He wasstanding behind a counter in his
shirtsleeves, folding up atravelling-rug.
I leapt forward and dashed through an
archway.
We called at the Forty Tables and made inquiries.
The pair of them started to whisper together again.
Weve only got travel goods here, he replied
sulkily. I rose and, leavingthem, strolled into the other bar to talk to
Flannery.
A wire, from which depended an electric light,
stretched across thenarrow street.
For astart, he said, age made no difference to
him.
We called at the Forty Tables and made inquiries.
George hesitated in the doorway for a moment gazing at my
unresponsiveback.
Ithought you had gone a bit wonky in the melon. If
he ever had any respect for his uncle, it fled that night. If you dont mind, George,
Ill walk in the middle, I said, steppingin between them. I happened to ask him why
he became engaged to Estelle when he was notyet twenty-one. The parrot scuffled
feverishly up and down the table.
Dont know Bill Flannerys Crown and
Anchor!
We were friendly again, but at what a
cost!
It beats me how they stood him as longas they did.
I felt a hand grasp at my coat as I leapt after him.
It seemed to be a lot farther up the stairs than it
had been comingdown. Haveyou got anything else that you could put into the
case?
As asensible man, you must admit that you only buy
a hat to cover yourhead. I slid down into my chair and smirked bitterly at my
finger-nails.
I finished lacing my boot and turned to him. Thats
all right then, he mumbled, sitting down again. You wouldnt call drinkin whisky a
diversion, wouldyou?
George hesitated in the doorway for a moment gazing
at my unresponsiveback.
I ask you, George, forthe last time, will you have
a mug of whisky? He was outside, on the roof of theveranda. George, despite his many
qualities, has one trait in his characterwhich I do not admire. Shut up, I
commanded, or youll be sent home. CHAPTER XXIIILate in the afternoon things were
very bad. I felt that it was a time when each man must act for himself. I pulled up
the blinds of the car and looked out. It struck the edge of theveranda on the
opposite side of the street.
Ill show youhow a man should live in the next few
days . The man seemed to think that he had discovered something entirely newin the
way of women. Best camel wool, hollow ground with side flapsand hot
stripes.
Thats not enough, he said, putting it in his
pocket.