The famous Paul, the concessionaire, had not arrived, but Claude, who was checking stock, broke off his work with no improper4 surprise to make Abe a pick-me-up. Abe sat on a bench against a wall. After two drinks he began to feel better — so much better that he mounted to the barber’s shop and was shaved. When he returned to the bar Paul had arrived — in his custom-built motor, from which he had disembarked correctly at the Boulevard des Capucines. Paul liked Abe and came over to talk.
“I was supposed to ship home this morning,” Abe said. “I mean yesterday morning, or whatever this is.”
“Why din5 you?” asked Paul.
Abe considered, and happened finally to a reason: “I was reading a serial6 in Liberty and the next installment7 was due here in Paris — so if I’d sailed I’d have missed it — then I never would have read it.”
“It must be a very good story.”
“It’s a terr-r-rible story.”
Paul arose chuckling8 and paused, leaning on the back of a chair:
“If you really want to get off, Mr. North, there are friends of yours going to-morrow on the France — Mister what is this name — and Slim Pearson. Mister — I’ll think of it — tall with a new beard.”
“Yardly,” Abe supplied.
“Mr. Yardly. They’re both going on the France.”
He was on his way to his duties but Abe tried to detain him: “If I didn’t have to go by way of Cherbourg. The baggage went that way.”
“Get your baggage in New York,” said Paul, receding9.
The logic10 of the suggestion fitted gradually into Abe’s pitch — he grew rather enthusiastic about being cared for, or rather of prolonging his state of irresponsibility.
Other clients had meanwhile drifted in to the bar: first came a huge Dane whom Abe had somewhere encountered. The Dane took a seat across the room, and Abe guessed he would be there all the day, drinking, lunching, talking or reading newspapers. He felt a desire to out-stay him. At eleven the college boys began to step in, stepping gingerly lest they tear one another bag from bag. It was about then he had the chasseur telephone to the Divers11; by the time he was in touch with them he was in touch also with other friends — and his hunch12 was to put them all on different phones at once — the result was somewhat general. From time to time his mind reverted13 to the fact that he ought to go over and get Freeman out of jail, but he shook off all facts as parts of the nightmare.
By one o’clock the bar was jammed; amidst the consequent mixture of voices the staff of waiters functioned, pinning down their clients to the facts of drink and money.
“That makes two stingers . . . and one more . . . two martinis and one . . . nothing for you, Mr. Quarterly . . . that makes three rounds. That makes seventy-five francs, Mr. Quarterly. Mr. Schaeffer said he had this — you had the last . . . I can only do what you say . . . thanks vera-much.”
In the confusion Abe had lost his seat; now he stood gently swaying and talking to some of the people with whom he had involved himself. A terrier ran a leash14 around his legs but Abe managed to extricate15 himself without upsetting and became the recipient16 of profuse17 apologies. Presently he was invited to lunch, but declined. It was almost Briglith, he explained, and there was something he had to do at Briglith. A little later, with the exquisite18 manners of the alcoholic19 that are like the manners of a prisoner or a family servant, he said good-by to an acquaintance, and turning around discovered that the bar’s great moment was over as precipitately20 as it had begun.
Across from him the Dane and his companions had ordered luncheon21. Abe did likewise but scarcely touched it. Afterwards, he just sat, happy to live in the past. The drink made past happy things contemporary with the present, as if they were still going on, contemporary even with the future as if they were about to happen again.
At four the chasseur approached him:
“You wish to see a colored fellow of the name Jules Peterson?”
“God! How did he find me?”
“I didn’t tell him you were present.”
“Who did?” Abe fell over his glasses but recovered himself.
“Says he’s already been around to all the American bars and hotels.”
“Tell him I’m not here —” As the chasseur turned away Abe asked: “Can he come in here?”
“I’ll find out.”
Receiving the question Paul glanced over his shoulder; he shook his head, then seeing Abe he came over.
“I’m sorry; I can’t allow it.”
Abe got himself up with an effort and went out to the Rue22 Cambon.
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收听单词发音
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1
sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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2
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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3
throngs
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| n.人群( throng的名词复数 )v.成群，挤满( throng的第三人称单数 ) | |
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4
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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5
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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6
serial
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| n.连本影片，连本电视节目；adj.连续的 | |
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7
installment
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| n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期 | |
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8
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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9
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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10
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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11
divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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12
hunch
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| n.预感，直觉 | |
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13
reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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14
leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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15
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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16
recipient
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| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
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17
profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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18
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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19
alcoholic
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| adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者 | |
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20
precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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21
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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22
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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