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Chapter 35

           "Fifteen?"

           "Thatwouldbefinebutyouwillbeatme."

           "Shouldweplayforastake?Youalwayswishedtoplayforastake."

           "Ithinkwe’dbetter."

           "Allright.Iwillgiveyoueighteenpointsandwewillplayforafrancapoint."

           HeplayedalovelygameofbilliardsandwiththehandicapIwasonlyfouraheadatfifty.CountGreffipushedabuttononthewalltoringforthebarman.

           "Openonebottleplease,"hesaid.Thentome,"Wewilltakealittlestimulant."Thewinewasicycoldandverydryandgood.

           "ShouldwetalkItalian?Wouldyoumindverymuch?Itismyweaknessnow."

           Wewentonplaying,sippingthewinebetweenshots,speakinginItalian,buttalkinglittle,concentratedonthegame.CountGreffimadehisonehundredthpointandwiththehandicapIwasonlyatninety-four.Hesmiledandpattedmeontheshoulder.

           "Nowwewilldrinktheotherbottleandyouwilltellmeaboutthewar."Hewaitedformetositdown.

           "Aboutanythingelse,"Isaid.

           "Youdon’twanttotalkaboutit?Good.Whathaveyoubeenreading?"

           "Nothing,"Isaid."I’mafraidIamverydull."

           "No.Butyoushouldread."

           "Whatistherewritteninwar-time?"

           "Thereis‘LeFeu’byaFrenchman,Barbusse.Thereis‘Mr.BritlingSeesThroughIt.’"

           "No,hedoesn’t."

           "What?"

           "Hedoesn’tseethroughit.Thosebookswereatthehospital."

           "Thenyouhavebeenreading?"

           "Yes,butnothinganygood."

           "Ithought‘Mr.Britling’averygoodstudyoftheEnglishmiddle-classsoul."

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