cw.blackalibi-第24部分

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　sentimental　type；　the　worst　kind。　The　more　sentimental　they　got；　the　less　they　seemed　to　spend。　This　one；　perhaps　more　perspicacious　than　she　gave　him　credit　for　being　and　sensing　something　within　her　beneath　the　scabby　outer　shell；　wanted　her　to　e　back　to　the　ship　with　him；　wanted　to　marry　her　and　take　her　to　someplace　called　Copenhague　and　settle　down　with　her　there　on　a　dairy　farm　that　he　would　buy。
　　This　was　sheer　nonsense　as　far　as　Clo…Clo　was　concerned。　A　peso　slipped　into　one's　hand　at　leave…taking；　as　a　little　gesture　of　gratitude　for　one's　time　and　entertainment　efforts；　was　worth　a　dozen　offers　of　marriage　in　Copen；　whatever　it　was。
　　She　was　sitting　perched　there　on　one　of　the　tall　bar　stools　alongside　him；　hair　a　short…cropped　black　chrysanthemum　mop；　in　a　pert　bang　above　the　eyes。　Her　attitude　was　a　clever　synchronization　of　absorption　and　vacuity；　the　former　assumed；　the　latter　real。　She　was　sitting　sidewise；　with　her　face　toward　him；　the　point　of　her　elbow　to　the　bar　and　the　back　of　her　head　balanced　in　her　outspread　hand。　She　sidled　one　leg　unnoticeably　off　the　rung　of　the　stool；　felt　for　the　floor　with　it；　and　poised　it　toe　down；　having　decided　to　break　this　off　short　without　wasting　any　more　time　about　it。
　　〃And　you'd　like　it；　I　know　you　would。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　Clo…Clo　said　readily。　〃Where'd　you　say　it　was　again？〃
　　〃Copenhague。　I　told　you　three　times。〃
　　Clo…Clo　was　having　trouble　with　this。　She　knew　the　names　of　most　of　the　principal　countries；　Eng　land；　France；　Spain；　like　that。　You　picked　them　up　around　town。　It　was　either　a　country　she　had　never　heard　of；　or　it　was　an　utter　lie。　She　decided　it　was　an　utter　lie；　since　there　couldn't　be　many　more　countries　than　England；　France；　Spain。　It　was　time　to　get　going。　The　shows　would　be　out　soon。　Her　second　leg　shifted　down　and　lined　up　against　the　first。　There　was　only　one　more　thing　that　had　to　leave　the　chair　now。
　　He　noticed　finally　that　her　entire　figure　was　about　to　leave　him；　just　as　her　attention　already　had　some　time　before。　He　thought　it　was　because　his　hospitality　was　remiss。　He　looked　a　little　huit；　stopped　offering　her　his　heart　and　soul。　He　called　the　barman　over。　〃Another　for　the　lady。〃　He'd　already　told　her　he　didn't　like　to　see　her　drink。　He'd　already　started　in　trying　to　change　her　around。
　　〃No；　I've　got　to　go；〃　Clo…Clo　said。　She　was　off　the　stool　now；　and　he　couldn't　get　her　back。　Every　move　in　these　breakaways　had　to　be　carried　out　craftily　like　that；　to　acplish　them　successfully。　Now　if　he　reached　for　her　to　hold　her；　she'd　just　have　to　step　quickly　backwards。　〃I've　got　a　date。〃
　　〃But　this　is　one　now　you're　having　with　me。〃
　　〃Sure；　but　I've　already　had　it；　it's　over　now。　So　long。〃
　　〃But　I　want　you　to　marry　me。〃
　　〃Day　after　tomorrow。〃
　　She　was　two　stools　away　now。　The　barman　cut　in　sidewise　toward　her；　said　in　a　rebuking　undertone；　〃What's　your　hurry？　He's　buying　good　and　steady；　what　do　you　want　to　break　it　up　for？〃
　　〃Give　me　my　mission；〃　she　said　out　of　the　corner　of　her　mouth。　〃e　on；　or　I'll　tell　him　you　insulted　me。　And　you　know　what　that'll　mean；　the　mirror　behind　you；　all　the　glasses　on　the　shelves…〃
　　〃You　little　bandit；〃　he　said　bitterly。　Their　hands　touched　briefly　across　the　top　of　the　bar。
　　〃I　can　go　to　Robles'　just　as　well；　I　don't　have　to　e　in　here。　You're　not　losing　money　on　me。〃
　　Her　late　host　tried　to　reach　her　with　a　persua。　sive　sweep　of　his　arm。　She　knew　enough　to　stay　back　beyond　reach　of　it。　〃e　here　a　minute；　Clo…Clo。　Little　Clo…Clo；　don't　leave　me　like　this。　We　were　just　beginning　to　get　along　so　well。〃
　　〃I　know；　but　time's　up　now。〃
　　He　wavered　toward　the　entrance　after　her；　both　arms　out。　〃I　wanted　you　to　marry　me。　I　wanted　to　take　you　out　of　this。〃　He　seemed　undecided　for　a　minute　whether　to　cry　maudlinly　or　fly　into　a　rage。
　　She　got　out　over　the　threshold　backwards。　〃Keep　him　in　there；　Manuel。〃
　　Manuel　just　gave　her　a　dirty　look；　for　cutting　short　what　had　been　a　profitable　session。
