第11部分(第4/8 頁)

oked　at　the　elderly　nurse。

〃For　Christ's　sweet　sake　take　me　to　some　room。〃　The　pain　had　gone　on　and　on　with　the　legs　bent　and　I　could　feel　it　going　in　and　out　of　the　bone。　The　porter　went　in　the　door；　followed　by　the　grayhaired　woman；　then　came　hurrying　back。　〃Follow　me；〃　he　said。　They　carried　me　down　a　long　hallway　and　into　a　room　with　drawn　blinds。　It　smelled　of　new　furniture。　There　was　a　bed　and　a　big　wardrobe　with　a　mirror。　They　laid　me　down　on　the　bed。

〃I　can't　put　on　sheets；〃　the　woman　said。　〃The　sheets　are　locked　up。〃

I　did　not　speak　to　her。　〃There　is　money　in　my　pocket；〃　I　said　to　the　porter。　〃In　the　buttoned…down　pocket。〃　The　porter　took　out　the　money。　The　two　stretcher…bearers　stood　beside　the　bed　holding　their　caps。　〃Give　them　five　lire　apiece　and　five　lire　for　yourself。　My　papers　are　in　the　other　pocket。　You　may　give　them　to　the　nurse。〃

The　stretcher…bearers　saluted　and　said　thank　you。　〃Good…by；〃　I　said。　〃And　many　thanks。〃　They　saluted　again　and　went　out。

〃Those　papers；〃　I　said　to　the　nurse；　〃describe　my　case　and　the　treatment　already　given。〃

The　woman　picked　them　up　and　looked　at　them　through　her　glasses。　There　were　three　papers　and　they　were　folded。　〃I　don't　know　what　to　do；〃　she　said。　〃I　can't　read　Italian。　I　can't　do　anything　without　the　doctor's　orders。〃　She　menced　to　cry　and　put　the　papers　in　her　apron　pocket。　〃Are　you　an　American？〃　she　asked　crying。

〃Yes。　Please　put　the　papers　on　the　table　by　the　bed。〃