interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第10节
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on Henri was to find that lack of self and sex consciousness one of the
maddening mysteries about Sara Lee。 Perhaps he never quite understood it。
But always he respected it。
More conversation； in an increasing staccato。 Short contributions from
the men crowded into corners。 Frenzied beating of the typewriting
machines； and overhead and far away the band。 There was no air in the
room。 Sara Lee was to find out a great deal later on about the contempt of
the Belgians for air。 She loosened Aunt Harriet's neckpiece。 So far Henri
had not joined in the discussion。 But now he came forward and spoke。
Also； having finished； he interpreted to Sara Lee。
〃They are most grateful；〃 he explained。 〃It is a … a practical idea；
mademoiselle。 If you were in Belgium 〃 … he smiled rather mirthlessly …〃 if
you were already in the very small part of Belgium remaining to us； we
could place you very usefully。 But … the British War Office is most careful；
just now。 You understand … there are reasons。〃
Sara Lee flushed indignantly。
〃They can watch me if they want to；〃 she said。 〃What trouble can I
make？ I've only just landed。 You … you'd have to go a good ways to find
any one who knows less than I do about the war。〃
〃There is no doubt of that；〃 he said； unconscious of offense。 〃But the
War Office … 〃 He held out his hands。
Sara Lee； who had already caught the British 〃a〃 and was rather
overdoing it； had a wild impulse to make the same gesture。 It meant so
much。
More conversation。 Evidently more difficulties … but with Henri now
holding the center of the stage and speaking rapidly。 The heavy…set man
retired and read letters under an electric lamp。 The band upstairs was
having dinner。 And Henri argued and wrangled。 He was quite passionate。
The man in the military cape listened and smiled。 And at last he nodded。
Henri turned to Sara Lee。
〃You Americans are all brave；〃 he said。 〃You like … what is it you say？
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
… taking a chance； I think。 Would you care to take such a chance？〃
〃What sort of a chance？〃
〃May I visit you this evening at your hotel？〃
Just for an instant Sara Lee hesitated。 There was Harvey at home。 He
would not like her receiving a call from any man。 And Harvey did not like
foreigners。 He always said they had no respect for women。 It struck her
suddenly what Harvey would call Henri's bowing and his kissing her hand；
and his passionate gesticulations when he was excited。 He would call it all
tomfool nonsense。
And she recalled his final words； his arms so close about her that she
could hardly breathe； his voice husky with emotion。
〃Just let me hear of any of those foreigners bothering you；〃 he said；
〃and I'll go over and wipe out the whole damned nation。〃
It had not sounded funny then。 It was not funny now。
〃Please come；〃 said Sara Lee in a small voice。
The other gentlemen bowed profoundly。 Sara Lee； rather at a loss；
gave them a friendly smile that included them all。 And then she and Henri
were walking up the stairs and to the entrance； Henri's tall figure the target
for many women's eyes。 He； however； saw no one but Sara Lee。
Henri； too； called a taxicab。 Every one in London seemed to ride in
taxis。 And he bent over her hand； once she was in the car； but he did not
kiss it。
〃It is very kind of you； what you are doing；〃 he said。 〃But； then； you
Americans are all kind。 And wonderful。〃
Back at Morley's Hotel Sara Lee had a short conversation with
Harvey's picture。
〃You are entirely wrong； dear；〃 she said。 She was brushing her hair at
the time； and it is rather a pity that it was a profile picture and that
Harvey's pictured eyes were looking off into space … that is； a piece of
white canvas on a frame； used by photographers to reflect the light into the
eyes。 For Sara Lee with her hair down was even lovelier than with it up。
〃You were wrong。 They are different； but they are kind and polite。 And
very； very respectful。 And he is coming on business。〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
She intended at first to make no change in her frock。 After all； it was
not a social call； and if she did not dress it would put things on the right
footing。
But slipping along the corridor after her bath； clad in a kimono and
slippers and extremely nervous； she encountered a young woman on her
way to dinner； and she was dressed in that combination of street skirt and
evening blouse that some Englishwomen from the outlying districts still
affect。 And Sara Lee thereupon decided to dress。 She called in the elderly
maid； who was already her slave； and together they went over her clothes。
It was the maid； perhaps； then who brought into Sara Lee's life the
strange and mad infatuation for her that was gradually to become a
dominant issue in the next few months。 For the maid chose a white dress； a
soft and young affair in which Sara Lee looked like the heart of a rose。
〃I always like to see a young lady in white； miss；〃 said the maid。
〃Especially when there's a healthy skin。〃
So Sara Lee ate her dinner alone； such a dinner as a healthy skin and
body demanded。 And she watched tall young Englishwomen with fine
shoulders go out with English officers in khaki； and listened to a babel of
high English voices； and … felt extremely alone and very subdued。
Henri came rather late。 It was one of the things she was to learn about
him later … that he was frequently late It was only long afterward that she
realized that such time as he spent with her was gained only at the cost of
almost superhuman effort。 But that was when she knew Henri's story； and
his work。 She waited for him in the reception room； where a man and a
woman were having coffee and talking in a strange tongue。 Henri found
her there； at something before nine； rather downcast and worried； and
debating about going up to bed。 She looked up； to find him bowing before
her。
〃I thought you were not coming；〃 she said。
〃I？ Not come？ But I had said that I would come； mademoiselle。 I may
sit down？〃
Sara Lee moved over on the velvet sofa； and Henri lowered his long
body onto it。 Lowered his voice； too； for the man and woman were staring
… Page 41…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
at him。
〃I'm afraid I didn't quite understand about this afternoon；〃 began Sara
Lee。 〃You spoke about taking a chance。 I am not afraid of danger； if that is
what you mean。〃
〃That； and a little more； mademoiselle；〃 said Henri。 〃But now that I
am here I do not know。
His eyes were keen。 Sara Lee had suddenly a strange feeling that he
was watching the couple who talked over their coffee； and that； oddly
enough； the couple were watching him。 Yet he was apparently giving his
undivided attention to her。
〃Have you walked any to…day？〃 he asked her unexpectedly。
Sara Lee remembered the bus； and； with some bitterness； the two taxis。
〃I haven't had a chance to walk；〃 she said。
〃But you should walk；〃 he said。 〃I … will you walk with me？ Just about
the square； for air？〃 And in a lower tone： 〃It is not necessary that those
two should know the plan； mademoiselle。〃
〃I'll get my coat and hat；〃 Sara Lee said； and proceeded to do so in a
brisk and businesslike fashion。 When she came down Henri was emerging
from the telephone booth。 His face was impassive。 And again when in time
Sara Lee was to know Henri's face better than she had ever known
Harvey's； she was to learn that the masklike look he sometimes wore
meant danger … for somebody。
They went out without further speech into the clear cold night。 Henri；
as if from custom； threw his head back and scanned the sky。 Then they
went on and crossed into the square。
〃The plan；〃 Henri began abruptly； 〃is this： You will be provided to…
morrow with a passport to Boulogne。 You will； if you agree； take the
midnight train for Folkestone。 At the railway station here you will be
searched。 At Folkestone a board； sitting
