Зима тревоги нашей

           Theycouldalwaysraiseamoralreasonfordoingwhattheywantedtodoanyway.Shewasgladshehadturnedhimdown.Itlefthimstillinthebook.

           Shegatheredthefourfive-dollarbillsJoeyhadgivenherandmovedtowardthegraybanker,butatthatmomentthemanshehadseentalkingtoEthancameinquietly,passedinfrontofher,presentedacard,andwastakenintoMr.Baker’sofficeandthedoorclosed.

           "Well,kissmyfoot,"shesaidtoJoey.

           "PrettiestfootinWessexCounty,"Joeysaid."Wanttogoouttonight?Dance,eat,allthat?"

           "Can’t,"shesaid."Whoisthat?"

           "Neversawhimbefore.Lookslikeabank-examinertype.It’stimeslikethisI’mgladI’mhonestandevengladderIcanaddandsubtract."

           "Youknow,Joey,you’regoingtomakesomefaithfulwomanahellofafinefugitive."

           "Thatismyprayerfulhope,ma’am."

           "Seeyou."

           Shewentout,crossedthealley,andenteredMarullo’sgroceryagain.

           "Hi,Eth."

           "Hello,Margie."

           "Whowasthehandsomestranger?"

           "Don’tyoucarryyourcrystalball?"

           "Secretagent?"

           "Worsethanthat.Margie,iseverybodyafraidofcops?EvenifIhaven’tdoneanythingI’mscaredofcops."

           "Wasthatcurly-hairedpieceofthetruecrossadick?"

           "Notexactly.Saidhewasafederalman."

           "Whatyoubeenupto,Ethan?"

           "Upto?Me?Why‘upto’?"

           "Whatdidhewant?"

           "IonlyknowwhatheaskedbutIdon’tknowwhathewanted."