( Be, ians6 the0 are ,ea/in a,,

)e-isions to the man on the s ot# An En ,ishman -a,,e) Da/i)son#77Ho4 a+o*t e3 enses=77That5s the tro*+,e'7 Mr# "*-as sai)# 7%e are on,0 +e innin # %hat 4e 4ant

is a artner# %e -an5t a((or) to sen) a man# B*t i( 0o* ,i.e a am+,e### T4ent0er -ent -ommission#7

7Chie( sa0 e3-*se him#7 The -arriers s*inine'7 Mr# "e/er sai)# 7%here5s m0


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o/ert*rne) the h*rri-ane ,am # He *n)resse)


50/98

his arm an) o en the net# I( there ha) +een a sin ,e mos


51/98

Emi,0 (ai,e) to (i,, the min) (or more than three min*tes at a time# It 4as are,ie(' a )istra-tion' 4hen the ath 4as (,oo)e) an) Mr# "e/er ha) to +e -arrie)on a man5s +a-.# At (irst he ha) )is,i.e) the stron +itter sme,, it remin)e) himo( a +rea.(ast (oo) he 4as ma)e to eat as a -hi,) ' +*t he soon ot o/er that# No4he 4as *na4are that the0 sme,t at a,,6 an0 more than he 4as a4are that the reats4a,,o49tai,e) +*tter(,ies' 4hi-h -,*stere) at the 4ater5s e) e an) rose in reen-,o*)s ro*n) his 4aist' 4ere +ea*ti(*,# His senses 4ere )*,,e) an) re istere) /er0,itt,e e3-e t his +ore)om#

B*t the0 )i) re ister a )istin-t (ee,in o( re,ie( 4hen his ,ea)in -arrierointe) to a re-tan *,ar ho,e )* ;*st o(( the ath# Mr# "e/er *n)erstoo)#

Da/i)son ha) -ome this 4a0# He sto e) an) ,oo.e) at it# It 4as ,i.e a ra/e )*(or a sma,, man' +*t it 4ent )o4n )ee er than ra/es *s*a,,0 )o# A+o*t t4e,/e (eet+e,o4 there 4as +,a-. 4ater' an) a (e4 4oo)en ro s 4hi-h he,) the si)es (roms,i in 4ere +e innin to rot6 the ho,e m*st ha/e +een )* sin-e the rains# It)i)n5t seem eno* h' that ho,e' to ha/e +ro* ht o*t Mr# "e/er 4ith his ,ans an)estimates (or a ne4 -r*sher# He 4as *se) to +i in)*stria, -on-erns' the si ht o(

ithea)s' the smo.e o( -himne0s' the )in 0 ro4s o( -otta es +a-. to +a-.' the,eather arm-hair in the o((i-e' the oo) -i ar' the masoni- han) ri s' an) a ainit seeme) to him' as it ha) seeme) in Mr# "*-as5s o((i-e' that he ha) (a,,en /er0,o4# It 4as as i( he 4ere e3 e-te) to )o +*siness +esi)e a ho,e a -hi,) ha) )* inan o/er ro4n an) a+an)one) +a-. ar)en6 er-enta es 4i,te) in the hot )am air# Heshoo. his hea)6 he m*stn5t +e )is-o*ra e)6 this 4as an o,) ho,e# Da/i)son ha)

ro+a+,0 )one +etter sin-e# It 4as on,0 -ommon sense to s* ose that the o,) ri(t4hi-h 4as mine) at one en) in Ni eria' at the other in Sierra "eone' 4o*,) assthro* h the re *+,i-# E/en the +i est mines ha) to +e in 4ith a ho,e in the

ro*n)# The -om an0 he ha) ta,.e) to the )ire-tors in Br*sse,s 4ere


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53/98

ha i,0 an) s*--ess(*,,0 4ith his (e,,o4s' +*t Mr# "e/er 4asn5t ha 0 an) he4asn5t s*--ess(*,' an) his on,0 (e,,o4 in the ,itt,e st*((0 tent 4o*,)n5t +etro*+,e) +0 ntr*th in A)/ertisin or +0 Mr# "e/er -o/etin his nei h+o*r5s o3en#Yo* -o*,)n5t .ee 0o*r i)eas inta-t 4hen 0o* )is-o/ere) their eo ra hi-a, nat*re#The So,emnit0 o( Death: )eath 4asn5t so,emn6 it 4as a ,emon90e,,o4 s.in an) a+,a-. /omit# Honest0 is the Best Po,i-0: he sa4


