"Didn't you hear something?" he asked. "Didn't the bell just ring out a warning? If there is a misunderstanding, I'm counting on you to tell me. But perhaps," he added, "you don't want to show me any kindness?" Thomas spoke with his lips pressed to the cheek of his companion, while the latter tried to turn his head slightly so as to place his mouth against this mouth that was speaking to him; he seemed to be searching for a way to soothe his ills, but at the same time if by chance he touched this mouth he turned away violently, as if it would have awakened the suffering it was supposed to cure. Thomas waited a moment to see if he would receive a response; then he declared: "Since you don't want to speak, all I can do now is keep quiet." But the situation was no longer the same since they had begun to speak 21
to each other. Although he felt a repugnance at resorting to such measures, he bent down to the other's ear and shouted with all his strength: "You'll be alone now - I'm leaving." Thomas was himself surprised at his violence. His voice seemed loud enough to be heard throughout the entire house; it was not confidence that made this voice so piercing, that pressed it entirely into one single shout, that made it disdain every obstacle, as if it were best to have done at once and for good. The voice must have passed through the entire house, but in the room itself it died down immediately. The young man decided to re spond all the same: "I will tell you about the portrait," he said. "This room where we are now is much larger than you would think at first. It is one of the most beautiful rooms of the house, and you can never overestimate your good fortune at being able to stay here. The walls are bright; the fur nishings are simple and comfortable. Everything is arranged to make one's stay here pleasant." Thomas nodded in approval, but he said: "The portrait is of a young lady, isn't it?" "Just a second, please," said the young man. "First I would like to point out to you some interesting pieces among the furnishings. The bed on which you are lying is new. No one has used it but you. The mattress was re done for your requirements. They have neglected nothing in making sure that you find true repose in it." "And all these knickknacks?" asked Thomas, pointing to the shelves. "They too have their use," answered the young man. "Would you like to see them one at a time? You haven't yet looked at them enough to know how useful they might be to you." "Let's see them then," said Thomas. "Wait," said the young man. "I have something to say about them first. Naturally," he added in a softer tone ofvoice, "there have been other guests here before you. You could never hope to be the first. Everything possible has been done to eliminate their traces, but there was not enough time to put everything back in order. So do not be surprised if these objects are jumbled and mismatched; each person has used them for his purposes, and so you will discover here the habits of your predecessors." "Really?" said Thomas. "There were other guests. Are you sure you're not mistaken?" "It doesn't matter," said the young man, with a superior air. "Now have a seat, I'll show you these little items. You can take a good look at them." 22
Thomas did not move. "Impossible," he said, shaking his head. "Fine," said the young man. "Then I have nothing to add. Besides, it's better if you look at them later." Thomas expected it to end this way, but he was no less irritated. It was not the meaning of the words that hurt him; the words themselves dis gusted him. Should he place the blame on the intimacy of their two bodies? At first he had followed with his eyes the words coming from the mouth of his companion; then his attention had been so violently attracted that his own mouth imitated the movements and formed in turn the syllables and consonants, until finally his tongue could not help but search under its palate for the words that it brought up from their very
to each other. Although he felt a repugnance at resorting to such measures, he bent down to the other's ear and shouted with all his strength: "You'll be alone now - I'm leaving." Thomas was himself surprised at his violence. His voice seemed loud enough to be heard throughout the entire house; it was not confidence that made this voice so piercing, that pressed it entirely into one single shout, that made it disdain every obstacle, as if it were best to have done at once and for good. The voice must have passed through the entire house, but in the room itself it died down immediately. The young man decided to re spond all the same: "I will tell you about the portrait," he said. "This room where we are now is much larger than you would think at first. It is one of the most beautiful rooms of the house, and you can never overestimate your good fortune at being able to stay here. The walls are bright; the fur nishings are simple and comfortable. Everything is arranged to make one's stay here pleasant." Thomas nodded in approval, but he said: "The portrait is of a young lady, isn't it?" "Just a second, please," said the young man. "First I would like to point out to you some interesting pieces among the furnishings. The bed on which you are lying is new. No one has used it but you. The mattress was re done for your requirements. They have neglected nothing in making sure that you find true repose in it." "And all these knickknacks?" asked Thomas, pointing to the shelves. "They too have their use," answered the young man. "Would you like to see them one at a time? You haven't yet looked at them enough to know how useful they might be to you." "Let's see them then," said Thomas. "Wait," said the young man. "I have something to say about them first. Naturally," he added in a softer tone ofvoice, "there have been other guests here before you. You could never hope to be the first. Everything possible has been done to eliminate their traces, but there was not enough time to put everything back in order. So do not be surprised if these objects are jumbled and mismatched; each person has used them for his purposes, and so you will discover here the habits of your predecessors." "Really?" said Thomas. "There were other guests. Are you sure you're not mistaken?" "It doesn't matter," said the young man, with a superior air. "Now have a seat, I'll show you these little items. You can take a good look at them." 22
Thomas did not move. "Impossible," he said, shaking his head. "Fine," said the young man. "Then I have nothing to add. Besides, it's better if you look at them later." Thomas expected it to end this way, but he was no less irritated. It was not the meaning of the words that hurt him; the words themselves dis gusted him. Should he place the blame on the intimacy of their two bodies? At first he had followed with his eyes the words coming from the mouth of his companion; then his attention had been so violently attracted that his own mouth imitated the movements and formed in turn the syllables and consonants, until finally his tongue could not help but search under its palate for the words that it brought up from their very
Similar Books
