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Chapter 17
Nomorethanextremeyouth.
"IheardyoudoingtheConrad.Splendid."
"Thankyou."
"Perhapswecouldhavecoffeetogethersometimeanddiscussyourplans?"
"Ifyoulike,"shesaid,returningtoProust.
Hewasgladhehadstipulatedcoffee,ratherthandinner;hiswifekepthimonshortcommons,anddinnerdemandedadegreeofgratitudehecouldn’tbesureJustinewasreadytomanifest.However,hefollowedhiscasualinvitationup,andboreherofftoadarklittleplaceinlowerElizabethStreet,wherehewasreasonablysurehiswifewouldn’tthinkoflookingforhim.
Inself-defenseJustinehadlearnedtosmoke,tiredofalwaysappearinggoody-goodyinrefusingofferedcigarettes.Aftertheywereseatedshetookherowncigarettesoutofherbag,anewpack,andpeeledthetopcellophanefromtheflip-topboxcarefully,makingsurethelargerpieceofcellophanestillsheathedthebulkofthepacket.Arthurwatchedherdeliberateness,amusedandinterested.
"Whyonearthgotosomuchtrouble?Justripitalloff,Justine."
"Howuntidy!"
Hepickeduptheboxandstrokeditsintactshroudreflectively."Now,ifIwasadiscipleoftheeminentSigmundFreud…"
"IfyouwereFreud,what?"Sheglancedup,sawthewaitressstandingbesideher."Cappuccino,please."
Itannoyedhimthatshegaveherownorder,butheletitpass,moreintentonpursuingthethoughtinhismind."Vienna,please.Now,gettingbacktowhatIwassayingaboutFreud.
