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He is drunk, hedoes not know what he is doing; he really must go home now.
He
is drunk, hedoes not know what he is doing; he really must go home now. Oh,
Frank, for Gods sake get in the car; youre making a damnedfool of
yourself!
Hell see it through now tothe bitter end.
Suddenly he knew that Ann
and Elinor were behind them. Youre drunk; get in the taxi; were going home. And
in her silent and competent way she set to work. Elinor spoke quietly,
pleasantly to the Frenchman. He staggered to the door and flung it
open,screaming: Alec! I think we ought to takehim back to Paris now.
It was
almost dark when they entered the town. Sheturned to Ann and said quietly: Did
you finish in there?
Oh, Frank, quit talking like a drunken idiot! Eugene ran
after him, seized him by the armand, together, they fell or reeled to the
bottom.
Paris, in fact, had this morning become a brilliant, lovely,flashing
toy.
We are brothers, we must tell each othereverything. He groaned feebly and
staggered to his feet.
At these unhappy tidings, Starwick groaned miserably
again. Sorry, precious, she said in a light and cheerful tone, as hardas
granite, but its too late now!
He sankinto a stupor of exhaustion, from which
they could not rouse him.
That was a hideous and unforgettable journey. But,
said the young Frenchman again, drolly, and with a slightshrug of his shoulder,
not at all!
He groaned feebly and staggered to his feet.
It was after nine
oclock before they got up to go. The bitter penetration of raw cold struck
through the fogand pierced them like a nail. He is drunk, hedoes not know what
he is doing; he really must go home now. Francis, she said sternly, pull
yourself together now and getup! The days atmorn, the hour draws close, its
almost time. Remember, dear,were starting out for Rheims at nine oclock. Oh,
its all right, she said shortly, yet with a kind oftenderness.
A little cold
wateracross your head and shoulders would do you no end of good.
And now, she
said cheerfully, to awake the SleepingBeauty from his nap. He scrambled for the
door like a frightened cat, stammering:Mais oui . As for Starwick, heseemed on
the verge of collapse all the time.
You knew hecouldnt make it; hes dead on his
feet. I am glad, said the Frenchman politely, with another almostimperceptible
movement of the shoulders.
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