Луна и грош

Chapter XXIII

           "

           "Tryit,andwe’llsee,"Iretorted.

           Asmileflickeredinhiseyes,andhestirredhisabsintheinsilence.

           "Wouldyouliketoplaychess?"Iasked.

           "Idon’tmind."

           Wesetupthepieces,andwhentheboardwasreadyheconsidereditwithacomfortableeye.Thereisasenseofsatisfactioninlookingatyourmenallreadyforthefray.

           "DidyoureallythinkI’dlendyoumoney?"Iasked.

           "Ididn’tseewhyyoushouldn’t."

           "Yousurpriseme."

           "Why?"

           "It’sdisappointingtofindthatatheartyouaresentimental.Ishouldhavelikedyoubetterifyouhadn’tmadethatingenuousappealtomysympathies."

           "Ishouldhavedespisedyouifyou’dbeenmovedbyit,"heanswered.

           "That’sbetter,"Ilaughed.

           Webegantoplay.Wewerebothabsorbedinthegame.WhenitwasfinishedIsaidtohim:

           "Lookhere,ifyou’rehardup,letmeseeyourpictures.Ifthere’sanythingIlikeI’llbuyit."

           "Gotohell,"heanswered.

           Hegotupandwasabouttogoaway.Istoppedhim.

           "Youhaven’tpaidforyourabsinthe,"Isaid,smiling.

           Hecursedme,flungdownthemoneyandleft.

           Ididnotseehimforseveraldaysafterthat,butoneevening,whenIwassittinginthecafe,readingapaper,hecameupandsatbesideme.

           "Youhaven’thangedyourselfafterall,"Iremarked.

           "No.I’vegotacommission.I’mpaintingtheportraitofaretiredplumberfortwohundredfrancs."

           "Howdidyoumanagethat?"

           "ThewomanwhereIgetmybreadrecommendedme.He’dtoldherhewaslookingoutforsomeonetopainthim.I’vegottogivehertwentyfrancs."

           "What’shelike?"

           "Splendid.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 104 из 284