54/98

The Hint o( an E3 ,anation

A ,on train ;o*rne0 on a ,ate De-em+er e/enin ' in this ne4 /ersion o( ea-e' isa )rear0 e3 erien-e# I s* ose that m0 (e,,o4 tra/e,,er an) I -o*,) -onsi)ero*rse,/es ,*-.0 to ha/e a -om artment to o*rse,/es' e/en tho* h the heatina arat*s 4as not 4or.in ' e/en tho* h the ,i hts 4ent o*t entire,0 in the(re


55/98

I re eate) his ,ast 4or)s as a


56/98

me#7I thin. he ha) a arti-*,ar hatre) o( m0 (ather99I )on5t .no4 4h0# M0

(ather 4as mana er o( the Mi),an) Ban.' an) it5s ossi+,e that at some timeB,a-.er ma0 ha/e ha) *nsatis(a-tor0 )ea,in s 4ith the +an.6 m0 (ather 4as a /er0-a*tio*s man 4ho s*((ere) a,, his ,i(e (rom an3iet0 a+o*t mone099his o4n an) other

eo ,e5s# I( I tr0 an) i-t*re B,a-.er no4 I see him 4a,.in a,on a narro4inath +et4een hi h 4in)o4,ess 4a,,s' an) at the en) o( the ath stan)s a sma,, +o0

o( ten99me# I )on5t .no4 4hether it5s a s0m+o,i- i-t*re or the memor0 o( one o(o*r en-o*nters99o*r en-o*nters someho4 ot more an) more (re


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58/98

a(ternoon# P*t it in an en/e,o e an) ost it me# Mon)a0 mornin the train 4i,, +e)e,i/ere) +ri ht an) ear,0#5

7 5Not tomorro4'5 I im ,ore) him#7 5I5m not intereste) in an0 other S*n)a0'5 he sai)# 5It5s 0o*r on,0

-han-e#5 He shoo. me ent,0 +a-.4ar)s an) (or4ar)s# 5It 4i,, a,4a0s ha/e to +e ase-ret +et4een 0o* an) me'5 he sai)# 5%h0' i( an0one .ne4 the05) ta.e a4a0 thetrain an) there5) +e me to re-.on 4ith# I5) +,ee) 0o* somethin a4(*,# Yo* .no4ho4 I5m a,4a0s a+o*t on S*n)a0 4a,.s# Yo* -an5t a/oi) a man ,i.e me# I -ro * #Yo* 4o*,)n5t e/er +e sa(e in 0o*r o4n ho*se# I .no4 4a0s to et into ho*ses 4hen

eo ,e are as,ee #5 He *,,e) me into the sho a(ter him an) o ene) a )ra4er# Inthe )ra4er 4as an o)) ,oo.in .e0 an) a -*tthroat ra8or# He sai)' 5That5s a master.e0 that o ens a,, ,o-.s an) that99that5s 4hat I +,ee) eo ,e 4ith#5 Then he

atte) m0 -hee. 4ith his ,*m (,o*r0 (in ers an) sai)' 5For et it# Yo* an) me are(rien)s#5

7That S*n)a0 Mass sta0s in m0 hea)' e/er0 )etai, o( it' as tho* h it ha)ha ene) on,0 a 4ee. a o# From the moment o( the Con(ession to the moment o(Conse-ration it ha) a terri+,e im ortan-e6 on,0 one other Mass has e/er +een soim ortant to me99 erha s not e/en one' (or this 4as a so,itar0 Mass 4hi-h 4o*,)ne/er ha en a ain# It seeme) as (ina, as the ,ast Sa-rament 4hen the riest +ent)o4n an) *t the 4a(er in m0 mo*th 4here I .ne,t +e(ore the a,tar 4ith m0 (e,,o4ser/er#

