cw.blackalibi-第30节

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hey　say　it's　beautiful；　all　colored　lanterns。　Let's　take　one　of　these　old…fashioned　carriages　they　have　around；　instead　of　a　taxi　for　a　change；　and　drive　out　there　and　back　in　the　moonlight。　The　taxis　here　smell　so　of　gasoline；　and　they　get　you　there　so　fast。　Yes；　that's　just　what　I　feel　like；〃　she　concluded；　〃a　slow；　easygoing；　old…style　carriage　ride　in　the　moonlight。〃
　　〃How　far　out　is　this　place？〃　Marjorie　asked　her。　〃Isn't　there　some　story　going　around　about　a　man…eating　something　or　other　that　got　away　from　some　zoo　or　animal　farm　and　is　supposed　to　pounce　on　you　in　lonely　places？　The　maid　that　does　the　room　was　jabbering　about　it　a　mile　a　minute　when　you　were　out　this　morning。　I　wasn't　able　to　get　the　story　very　straight；　I　only　caught　about　every　third　word；　you　know　how　fast　they　talk。〃
　　〃Oh；　that。　The　man　at　the　American　Express　told　me　not　to　listen　to　it；　there's　not　a　word　of　truth　in　it。　I'm　going　to　get　my　money's　worth　out　of　this　vacation；　and　no　hobgoblin　story　is　going　to　stop　me。〃
　　She　opened　the　door　and　stood　waiting　for　her　friend　to　pass　through。　〃Got　everything？　Don't　forget　to　bring　some　catnip　in　case　we　run　into　the　watchamacallit；〃　she　suggested　flippantly。
　　Marjorie　laughed　as　they　moved　toward　the　elevator。
　　Downstairs　in　the　lobby　she　said；　〃Let's　ask　and　find　out　at　the　desk。〃
　　The　clerk　bowed　graciously；　lowering　his　head　to　the　end　of　his　hair　part；　as　they　stepped　over。
　　〃We　understand　there's　an　outdoor　restaurant　in　the　big　park　outside　the　city。　Is　it　worth　taking　in？　My　friend　and　I　were　thinking　of　going　there。〃
　　His　answer　was　indirect。　〃Have　the　seсoritas　tried　the　Tabarin　or　Select？　I　am　sure　they　would…〃
　　〃But　those　are　just　night　clubs；　aren't　they？〃　Marjorie　objected。　〃We　have　night　clubs　up　home　too。　What　we're　looking　for　is　something　a　little　different；　something　more　atmospheric。〃
　　〃I　know　the　place　you　mean；〃　he　said　somewhat　reticently。　〃The　Madrid；　out　in　the　Bosque…〃
　　〃What's　the　matter　with　it？〃　Sally　cut　in　with　characteristic　bluntness。
　　〃Oh；　nothing；　nothing；〃　he　hastily　retracted。　〃It　is　just　that　it　is　leetle…how　you　say？…　lejano；　out　of　the　way；　far　out。　Are　the　sefloritas　going　unacpanied？　I　could　perhaps　arrange…〃
　　〃Oh　no；　we　don't　want　any　hired　escorts；〃　Sally　grimaced。　〃I　hate　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　　〃The　young　man　seems　doubtful；　for　some　reason　or　other；〃　Marjorie　smiled　uncertainly　at　her。
　　This　time　he　didn't　trouble　to　deny　it。
　　Sally　O'Keefe　reacted　as　Sally　O'Keefe　always　reacted。　Marjorie　had　known　she　would。　〃Well；　people　do　go　there　after　dark；　don't　they？〃　she　demanded　of　the　clerk。　And　at　his　nodding　admission；　she　plucked　her　friend　by　the　arm。　〃Then　we　are；　too！　Call　us　one　of　these　old…fashioned　carriages。〃　And　they　went　sailing　out　to　the　street　to　await　its　arrival。
　　Outside　Marjorie　laughed　knowingly。　〃He　was　doing　his　best　to　discourage　us；　did　you　get　it？　But　he　wouldn't　e　out　with　the　real　reason；　afraid　we'd　cut　short　our　stay；　I　suppose。　You　always　were　that　way；　let　anyone　try　to　talk　you　out　of　doing　anything；　and　you're　surer　than　ever　to　go　ahead　and　do　it。〃
