第22部分(第2/9 頁)

nd　and　my　war　brother。〃

〃When　do　the　war　brothers　eat？〃　I　asked。

〃Right　away。　We'll　drink　once　more　for　your　liver's　sake。〃

〃Like　Saint　Paul。〃

〃You　are　inaccurate。　That　was　wine　and　the　stomach。　Take　a　little　wine　for　your　stomach's　sake。〃

〃Whatever　you　have　in　the　bottle；〃　I　said。　〃For　any　sake　you　mention。〃

〃To　your　girl；〃　Rinaldi　said。　He　held　out　his　glass。

〃All　right。〃

〃I'll　never　say　a　dirty　thing　about　her。〃

〃Don't　strain　yourself。〃

He　drank　off　the　cognac。　〃I　am　pure；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　like　you；　baby。　I　will　get　an　English　girl　too。　As　a　matter　of　fact　I　knew　your　girl　first　but　she　was　a　little　tall　for　me。　A　tall　girl　for　a　sister；〃　he　quoted。

〃You　have　a　lovely　pure　mind；〃　I　said。

〃Haven't　I？　That's　why　they　call　me　Rinaldo　Purissimo。〃

〃Rinaldo　Sporchissimo。〃

〃e　on；　baby；　we'll　go　down　to　eat　while　my　mind　is　still　pure。〃

I　washed；　bed　my　hair　and　we　went　down　the　stairs。　Rinaldi　was　a　little　drunk。　In　the　room　where　we　ate；　the　meal　was　not　quite　ready。

〃I'll　go　get　the　bottle；〃　Rinaldi　said。　He　went　off　up　the　stairs。　I　sat　at　the　table　and　he　came　back　with　the　bottle　and　poured　us　each　a　half　tumbler　of　cognac。

〃Too　much；〃　I　said　and　held　up　the　glass　and　sighted　at　the　lamp　on　the　table。

〃Not　for　an　empty　stomach。　It　is　a　wonderful　thing。　It　burns　out　the　stomach　pletely。　Nothing　is　worse　for　you。〃

〃All　right。〃

〃Self…destruc