7I s* ose I ha) ma)e * m0 min) to -ommit this a4(*, a-t99(or' 0o* .no4' to*s it m*st a,4a0s seem an a4(*, a-t99(rom the moment 4hen I sa4 B,a-.er 4at-hin(rom the +a-. o( the -h*r-h# He ha) *t on his +est +,a-. S*n)a0 -,othes an)' astho* h he -o*,) ne/er


59/98

o-.et the ,itt,e s-re4 o( ne4s a er +ro* ht


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,anne)#77An) the hints'7 I sai)# 7I )on5t


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mother .no4in ' an) he 4as 4e,, eno* h then99on,0 a ,itt,e s,ee 0 an) tire)#The o,) /i3en 4as at it a ain# 7He5s +een as.in (or 0o*'7 she shri,,e) at

me#7I( he5s as i,, as 0o* ma.e o*t'7 I sai)' 7it 4o*,) +e +etter (or him to as.

(or a )o-tor#77Do-tor5s there' +*t he -an5t )o an0thin #7 That start,e) me (or a moment'

I5,, a)mit it' *nti, I tho* ht' 7The o,) )e/i,5s ma,in erin # He5s ot some ,anor other#7 He 4as


62/98

I5) hear) ,ent0 o( -ases ,i.e that' an) I sa4 no reason 4h0 he sho*,) 4antto te,, me a+o*t it# An) then I tho* ht I sa4 his oint# His mother ha) not +eentoo an3io*s on-e +e(ore to see i( he 4ere ro er,0 )ea)' tho* h I ha) ,itt,e )o*+tthat she ma)e a reat sho4 o( rie(997M0 oor +o0# I )on5t .no4 4hat I sha,, )o4itho*t him#7 An) I5m -ertain that she +e,ie/e) herse,( then' as she +e,ie/e)herse,( no4# She 4asn5t a m*r)eress# She 4as on,0 in-,ine) to +e remat*re#

7"oo. here' o,) man'7 I sai)' an) I ro e) him a ,itt,e hi her on hisi,,o4' 70o* nee)n5t +e (ri htene)# Yo* aren5t oin to )ie' an) an04a0 I5) see

that the )o-tor -*t a /ein or somethin +e(ore the0 mo/e) 0o*# B*t that5s a,,mor+i) st*((# %h0' I5) sta.e m0 shirt that 0o*5/e ot ,ent0 more 0ears in (ronto( 0o*# An) ,ent0 more ir,s too'7 I a))e) to ma.e him smi,e#

7Can5t 0o* -*t o*t a,, that=7 he sai)' an) I .ne4 then that he ha) t*rne)re,i io*s# 7%h0'7 he sai)' 7i( I ,i/e)' I 4o*,)n5t to*-h another ir,# I 4o*,)n5t'not one#7

I trie) not to smi,e at that' +*t it 4asn5t eas0 to .ee a strai ht (a-e#There5s a,4a0s somethin a +it (*nn0 a+o*t a si-. man5s mora,s# 7An04a0'7 I sai)'70o* nee)n5t +e (ri htene)#7

7It5s not that'7 he sai)# 7O,) man' 4hen I -ame ro*n) that other time' Itho* ht that I5) +een )ea)# It 4asn5t ,i.e s,ee at a,,# Or rest in ea-e# There4as someone there' a,, ro*n) me' 4ho .ne4 e/er0thin # E/er0 ir, I5) e/er ha)#E/en that 0o*n one 4ho ha)n5t *n)erstoo)# It 4as +e(ore 0o*r time# She ,i/e) ami,e )o4n the roa)' 4here Ra-he, ,i/es no4' +*t she an) her (ami,0 4ent a4a0a(ter4ar)s# E/en the mone0 I5) ta.en (rom mother# I )on5t -a,, that stea,in # It5sin the (ami,0# I ne/er ha) a -han-e to e3 ,ain# E/en the tho* hts I5) ha)# A man-an5t he, his tho* hts#7