　　〃Steam…roller　Sal；〃　grinned　the　smaller　girl　beside　her。　〃Here　it　is　now。〃
　　They　got　in；　settled　themselves　on　the　back　seat；　left　open　to　the　sky　with　the　hood　thrown　back。
　　〃What'd　he　say　it　was　called；　again？〃
　　Marjorie　gave　the　order　to　the　coachman　for　her。　〃The　Madrid。〃　He　turned　and　gave　them　a　glance　of　brief　curiosity；　then　flicked　his　whip　and　they　started　to　roll　down　the　street　with　velvety　smoothness。　Marjorie　had　noted　the　look　in　passing。　It　might　have　been　elicited　by　their　festive　attire　or　their　lack　of　male　escort；　but　she　was　inclined　to　think　not；　she　had　an　idea　it　was　their　destination　that　had　caused　it。
　　〃Was　I　right？〃　Sally　exulted。　〃Isn't　this　nice　for　a　change？〃
　　The　gait　of　the　vehicle　was　a　lot　more　even　and　lulling　than　a　car　would　have　been；　there　was　no　denying　that；　and　it　gave　them　a　much　better　chance　to　take　in　the　sights　around　them。　These　carriages；　although　no　longer　used　for　practical　purposes　during　the　daylight　hours；　were　far　from　being　broken…down　museum　pieces。　They　were　rubber…tired；　their　bodies　kept　in　gleaming　condition；　and　they　were　anything　but　an　unmon　sight　in　Ciudad　Real；　particularly　after　dark　and　on　Sunday　afternoons。
　　After　ten　or　fifteen　minutes　of　slow　coursing　through　the　vivacious；　brightly　lighted　streets；　they　came　out　finally　upon　a　large　glorieta；　or　rounded　open　space　of　pavement；　ringed　about　with　multiglobed　lampposts。　This　was　the　Puerta　Mayor；　one　of　the　city　〃gates；〃　although　it　had　neither　wall　nor　gate　to　show　for　it。　Facing　them　across　it　was　the　main　entrance　to　the　Bosque；　a　vast　natural　park　in　imitation　of　the　Bois　de　Boulogne　in　Paris；　mute　testimony　of　the　days　when　Paris　had　set　the　style　in　cities　as　well　as　in　women's　clothes。
　　The　main　driveway　of　the　Bosque；　when　they　entered　it；　was　filled　with　taxis；　roadsters；　and　sedans。　In　fact　the　stream　of　traffic　was　fully　as　heavy　as　on　some　of　the　city　thoroughfares　behind　them。
　　〃Now　what's　wrong　with　this？〃　Sally　queried　delightedly。　〃Do　you　see　anything　so　lonely　or　scary　about　this？　I'd　like　to　give　that　clerk　a　piece　of　my　mind！〃
　　〃It's　lonely　like　Times　Square　on　Election　Night；〃　admitted　Marjorie　with　a　chuckle。
　　〃What　a　night！〃　Sally　exulted。　She　lowered　the　bracketed　seat　opposite；　put　both　feet　up　on　it；　and　stared　overhead　and　rearward　at　a　pomegranate　of　a　moon　which　was　beginning　to　work　its　way　through　the　trees　into　open　sky。
　　Presently　innumerable　colored　lanterns；　like　toy　balloons　staked　low　above　the　ground　at　the　end　of　taut；　upright　strings；　began　to　peer　out　at　them　here　and　there。　The　carriage　made　a　turn　into　a　private　siding；　the　trees　thinned　off；　and　a　whole　vast　expanse　of　them；　like　a　flower　bed　dangling　upside　down；　burgeoned　into　view。　Beneath　was　a　sea　of　tables　in　the　open　air；　centering　around　a　pavilion；　open　at　the　sides；　containing　still　others。　And　all　alike；　inside　and　out；　were　filled　with　a　vivaciously　chattering；　typically　Latin　outdoor　crowd。　The　nostalgic　wail　of　a　tango　sounded　disembodiedly　on　the　night　air；　without　seeming　to　have　any　source；　and　you　could　tell　that　those　upright　under　the　pavilion　roof　in　a　small　pact　cluster　were　dancing；　and　not　just　standing　there　between　the　tables；　only　because　each　two　were　turned　to　face　one　another。
