Театр

           Puttingoutallthelightsexcepttheonejustbehindherheadshebegantoread.Presentlytherewasaknockatthedoor.

           "Yes?"

           "I’msorrytodisturbyou.Ileftmytoothbrushinthelavabo.MayIgetit?"

           "I’minbed."

           "Ican’tgotosleepunlessIbrushmyteeth."

           "Ohwell,he’scleananyway."

           WithalittleshrugofhershouldersJuliaslippedherhandtothedooranddrewbackthebolt.Itwouldbestupidinthecircumstancestobeprudish.Hecamein,wentintothelavatoryandinamomentcameout,brandishingatoothbrush.Shehadnoticeditwhenshebrushedherownteeth,butthoughtitbelongedtothepersonwhohadthecompartmentnextdoor.Atthatperiodadjoiningcompartmentssharedalavatory.TheSpaniardseemedtocatchsightofthebottle.

           "I’msothirsty,doyoumindifIhaveaglassofchampagne?"

           Juliawassilentforafractionofasecond.Itwashischampagneandhiscompartment.Oh,well,inforapenny,inforapound.

           "Ofcoursenot."

           Hepouredhimselfoutaglass,litacigaretteandsatdownontheedgeofherbed.Shemovedalittletogivehimmoreroom.Heacceptedthesituationasperfectlynatural.

           "Youcouldn’tpossiblyhavesleptinthatcarriage,"hesaid."There’samantherewho’saheavybreather.I’dalmostratherhesnored.Ifhesnoredonecouldwakehim."

           "I’msosorry."

           "Oh,itdoesn’tmatter.IftheworstcomestotheworstI’llcurlupinthecorridoroutsideyourdoor."

           "Hecanhardlyexpectmetoaskhimtocomeandsleepinhere,"Juliasaidtoherself.