7A ni htmare'7 I sai)#7Yes' it m*st ha/e +een a )ream' m*stn5t it= The sort o( )ream eo ,e )o et

4hen the0 are i,,# An) I sa4 4hat 4as -omin to me too# I -an5t +ear +ein h*rt#It 4asn5t (air# An) I 4ante) to (aint an) I -o*,)n5t' +e-a*se I 4as )ea)#7

7In the )ream'7 I sai)# His (ear ma)e me ner/o*s# 7In the )ream'7 I sai)a ain#

7Yes' it m*st ha/e +een a )ream99m*stn5t it=99+e-a*se I 4o.e * # The -*rio*sthin 4as I (e,t


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sa/e a )a0# I5,, (,0#7 I near,0 s o.e to him then# The se,(ishness o( the man# Forthat )a0 4hi-h he tho* ht he 4as sa/in mi ht +e his )es air 0ears ,ater' +*t it4as m0 )es air at the instant# For I ha) +een ,oo.in (or4ar) to the ,on train;o*rne0 in the same -om artment# It 4as 4inter' an) the train 4o*,) +e near,0em t0' an) 4ith the ,east ,*-. 4e sho*,) +e a,one to ether# I ha) ,anne)e/er0thin # I 4as oin to ta,. to him# Be-a*se I .ne4 nothin a+o*t him' I sho*,)+e in in the *s*a, 4a0 +0 as.in 4hether he min)e) the 4in)o4 +ein raise) a,itt,e or a ,itt,e ,o4ere)# That 4o*,) sho4 him that 4e s o.e the same ,an *a ean) he 4o*,) ro+a+,0 +e on,0 too rea)0 to ta,.' (ee,in himse,( in a (orei n-o*ntr06 he 4o*,) +e rate(*, (or an0 he, I mi ht +e a+,e to i/e him'trans,atin this or that 4or)#

O( -o*rse I ne/er +e,ie/e) that ta,. 4o*,) +e eno* h# I sho*,) ,earn a reat)ea, a+o*t him' +*t I +e,ie/e) that I sho*,) ha/e to .i,, him +e(ore I .ne4 a,,# Isho*,) ha/e .i,,e) him' I thin.' at ni ht' +et4een the t4o stations 4hi-h are the(arthest arte)' a(ter the -*stoms ha) e3amine) o*r ,* a e an) o*r ass orts ha)+een stam e) at the (rontier' an) 4e ha) *,,e) )o4n the +,in)s an) t*rne) o*t the,i ht# I ha) e/en ,anne) 4hat to )o 4ith his +o)0' 4ith the +o4,er hat an) the*m+re,,a an) the +ro4n ,o/es' +*t on,0 i( it +e-ame ne-essar0' on,0 i( in noother 4a0 he 4o*,) 0ie,) 4hat I 4ante)# I am a ent,e -reat*re' not easi,0 ro*se)#

B*t no4 he ha) -hosen to o +0 aero ,ane an) there 4as nothin that I -o*,))o# I (o,,o4e) him' o( -o*rse' sat in the seat +ehin)' 4at-he) his trem*,o*snessat his (irst (,i ht' ho4 he a/oi)e) (or a ,on 4hi,e the si ht o( the sea +e,o4'ho4 he .e t his +o4,er hat * on his .nees' ho4 he as e) a ,itt,e 4hen the re04in ti,te) * ,i.e the arm o( a 4in)mi,, to the s.0 an) the ho*ses 4ere set one) e# There 4ere times' I +e,ie/e' 4hen he re rette) ha/in sa/e) a )a0#

%e ot o*t o( the aero ,ane to ether an) he ha) a sma,, tro*+,e 4ith the-*stoms# I trans,ate) (or him# He ,oo.e) at me -*rio*s,0 an) sai)' 7Than. 0o*76 he4as99a ain I s* est that I .no4 4hen a,, I mean is I ass*me +0 his manner an) his-on/ersation99st* i) an) oo)9nat*re)' +*t I +e,ie/e (or a moment he s*s e-te) me'tho* ht he ha) seen me some4here' in a t*+e' in a +*s' in a *+,i- +ath' +e,o4 therai,4a0 +ri) e' on ho4 man0 stair4a0s# I as.e) him the time# He sai)' 7%e *t o*r-,o-.s +a-. an ho*r here'7 an) +eame) 4ith an a+s*r) ,eas*re +e-a*se he ha) sa/e)an ho*r as 4e,, as a )a0#

