Chapter 19

           "Whatdoyoudosittingthere?"Mariaaskedhim.Shewasstandingclosebesidehimandheturnedhisheadandsmiledather.

           "Nothing,"hesaid."Ihavebeenthinking."

           "Whatof?Thebridge?"

           "No.Thebridgeisterminated.OftheeandofahotelinMadridwhereIknowsomeRussians,andofabookIwillwritesometime."

           "AretheremanyRussiansinMadrid?"

           "No.Veryfew."

           "Butinthefascistperiodicalsitsaystherearehundredsofthousands."

           "Thosearelies.Thereareveryfew."

           "DoyouliketheRussians?TheonewhowasherewasaRussian."

           "Didyoulikehim?"

           "Yes.IwassickthenbutIthoughthewasverybeautifulandverybrave."

           "Whatnonsense,beautiful,"Pilarsaid."Hisnosewasflatasmyhandandhehadcheekbonesaswideasasheep’sbuttocks."

           "Hewasagoodfriendandcomradeofmine,"RobertJordansaidtoMaria."Icaredforhimverymuch."

           "Sure,"Pilarsaid."Butyoushothim."

           WhenshesaidthisthecardplayerslookedupfromthetableandPablostaredatRobertJordan.Nobodysaidanythingandthenthegypsy,Rafael,asked,"Isittrue,Roberto?"

           "Yes,"RobertJordansaid.HewishedPilarhadnotbroughtthisupandhewishedhehadnottolditatElSordo’s."Athisrequest.Hewasbadlywounded."

           "Quécosamasrara,"thegypsysaid."Allthetimehewaswithushetalkedofsuchapossibility.Idon’tknowhowmanytimesIhavepromisedhimtoperformsuchanact.