第36部分(第3/9 頁)

〃Don't　ask　hard　ones；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　know　him　though……　very　bitter。〃

〃Very　bitter；〃　I　said。　〃Lots　of　nail　holes。〃

〃You　see　I'll　make　you　a　fine　wife；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I'll　be　able　to　talk　art　with　your　customers。〃

〃Here　he　es；〃　I　said。　The　thin　lieutenant　came　down　the　length　of　the　custom　house；　holding　our　passports。

〃I　will　have　to　send　you　into　Locarno；〃　he　said。　〃You　can　get　a　carriage　and　a　soldier　will　go　in　with　you。〃

〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃What　about　the　boat？〃

〃The　boat　is　confiscated。　What　have　you　in　those　bags？〃

He　went　all　through　the　two　bags　and　held　up　the　quarterbottle　of　brandy。　〃Would　you　join　me　in　a　drink？〃　I　asked。

〃No　thank　you。〃　He　straightened　up。　〃How　much　money　have　you？〃

〃Twenty…five　hundred　lire。〃

He　was　favorably　impressed。　〃How　much　has　your　cousin？〃

Catherine　had　a　little　over　twelve　hundred　lire。　The　lieutenant　was　pleased。　His　attitude　toward　us　became　less　haughty。

〃If　you　are　going　for　winter　sports；〃　he　said；　〃Wengen　is　the　place。　My　father　has　a　very　fine　hotel　at　Wengen。　It　is　open　all　the　time。〃

〃That's　splendid；〃　I　said。　〃Could　you　give　me　the　name？〃

〃I　will　write　it　on　a　card。〃　He　handed　me　the　card　very　politely。

〃The　soldier　will　take　you　into　Locarno。　He　will　keep　your　passports。　I　regret　this　but　it　is　necessary。　I　have　good　hopes　they　will　give　you　a　visa　or　a　police　permit　at　Locarno。〃

He　handed　the　two　passpor