I ha) a )rin. 4ith him' se/era, )rin.s 4ith him# He 4as a+s*r),0 rate(*,(or m0 he, # I ha) +eer 4ith him at one ,a-e' in at another' an) at a thir) heinsiste) on m0 sharin a +ott,e o( 4ine# %e +e-ame (or the time +ein (rien)s# I(e,t more 4arm,0 to4ar)s him than to4ar)s an0 other man I ha/e .no4n' (or' ,i.e,o/e +et4een a man an) a 4oman' m0 a((e-tion 4as art,0 -*riosit0# I to,) him thatI 4as Ro+inson6 he meant to i/e me a -ar)' +*t 4hi,e he 4as ,oo.in (or one he)ran. another ,ass o( 4ine an) (or ot a+o*t it# %e 4ere +oth a ,itt,e )r*n.#Present,0 I +e an to -a,, him Fotherin a0# He ne/er -ontra)i-te) me an) it ma0ha/e +een his name' +*t I seem to remem+er a,so -a,,in him Do* ,as' %a,es an)Can+0 4itho*t -orre-tion# He 4as /er0 enero*s an) I (o*n) it eas0 to ta,. 4ithhim6 the st* i) are o(ten -om aniona+,e# I to,) him that I 4as )es erate an) heo((ere) me mone0# He -o*,) not *n)erstan) 4hat I 4ante)#

I sai)' 7Yo*5/e sa/e) a )a0# Yo* -an a((or) to -ome 4ith me toni ht to a,a-e I .no4#7

He sai)' 7I ha/e to ta.e a train toni ht#7 He to,) me the name o( the to4nan) he 4as not s*r rise) 4hen I to,) him that I 4as -omin too#%e )ran. to ether a,, that e/enin an) 4ent to the station to ether# I 4as

,annin ' i( it +e-ame ne-essar0' to .i,, him# I tho* ht in a,, (rien),iness thaterha s a(ter a,, I mi ht sa/e him (rom ha/in sa/e) a )a0# B*t it 4as a sma,,

,o-a, train6 it -re t (rom station to station' an) at e/er0 station eo ,e ot o*to( the train an) other eo ,e ot into the train# He insiste) on tra/e,,in thir)-,ass an) the -arria e 4as ne/er em t0# He -o*,) not s ea. a 4or) o( the ,an *a ean) he sim ,0 -*r,e) * in his -orner an) s,e t6 it 4as I 4ho remaine) a4a.e an)ha) to ,isten to the 4ear0 ain(*, ossi ' a ser/ant s ea.in o( her mistress' a

easant 4oman o( the )a05s mar.et' a so,)ier o( the Ch*r-h' an) a man 4ho' I


65/98

+e,ie/e' 4as a tai,or o( a)*,ter0' 4ire4orms an) the har/est o( three 0ears a o#It 4as t4o o5-,o-. in the mornin 4hen 4e rea-he) the en) o( o*r ;o*rne0# I

4a,.e) 4ith him to the ho*se 4here his (rien)s ,i/e)# It 4as


66/98

4orms an) )isso,*tion# n)er the ro*n) the 4or,) 4as ,ittere) 4ith masses o( )ea)(,esh rea)0 to rise a ain 4ith their 4arts an) +oi,s an) er* tions# He ha) ,ain in+e) an) remem+ere)as 7ti)in s o( reat ;o0799that the +o)0 a(ter a,, 4as -orr* t#

