Театр

           "I’mbeginningtothinkthiswasallaput-upjob.Nothingdoing,mylad."Andthenaloud."Romantic,ofcourse,butuncomfortable."

           "You’reaterriblyattractivewoman."

           Shewasjustasgladthathernightdresswasprettyandthatshehadputnocreamonherface.Shehadinpointoffactnottroubledtotakeoffhermake-up.Herlipswerebrightlyscarlet,andwiththereadinglightbehindhershewellknewthatshedidnotlookherworst.Butsheansweredironically.

           "Ifyouthinkthatbecauseyou’vegivenupyourcompartmenttomeI’mgoingtoletyousleepwithme,you’remistaken."

           "Justasyousay,ofcourse.Butwhynot?"

           "I’mnotthatsortofterriblyattractivewoman."

           "Whatsortofwomanareyouthen?"

           "Afaithfulwifeandadevotedmother."

           Hegavealittlesigh.

           "Verywell.ThenI’llsaygoodnighttoyou."

           Hecrushedthestubofhiscigaretteontheashtrayandtookherhandandkissedit.Heslowlyranhislipsupherarm.ItgaveJuliaafunnylittlesensation.Thebeardslightlytickledherskin.Thenheleantoverandkissedherlips.Hisbeardhadasomewhatmustysmell,whichshefoundpeculiar;shewasnotsureifitrevoltedorthrilledher.Itwasoddwhenshecametothinkofit,shehadneverbeenkissedbyamanwithabeardbefore.Itseemedstrangelyindecent.Hesnappedoutthelight.

           Hedidnotleavehertillachinkoflightthroughthedrawnblindwarnedthemthatdayhadbroken.Juliawasshatteredmorallyandphysically.

           "IshalllookaperfectwreckwhenwegettoCannes."