ar。　I　started　in　the　rain　for　the　Isles　Borrom閑s　carrying　my　bag。　I　saw　a　carriage　ing　down　the　street　and　signalled　to　the　driver。　It　was　better　to　arrive　in　a　carriage。　We　drove　up　to　the　carriage　entrance　of　the　big　hotel　and　the　concierge　came　out　with　an　umbrella　and　was　very　polite。

I　took　a　good　room。　It　was　very　big　and　light　and　looked　out　on　the　lake。　The　clouds　were　down　over　the　lake　but　it　would　be　beautiful　with　the　sunlight。　I　was　expecting　my　wife；　I　said。　There　was　a　big　double　bed；　a　_letto　matrimoniale_　with　a　satin　coverlet。　The　hotel　was　very　luxurious。　I　went　down　the　long　halls；　down　the　wide　stairs；　through　the　rooms　to　the　bar。　I　knew　the　barman　and　sat　on　a　high　stool　and　ate　salted　almonds　and　potato　chips。　The　martini　felt　cool　and　clean。

〃What　are　you　doing　here　in　_borghese？_〃　the　barman　asked　after　he　had　mixed　a　second　martini。

〃I　am　on　leave。　Convalescing…leave。〃

〃There　is　no　one　here。　I　don't　know　why　they　keep　the　hotel　open。〃

〃Have　you　been　fishing？〃

〃I've　caught　some　beautiful　pieces。　Trolling　this　time　of　year　you　catch　some　beautiful　pieces。〃

〃Did　you　ever　get　the　tobacco　I　sent？〃

〃Yes。　Didn't　you　get　my　card？〃

I　laughed。　I　had　not　been　able　to　get　the　tobacco。　It　was　American　pipe…tobacco　that　he　wanted；　but　my　relatives　had　stopped　sending　it　or　it　was　being　held　up。　Anyway　it　never　came。

〃I'll　get　some　somewhere；〃　I　said。　〃Tell　me　have　you　seen　two　English　girls　in