cw.blackalibi-第23节

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　　They　became　acquainted　by　leaps　and　bounds。　He　began　to　smile　more　and　more　often。　The　smiles　became　grins。　The　grins　became　gusts　of　hearty　laughter。　Once　or　twice　he　glanced　behind　him；　in　remembered　caution。
　　〃Don't　you　think　the　music　is　a　little　too　loud　out　here？〃　he　suggested　finally。　Since　he　had　just　e　from　where　it　was　actually　playing；　he　seemed　to　have　developed　unusual　sensitivity　all　at　once。　But　then　maybe　in　there　there　hadn't　been　anybody　he　considered　worth　listening　to。
　　Clo…Clo　had　no　fault　to　find　with　this　point。　〃Yes　it　is；　it　makes　it　hard　to　hear　what　one　is　saying；〃　she　agreed。
　　〃Barman；　is　there　some　other　place　around　here　where　we　can　get　further　away　from　the　music；　be　a　little　more　secluded？〃
　　〃There　is　a　little　private　room；　looking　out　on　the　rear　terrace；　if　the　seсor　and　lady　would　like　to　try　that。　Straight　back　at　the　end　of　the　corridor　there。〃
　　〃Send　in　another　bottle；　and　something　to　eat。〃　Then；　as　an　afterthought；　he　came　back　a　step；　leaned　toward　the　barman　confidentially。　〃Anc　in　case　anyone　happens　to　be　looking　for　me；　I　have　gone　out　to　get　a　breath　of　air　for　a　minute。〃　He　put　something　in　his　hand。　〃　That　way。〃　He　pointed　in　the　opposite　direction　to　the　one。　they　were　about　to　take。
　　
　　
　　〃Hit　me　on　the　back　again；〃　he　pleaded　in　a　strangled　voice。　〃I　can't　help　it；　I　laugh　until　my　throat　closes　up…〃　The　rest　of　it　was　lost　in　an　exhausted　cough。　He　continued　to　shake；　wiping　the　excess　water　from　his　eyes。
　　Clo…Clo　jumped　up　from　the　table　alarmedly；　ran　around　behind　him。　〃You　should　rest　for　five　minutes。〃　Thump。　〃You'll　kill　yourself。〃　Thump。　〃Isn't　there　something　sad　we　can　talk　about；　just　until　you　get　over　this？〃
　　He　continued　to　shake。　〃We　tried　that；〃　he　said　weakly。　〃That　was　what　we　were　supposed　to　be　doing　this　time。　But　even　when　you　try　to　tell　something　sad；　it　es　out　funny。　Harder　than　that；　there　must　be　a　piece　of　chicken　lodged　there。〃
　　〃Wait　a　minute；　I'll　pour　a　little　cold　champagne　down　the　back　of　your　neck。　The　shock　may　dislodge　it。　Like　with　hiccups。　Do　you　mind？〃
　　He　waved　a　hand　in　helpless　permission。　〃Go　ahead。　I　don't　care　what　you　do　to　me。　If　I　die　here　in　this　chair；　it's　been　worth　it…〃
　　〃I'll　get　up　high；〃　the　helpful　Clo…Clo　said。　〃So　it'll　give　a　little　splash。〃　She　pulled　her　own　chair　around　to　the　rear　of　his；　stood　up　on　it；　and　tilted　a　champagne　bottle　with　both　hands。　〃Now　get　ready；　here　it　es…〃
　　The　door　was　flung　open　without　the　preliminary　of　any　knock；　and　what　can　best　be　described　as　a　gasp　of　virtuous　outrage　entered　and　swirled　about　the　room　like　a　current　of　chill　air。　Its　producer　remained　posed　accusingly　at　the　threshold　without　ing　forward。　It　was　the　same　priggish　young　man　with　the　needle…pointed　mustaches　whom　Clo…Clo　had　glimpsed　earlier　in　the　bar　alcove。
　　They　were　both　staring　at　him　by　indirection；　in　a　wall　mirror　opposite　that　gave　them　back　his　reflection；　ing　from　behind　them。