He -ame * into the E) 4are Roa) 4a,.in (ast99the G*ar)smen 4ere o*t in-o* ,es' reat ,an *i) e,on ate) +easts99the +o)ies ,i.e 4orms in their ti httro*sers# He hate) them' an) hate) his hatre) +e-a*se he .ne4 4hat it 4as' en/0#He 4as a4are that e/er0 one o( them ha) a +etter +o)0 than himse,(: in)i estion-rease) his stoma-h: he (e,t s*re that his +reath 4as (o*,99+*t 4ho -o*,) he as.=Sometimes he se-ret,0 to*-he) himse,( here an) there 4ith s-ent: it 4as one o( his* ,iest se-rets# %h0 sho*,) he +e as.e) to +e,ie/e in the res*rre-tion o( this+o)0 he 4ante) to (or et= Sometimes he ra0e) at ni ht a hint o( re,i io*s +e,ie(4as ,o) e) in his +reast ,i.e a 4orm in a n*t that his +o)0 at an0 rate sho*,)ne/er rise a ain#

He .ne4 a,, the si)e streets ro*n) the E) 4are Roa) on,0 too 4e,,: 4hen amoo) 4as on' he sim ,0 4a,.e) *nti, he tire)' s


67/98

7M*r)ere)=7 the /oi-e as.e) 4ith a .een interest#7I )on5t thin. so# Sta++e) herse,(#7No+o)0 sai) 7H*sh7: no+o)0 4as eno* h intereste) to o+;e-t to a /oi-e: the0

)roo e) amon the em t0 -hairs in attit*)es o( 4ear0 inattention#The (i,m 4asn5t near,0 o/er 0et: there 4ere -hi,)ren someho4 to +e

-onsi)ere): 4as it a,, oin on to a se-on) eneration= B*t the sma,, +ear)e) manin the ne3t seat seeme) to +e intereste) on,0 in Pom i,ia5s )eath# The (a-t thathe ha) -ome in at that moment a arent,0 (as-inate) him# Cra/en hear) the 4or)7-oin-i)en-e7 t4i-e' an) he 4ent on ta,.in to himse,( a+o*t it in ,o4 o*t9o(+reath tones# 7A+s*r) 4hen 0o* -ome to thin. o( it'7 an) then 7no +,oo) at a,,#7Cra/en )i)n5t ,isten: he sat 4ith his han)s -,as e) +et4een his .nees' (a-in the(a-t as he ha) (a-e) it so o(ten +e(ore' that he 4as in )an er o( oin ma)# Heha) to *,, himse,( * ' ta.e a ho,i)a0' see a )o-tor Go) .ne4 4hat in(e-tionmo/e) in his /eins # He +e-ame a4are that his +ear)e) nei h+o*r ha) a))resse) him)ire-t,0# 7%hat=7 he as.e) im atient,0' 74hat )i) 0o* sa0=7

7There 4o*,) +e more +,oo) than 0o* -an ima ine#77%hat are 0o* ta,.in a+o*t=7%hen the man s o.e to him' he s ra0e) him 4ith )am +reath# There 4as a

,itt,e +*++,e in his s ee-h ,i.e an im e)iment# He sai)' 7%hen 0o* m*r)er a man9977This 4as a 4oman'7 Cra/en sai) im atient,0#7That 4o*,)n5t ma.e an0 )i((eren-e#77An) it5s ot nothin to )o 4ith m*r)er an04a0#77That )oesn5t si ni(0#7 The0 seeme) to ha/e ot into an a+s*r) an)

meanin ,ess 4ran ,e in the )ar.#7I .no4' 0o* see'7 the ,itt,e +ear)e) man sai) in a tone o( enormo*s

-on-eit#7&no4 4hat=77A+o*t s*-h thin s'7 he sai) 4ith *ar)e) am+i *it0#Cra/en t*rne) an) trie) to see him -,ear,0# %as he ma)= %as this a 4arnin

