Chapter 5

           TheverandaofthecentralbuildingwasilluminatedfromopenFrenchwindows,savewheretheblackshadowsofstriplingwallsandthefantasticshadowsofironchairsslithereddownintoagladiolabed.FromthefiguresthatshuffledbetweentheroomsMissWarrenemergedfirstinglimpsesandthensharplywhenshesawhim;asshecrossedthethresholdherfacecaughttheroom’slastlightandbroughtitoutsidewithher.Shewalkedtoarhythm—allthatweektherehadbeensinginginherears,summersongsofardentskiesandwildshade,andwithhisarrivalthesinginghadbecomesoloudshecouldhavejoinedinwithit.

           "Howdoyoudo,Captain,"shesaid,unfasteninghereyesfromhiswithdifficulty,asthoughtheyhadbecomeentangled."Shallwesitouthere?"Shestoodstill,herglancemovingaboutforamoment."It’ssummerpractically."

           Awomanhadfollowedherout,adumpywomaninashawl,andNicolepresentedDick:"Señora—"

           FranzexcusedhimselfandDickgroupedthreechairstogether.

           "Thelovelynight,"theSeñorasaid.

           "Muybella,"agreedNicole;thentoDick,"Areyouhereforalongtime?"

           "I’minZurichforalongtime,ifthat’swhatyoumean."

           "Thisisreallythefirstnightofrealspring,"theSeñorasuggested.

           "Tostay?"

           "AtleasttillJuly."

           "I’mleavinginJune."

           "Juneisalovelymonthhere,"theSeñoracommented."YoushouldstayforJuneandthenleaveinJulywhenitgetsreallytoohot."

           "You’regoingwhere?"DickaskedNicole.