　　Clo…Clo's　supper　panion　murmured　ruefully　for　her　private　benefit；　〃That　was　the　shock　I　needed。　It　went　down　by　itself。〃
　　She　regained　the　floor　with　a　lithe　bound；　returned　the　bottle　of　christening　champagne　to　its　bucket。
　　No　one　had　said　anything　yet；　at　least　not　for　general　inclusion。
　　The　dinner…jacketed　sphinx　in　the　open　doorway　finally　broke　the　ice。　He　said　a　single　word：　〃　Papa！　〃
　　The　older　man　in　the　chair　waved　his　hand　disgustedly；　without　turning　to　look　at　him。　〃Please　close　the　door。　I'll　be　right　out。〃
　　〃I'll　wait　for　you　in　the　foyer。　You　came　here　with　us；　please　remember　that！〃
　　Clo…Clo's　host　mumbled　something　indistinct　that　sounded　like；　〃Try　and　forget　it！〃　The　door　closed。
　　Clo…Clo　gasped；　〃Not　your　son！　Why　you　hardly　look…〃
　　He　sighed；　shrugged；　clapped　his　sides　frustratedly　as　he　rose　to　his　feet。　〃It　is　having　sons　like　him　that　makes　one　old；〃　he　plained　half　under　his　breath。
　　Then　his　expression　changed；　he　smiled　at　her；　wistfully；　almost　tenderly。　He　took　her　hand　between　both　of　his；　carried　it　to　his　lips。　〃Never　mind；　we　had　some　fun；　didn't　we？　I'll　have　to　go　now。　I　don't　know　whether　we'll　ever　meet　again。　We　live　outside　of　town；　and　I'll　never　hear　the　end　of　this。　But；　little　Clo…Clo；　you're　a　lovely　girl。　You've　made　me　feel　young　again　for　an　hour　or　two。　Like　I　used　to　be　years　ago。　You've　made　me　feel　happy　with　your　laughter　and　your　little　ways。　Let　me　do　something　for　you。　You　deserve　it。　That　sour…pussed　daughter…in…law　of　mine　gets　enough　of　it　as　it　is。〃
　　〃Not　so　much；　seсor！〃　For　probably　the　first　time　in　her　life　the　protest　was　genuine；　almost　alarmed。
　　He'd　given　her　a　hundred　and　fifty　pesos；　out　of　a　wallet　that　must　have　held　close　to　a　thousand。
　　〃Take　it；　take　it；〃　he　said。　He　folded　her　fingers　persuasively　back　upon　it；　patted　her　hand　reassuringly。　〃Anyone　that　calls　you　bad；　they　must　be　blind；〃　he　said　with　low…voiced　sincerity。　〃To　make　others　happy；　what　better　claim　to　goodness　is　there　than　that？〃
　　She　looked　down；　abashed　for　a　moment。　She　was　used　to　all　sorts　of　pliments；　but　not　to　having　her　sanctity　praised。
　　He　gave　a　little　smile　of　mischievous　approval。
　　〃That's　right；　put　it　down　where　they　won't　get　at　it；　don't　let　them　take　it　from　you；　hang　Onto　it。〃　And　then；　almost　as　though　some　premonition　were　assailing　him；　he　urged：　〃Be　careful；　little　Clo…Clo。　I　know　I've　got　champagne　in　me；　but…　Don't　let　anything　happen　to　you。　Your　way　of　life　is　so　dangerous　at　times。　I　am　a　man　that　would　not　hurt　you。　But　there　are　others…　Go　home；　now　that　I've　given　you　this。　Don't　stay　out　any　more　tonight。〃
　　〃I　won't；〃　she　promised　fervently；　hands　pressed　tight　to　her　bosom　where　the　money　now　rested。　〃Believe　me；　I　won't！〃
　　Something　about　her　must　be　still　getting　at　him。　He　even　made　a　move　toward　removing　a　large　diamond　ring　on　his　little　finger。　Then　he　changed　his　mind　regretfully。　〃Those　two　vultures　would　miss　it　the　first　thing；　and　only　make　trouble　for　you。〃