o( 4hat he mi ht +e-ome9 +a++,in in-om rehensi+,0 to stran ers in -inemas=He tho* ht' B0 Go)' no' tr0in to see: I5,, +e sane 0et# I 4i,, +e sane# He -o*,)ma.e o*t nothin +*t a sma,, +,a-. h*m o( +o)0# The man 4as ta,.in to himse,(a ain# He sai)' 7Ta,.# S*-h ta,.# The05,, sa0 it 4as a,, (or (i(t0 o*n)s# B*tthat5s a ,ie# Reasons an) reasons# The0 a,4a0s ta.e the (irst reason# Ne/er ,oo.+ehin)# Thirt0 0ears o( reasons# S*-h sim ,etons'7 he a))e) a ain in that tone o(+reath,ess an) *n+o*n)e) -on-eit# So this 4as ma)ness# So ,on as he -o*,) rea,i8ethat' he m*st +e sane himse,(99re,ati/e,0 s ea.in # Not so sane erha s as the!e4s in the ar. or the G*ar)smen in the E) 4are Roa)' +*t saner than this# It 4as,i.e a messa e o( en-o*ra ement as the iano tin.,e) on#

Then a ain the ,itt,e man t*rne) an) s ra0e) him# 7&i,,e) herse,(' 0o* sa0=B*t 4ho5s to .no4 that= It5s not a mere


68/98


69/98

in North4oo) Street# The -,o-. ha) ;*st str*-. t4o in the mornin #Mrs# Sa,mon in 1@ North4oo) Street ha) +een *na+,e to s,ee 6 she hear) a

)oor -,i-. sh*t an) tho* ht it 4as her o4n ate# So she 4ent to the 4in)o4 an) sa4A)ams that 4as his name on the ste s o( Mrs# Par.er5s ho*se# He ha) ;*st -omeo*t an) he 4as 4earin ,o/es# He ha) a hammer in his han) an) she sa4 him )ro itinto the ,a*re, +*shes +0 the (ront ate# B*t +e(ore he mo/e) a4a0' he ha) ,oo.e)* 99at her 4in)o4# The (ata, instin-t that te,,s a man 4hen he is 4at-he) e3 ose)him in the ,i ht o( a street9,am to her a8e99his e0es s*((*se) 4ith horri(0inan) +r*ta, (ear' ,i.e an anima,5s 4hen 0o* raise a 4hi # I ta,.e) a(ter4ar)s toMrs# Sa,mon' 4ho nat*ra,,0 a(ter the astonishin /er)i-t 4ent in (ear herse,(# AsI ima ine )i) a,, the 4itnesses99Henr0 Ma-Do* a,,' 4ho ha) +een )ri/in home (romBen(,eet ,ate an) near,0 ran A)ams )o4n at the -orner o( North4oo) Street# A)ams4as 4a,.in in the mi)),e o( the roa) ,oo.in )a8e)# An) o,) Mr# %hee,er' 4ho,i/e) ne3t )oor to Mrs# Par.er' at No #12' an) 4as 4a.ene) +0 a noise99,i.e a-hair (a,,in 99thro* h the thin9as9 a er /i,,a 4a,,' an) ot * an) ,oo.e) o*t o(the 4in)o4' ;*st as Mrs# Sa,mon ha) )one' sa4 A)ams5s +a-. an)' as he t*rne)'those +*, in e0es# In "a*re, A/en*e he ha) +een seen +0 0et another 4itness99his,*-. 4as +a),0 o*t6 he mi ht as 4e,, ha/e -ommitte) the -rime in +roa) )a0,i ht#

7I *n)erstan)'7 -o*nse, sai)' 7that the )e(en-e ro oses to ,ea) mista.eni)entit0# A)ams5s 4i(e 4i,, te,, 0o* that he 4as 4ith her at t4o in the mornin onFe+r*ar0 1 ' +*t a(ter 0o* ha/e hear) the 4itnesses (or the Cro4n an) e3amine)-are(*,,0 the (eat*res o( the risoner' I )o not thin. 0o* 4i,, +e re are) toa)mit the ossi+i,it0 o( a mista.e#7

It 4as a,, o/er' 0o* 4o*,) ha/e sai)' +*t the han in #A(ter the (orma, e/i)en-e ha) +een i/en +0 the o,i-eman 4ho ha) (o*n) the

+o)0 an) the s*r eon 4ho e3amine) it' Mrs# Sa,mon 4as -a,,e)# She 4as the i)ea,4itness' 4ith her s,i ht S-ot-h a--ent

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24765936 Greene Graham 21 Stories