Прощай, оружие!

           "Hohoho,"theporterlaughed."Hewasfunny.Onemovefromyouhesaidandhewouldhave—"hedrewhisforefingeracrosshisthroat.

           "Hohoho,"hetriedtokeepfromlaughing."WhenItellhimyouwerenotanAustrian.Hohoho."

           "Hohoho,"Isaidbitterly."Howfunnyifhewouldcutmythroat.Hohoho."

           "No,signorino.No,no.HewassofrightenedofanAustrian.Hohoho."

           "Hohoho,"Isaid."Getoutofhere."

           HewentoutandIheardhimlaughinginthehall.Iheardsomeonecomingdownthehallway.Ilookedtowardthedoor.ItwasCatherineBarkley.

           Shecameintheroomandovertothebed.

           "Hello,darling,"shesaid.Shelookedfreshandyoungandverybeautiful.IthoughtIhadneverseenanyonesobeautiful.

           "Hello,"Isaid.WhenIsawherIwasinlovewithher.Everythingturnedoverinsideofme.Shelookedtowardthedoor,sawtherewasnoone,thenshesatonthesideofthebedandleanedoverandkissedme.Ipulledherdownandkissedherandfeltherheartbeating.

           "Yousweet,"Isaid."Weren’tyouwonderfultocomehere?"

           "Itwasn’tveryhard.Itmaybehardtostay."

           "You’vegottostay,"Isaid."Oh,you’rewonderful."Iwascrazyabouther.Icouldnotbelieveshewasreallythereandheldhertighttome.

           "Youmustn’t,"shesaid."You’renotwellenough."

           "Yes,Iam.Comeon."

           "No.You’renotstrongenough."

           "Yes.Iam.Yes.Please."

           "Youdoloveme?"

           "Ireallyloveyou.I’mcrazyaboutyou.Comeonplease."

           "Feelourheartsbeating."