　　〃Now　this；〃　said　Sally；　when　they　had　finally　obtained　a　table　far　out　toward　the　perimeter；　〃is　what　I　really　call　something。　You　can　have　your　stuffy　city　night　clubs。　Look　at　that。〃　She　picked　up　a　leaf　that　had　fallen　to　the　cloth　from　above；　and　held　it　out　almost　reverently　for　Marjorie　to　see。
　　〃Sally；　the　hard…to…please；　the　chronic　plainer；〃　observed　Marjorie；　with　reverse　implication。
　　Sally　was　usually　good　pany　at　all　times；　pleasant　to　be　out　with；　that　was　why　they　had　made　the　trip　together　in　the　first　place。　Tonight　she　was　in　especially　fine　fettle。
　　〃Are　we　getting　looked　at！〃　she　reveled　presently；　not　in　the　least　disconcerted。　〃Very　dйclassйe；　I　suppose；　ing　out　alone　together　like　this。〃
　　〃You　know　it　isn't　that；〃　Marjorie　teased　her。　〃It's　probably　that　carrot　thatch　of　yours；　and　the　funny　little　phiz　that　goes　with　it。〃　She　undulated　her　wrist　watch　toward　her。　〃You're　beautiful；　my　dear。〃
　　Sally　squinted　at　one　of　the　lanterns。　〃I　must　owe　you　money；〃　she　said。　〃Trying　to　recall　if　I　do　or　not。　It's　the　only　way　I　can　account　for　it。　All　right；　you're　beautiful　too；　so　there。　I'm　beautiful；　you're　beautiful；　what　good　does　it　do　us？　Two　lonely　old　maids；　twenty…four　and　twentyfive；　all　by　themselves　in　the　middle　of　the　South　American　night。〃
　　〃You　shouldn't　have　said　that；〃　Marjorie　said　in　a　guarded　voice；　laughing　silently　down　her　chin。　〃Don't　look　up；　but　we're　about　to　be　accosted。〃
　　He　was　plete　even　down　to　white　kid　gloves。　He　bowed　low　between　them。　〃Would　one　of　the　sefloritas　care　to　do　me　the　honor　of　dancing？〃
　　The　corner　of　Sally's　mouth　was　twitching　in　spite　of　her　best　efforts　to　control　it。　Close　as　he　was；　she　managed　to　make　herself　audible　to　her　friend　without　appearing　to　say　anything。　〃Dare　me？〃　she　breathed。　〃Ow！　what　was　that　for？〃　she　exclaimed；　unabashed；　a　moment　later　as　the　point　of　her　friend's　toe　found　her　instep。
　　Marjorie　saw　that　she　would　have　to　answer　for　the　two　of　them。　〃No　thank　you；〃　she　said　with　what　gravity　she　could　muster。
　　〃Pardon；〃　the　canvasser　said　stiffly。　He　gave　another　bow　and　left　them。
　　〃You　hurt　the　poor　man's　feelings；〃　Marjorie　rebuked；　holding　her　napkin　to　the　side　of　her　own　mouth　to　keep　the　contagious　laughter　she　was　getting　from　the　other　girl　from　being　seen。
　　The　two　of　them　had　fallen　into　one　of　those　moods　of　giddy；　causeless　hilarity　that　at　times　sweep　over　two　women　alone；　they　were　laughing　at　nothing；　with　one　another；　at　one　another；　and　incited　by　one　another。
　　〃I　thought　you　were　feeling　so　romantic　tonight？〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Sally；　shaking　her　head；　〃but　I　don't　like　'em　with　shoeshines　on　the　hair。〃
　　This　brought　on　another　gale　of　risibility。
　　〃Have　they　a　union？　They'll　be　picketing　this