Три товарища

           Sheunpinnedherskirt."ThenI’dbetterbegoing.IfHerrKöstershouldcatchme..."Shethrewupherhands.

           Iwenttothecupboardandopenedit."Matilda...."

           Shecamewaddlingalong.Ihelduparectangularbrownbottle.

           Protesting,sheheldupherhands.

           "Itwasn’tme,"shesaid."Honourbright,itwasn’t,HerrLohkamp.Ididn’tevensmellit!"

           "Youdon’tevenknowwhatitis,Isuppose?"saidI,fillingaglass.

           "No?"shereplied,lickingherlips."Rum.StoneAgeJamaica."

           "Excellent!Thenhowaboutaglass?"

           "Me?"Shestartedback."Thisistoomuch,HerrLohkamp!Thisisheapingcoalsoffireonmyhead.Here’soldStossgoesandmopsupallyourcognaconthequietandthenyoutreathertoarumontopofit!You’reasaint,HerrLohkamp,that’swhatyouare!I’llseemyselfinmygravebeforeItouchadropofit."

           "You’requitesure,Matilda?"saidI,makingtodrinkitmyself.

           "Well,allright,then,"saidsheswiftly,seizingtheglass.

           "Onemusttakethegoodasitcomes.Eventhoughonedoesn’tunderstand.Goodhealth!It’snotyourbirthday,Isuppose?"

           "Moreorless,Matilda.Agoodguess."