Три товарища

           Sheturnedhalftowardmeinquiringly.QuicklyIraisedthecloakagainandglancedacrossatBindingwhowasstandingbythetable,cherry-redandstillwitharatherglazedlookinhiseye.

           "Doyouthinkheisfittodrive?"Iasked.

           "Ithinkso."

           Ilookedathersteadily."Ifheisnotquitesafe,oneofuscouldgowithyou."

           Shetookoutherpowdercompactandopenedit."Itwillbeallright,"saidshe."Hedrivesmuchbetterwhenhehashadsomethingtodrink."

           "Better,butnotsocarefullyperhaps,"Ireplied.

           Shelookedatmeoverthetopofherlittlemirror.

           "Let’shopeitwillbeallright,"Isaid.Iwasoverdoingitabit,forBindingwasstandingquitetolerablyonhispins.ButIwantedtodosomethingsothatshewouldnotjustvanishentirely.

           "CanIringyouinthemorningperhaps,andhearhowitwent?"Iasked.

           Shedidnotreplyatonce.

           "Ifeelwearepartlytoblamewithallourdrinking,"Ipersisted.

           "Meparticularly,withmybirthdayrum."

           Shelaughed."Allright,ifyoulike.Western2796."

           Imadeanoteofthenumberimmediatelywewereoutside.