　　Her　recent　escort　stood　there　in　the　lighted　entrance；　looking　out　after　her。　〃You're　a　fine　one；〃　he　called　resentfully。
　　〃You　better　go　back　to　your　ship；　mister；　and　get　some　sleep。　Marry　the　girl　in　the　next　port　you　e　to；　instead。　After　all；　we're　all　alike。〃
　　She　moved　on　down　the　narrow；　crooked；　poorly　lighted　street；　swinging　her　bag　jauntily　at　her　side；　a　long…legged　dryad　in　a　tight　black　satin　skirt。　She　glanced　back　once　and　he　was　leaning　up　against　the　side　of　the　door；　with　his　face　burrowed　into　the　right　angle　of　his　upthrust　arm；　crying　because　he'd　lost　her；　after　looking　for　her　half　around　the　world。　Probably　it　was　just　the　alcohol　alone。　How　could　you　tell　when　it　was　real　and　when　it　wasn't；　anyway；　this　love　stuff？
　　〃Maybe　I　should've　at　that；〃　she　dismissed　him　with　an　unconcerned　shrug。　〃Who　knows；　maybe　if　I　could　see　ahead；　I'd　be　sorry　that　I　didn't。〃
　　Around　the　very　next　corner　a　sudden　confrontation　occurred。　He　stopped　short；　came　back　to　her。　〃Oh；　it's　you；　is　it？〃
　　〃Have　we　met　before？〃　Clo…Clo　asked　with　polite　uncertainty。
　　〃Have　we　met　before！〃　he　scowled。　〃You　were　ing　back　in　five　minutes；　and　I　sat　up　there　alone　waiting　for　you　all　the　rest　of　the　night；　like　a　fool！　The　whole　hotel　staff　was　laughing　at　me　behind　their　hands；　when　I　had　to　walk　out　in　front　of　them　by　myself　the　next　morning！〃
　　Clo…Clo　shoveled　her　hands　ingenuously　toward　him。　〃I　couldn't　find　the　room　again；　when　I　tried　to　get　back　to　you。　There　were　so　many　halls　and　turns；　I　got　lost。　Was　it　my　fault？〃
　　〃You　know　what　you　are？　You're　a　cheat。　A　false　alarm。〃
　　She　touched　the　underside　of　his　chin　lightly　with　one　finger。　〃Don't　be　sore。　Look　at　all　the　fun　you'd　already　had　out　of　me　by　then；　anyway。　You　told　me　so　yourself。　You　shouldn't　be　a　hog。〃
　　〃I　wasn't　out　for　fun；〃　he　let　her　know　aggrievedly。　He　reached。　〃C'mere；　you。　I've　got　something　ing　to　me。〃
　　Clo…Clo　did　the　back…step　again。　〃No　you　haven't；〃　she　laughed。　〃That　was　then；　this　is　now。　No　long…term　credit　extended。〃　She　shifted　around　to　the　opposite　side　of　an　octagonal　advertisement　kiosk；　saw　to　it　that　it　stayed　between　them。
　　〃C'mere；　or　I'll　e　over　there　and　get　you。　You're　ing　with　me　if　I　have　to　drag　you　by　the　back　of　the　neck。〃
　　She　just　laughed；　flirted　her　handbag　out　toward　him　at　the　end　of　its　strap。
　　He　saw　that　threatening　wouldn't　work；　he　tried　bribery。　〃C'mere；　he　coaxed；　〃I'll　buy　you　a　drink。〃
　　She　made　a　face　at　him。　〃I've　just　had　a　drink。〃　Return　engagements；　she　knew　by　long　experience；　were　no　good。　Never　any　good。　Not　with　her；　anyway。　There　was　always　a　redoubled　vigilance　on　the　part　of　the　investor；　remembering　how　he　had　been　given　the　slip　the　first　time；　and　she　found　it　twice　as　hard　to　get　away。　Fool　them　once　and　then　stay　away　from　them　was　the　best　policy。
　　He　held　out　both　hands　toward　her；　appealingly。　〃Ah；　e　on；　won't　you？　I　like　you。　I　can't　help　it；　moma；　there's　something　about　you　that's　gotten　to　me。　You're　so　hard　to　pin　down。　First　you're　here；　and　then　you're　not　here。〃
　　〃Isn't　it　the　truth；　though？〃　she　laughed。　〃And　now　take　a　good　look；　I'm　not　here。〃
　　She　glanced　back　once；　a　wholly　precautionary　measure　to　make　sure　that　he　wouldn't　rush　after　her　and　try　to　take　her　by　surprise；　and　he　was　still　standing　there　forlornly　where　she'd　left　him；　in　the　middle　of　the　sidewalk。　Looking　after　her　sort　of　wistfully；　as　though　hoping　she'd　change　her　mind。　She　really　must　have　made　an　impression　on　him；　she　reflected　indifferently。　As　for　her；　she　already　couldn't　have　told　what　he'd　looked　like　very　precisely；　although　she'd　just　left　him。
　　She　took　a　look　into　the　Select　from　the　outside　first。　It　was　a　little　bit　slow　tonight　in　there；　for　some　reason；　so　she　decided　on　the　Tabarin　instead。　It　always　paid　to　reconnoiter　first。　After　all；　even　the　best　of　places　had　its　off…nights；　and　once　you'd　sunk　your　own　twenty　centavos　into　a　grenadine；　you　couldn't　get　it　back　again。
　　The　Tabarin　was　brimming　over。　She　retouched　herself　at　a　mirror　panel　in　the　lobby　and　went　sauntering　in。
　　You　couldn't　demand　a　cut　in　these　swell　places。　You　had　to　be　glad　if　they'd