第19部分(第4/8 頁)

l；〃　Catherine　said。　We　were　past　it　now。　We　crossed　the　far　end　of　the　square　and　looked　back　at　the　cathedral。　It　was　fine　in　the　mist。　We　were　standing　in　front　of　the　leather　goods　shop。　There　were　riding　boots；　a　rucksack　and　ski　boots　in　the　window。　Each　article　was　set　apart　as　an　exhibit；　the　rucksack　in　the　centre；　the　riding　boots　on　one　side　and　the　ski　boots　on　the　other。　The　leather　was　dark　and　oiled　smooth　as　a　used　saddle。　The　electric　light　made　high　lights　on　the　dull　oiled　leather。

〃We'll　ski　some　time。〃

〃In　two　months　there　will　be　ski…ing　at　Mflrren；〃　Catherine　said。

〃Let's　go　there。〃

〃All　right；〃　she　said。　We　went　on　past　other　windows　and　turned　down　a　side　street。

〃I've　never　been　this　way。〃

〃This　is　the　way　I　go　to　the　hospital；〃　I　said。　It　was　a　narrow　street　and　we　kept　on　the　right…hand　side。　There　were　many　people　passing　in　the　fog。　There　were　shops　and　all　the　windows　were　lighted。　We　looked　in　a　window　at　a　pile　of　cheeses。　I　stopped　in　front　of　an　armorer's　shop。

〃e　in　a　minute。　I　have　to　buy　a　gun。〃

〃What　sort　of　gun？〃

〃A　pistol。〃　We　went　in　and　I　unbuttoned　my　belt　and　laid　it　with　the　emply　holster　on　the　counter。　Two　women　were　behind　the　counter。　The　women　brought　out　several　pistols。

〃It　must　fit　this；〃　I　said；　opening　the　holster。　It　was　a　gray　leather　holster　and　I　had　bought　it　second…hand　to　wear　in　the　town。

〃Have　they　good　pistols？〃　Catherine　asked。