Domestic fiction; Sisters -- Fiction; Women -- England -- Fiction
Gerald hesitated, and looked self-conscious. "Thirty-five francs," he
said. "But I've had enough of driving about. It seems we're lucky to
get it even at that."
And Chirac shrugged his shoulders as if to indicate that the situation
and the price ought to be accepted philosophically. Gerald gave the
driver five francs. He examined the piece and demanded a pourboire.
"Oh! Damn!" said Gerald, and, because he had no smaller change, parted
with another two francs.
"Is any one coming out for this damned valise?" Gerald demanded, like a
tyrant whose wrath would presently fall if the populace did not
instantly set about minding their p's and q's.
But nobody emerged, and he was compelled to carry the bag himself.
The hotel was dark and malodorous, and every room seemed to be crowded
with giggling groups of drinkers.
"We can't both sleep in this bed, surely," said Sophia when, Chirac
having remained downstairs, she faced Gerald in a small, mean bedroom.
"You don't suppose I shall go to bed, do you?" said Gerald, rather
brusquely. "It's for you. We're going to eat now. Look sharp."
III
It was night. She lay in the narrow, crimson-draped bed. The heavy
crimson curtains had been drawn across the dirty lace curtains of the
window, but the lights of the little square faintly penetrated through
chinks into the room. The sounds of the square also penetrated,
extraordinarily loud and clear, for the unabated heat had compelled her
to leave the window open. She could not sleep. Exhausted though she
was, there was no hope of her being able to sleep.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account