　　The　door　was　flung　open　again　at　this　point。　The　younger　man　was　even　sorer　than　before。　〃Papa！　The　car　is　waiting。　I've　told　Elena　you've　been　suffering　from　an　upset　stomach。　How　much　longer　do　you　think　I　can　keep　her　from　finding　out　about　this…this　situation　I've　found　you　in？〃
　　〃I'm　ing！〃　Clo…Clo's　late　host　thundered　infuriatedly。　〃I'm　ing；　you　damn　kill…joy！〃
　　He　turned　and　went　out　after　him。　Even　so；　his　last　thought　was　of　Clo…Clo。　As　he　closed　the　door　lingeringly　after　him；　he　repeated　what　he'd　said　before；　in　a　poignant　murmur　of　farewell。　〃Don't　let　anything　happen　to　you；　little　Clo…Clo。　Take　care　of　yourself。〃
　　She　got　up　and　waltzed　around　the　room；　holding　skirt　aloft　at　waist　level　and　revealing　a　sector　of　abbreviated　pink　hip　trunk。　A　chair　went　over　at　her　spinning　passage　and　she　let　it　lie。　She　snatched　up　one　of　their　partially　filled　glasses　and　drained　it　on　the　wing；　put　it　back　again　the　next　time　she　came　around。　Then　the　second　one。　Then　she　stopped　whirling　and　attended　to　the　bottle　remaining　in　the　ice　bucket。　This　was　not　dipsomania　on　her　part；　it　was　thrift　pure　and　simple。　It　was　a　shame　to　waste　good　champagne　that　had　already　been　paid　for。
　　She　was　standing　there　with　her　back　to　the　ceiling…high　terrace　windows；　alternating　gulps　of　champagne　and　bites　of　chicken　sandwich；　when　something　upaccountably　made　her　turn　her　head。　The　drapes　had　been　drawn　closed　over　the　window；　for　privacy；　by　the　waiter　when　they　first　came　in。　There　was　a　gap；　however；　midway　down　the　long　intersection　where　they　had　fallen　partly　open　again。　A　feeling　of　being　looked　at　through　it　came　over　her。　It　was　so　strong　she　even　went　over　toward　it　and　tried　to　peer　through。　There　wasn't　anything　or　anyone　out　there。　Just　the　canalized　light　gleam　cast　on　the　terrace　flooring　by　the　room　lights　in　here　escaping　through。
　　She　came　out　of　the　room　a　few　minutes　later；　munching　the　last　of　the　chicken。　The　barman；　wiping　a　glass；　said　jeeringly　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth　as　she　passed；　〃Left　flat；　eh？〃
　　She　thumbed　her　nose　at　him　in　a　long；　lingering　farewell　insult；　that　lasted　from　the　third　bar　stool　all　the　way　out　to　the　porte…cochere；　turning　her　head　slowly　in　time　with　it　as　she　did　so。
　　And　now　to　go　home。　She　was　whistling　softly　under　her　breath　as　the　pinkish…amber　glow　of　the　Tabarin's　lights　faded　out　behind　her。　There　were　stars　overhead；　and　the　night　felt　cool　and　good。　And　the　hundred　fifty　pesos　at　her　bosom　felt　even　better。　She　snapped　her　thumbnail　at　the　fluted　iron　post　of　a　street　lamp　as　she　passed　it；　just　for　luck。　It　hummed　hollowly　for　several　moments　after；　like　a　muted　organ　note。
　　She　was　passing　through　tortuous；　cobbled　San　Rafael　Street　a　few　minutes　later；　when　a　church　bell　somewhere　near　by　tolled　the　hour。　She　counted　the　strokes　as　they　lowered　out　above　her　in　the　night　stillness；　each　one　seeming　to　hang　vibrantly　suspended　until　the　next　had　e　along　to　displace　it。
　　Three　already。　She　shivered　defensively；　quickened　her　step　a　little。　The　Deathwatch　was　begining。　The　Blue　Hours。　Time　to　get　in；　pull　walls　around　you。　She　quitted　the　sliver　of　sidewalk；　took　th