I had never tasted anything so cool and clean.
They made me feel civilized.
I had had too much red wine, bread, cheese, bad coffee and grappa.
I sat on the high stool before the pleasant mahogany, the brass and the mirrors and did not think at all.
The barman asked me some question.
"Don't talk about the war," I said.
The war was a long way away.
Maybe there wasn't any war.
There was no war here.
Then I realized it was over for me.
But I did not have the feeling that it was really over.
I had the feeling of a boy who thinks of what is happening at a certain hour at the schoolhouse from which he has played truant.
Catherine and Helen Ferguson were at supper when I came to their hotel.
Standing in the hallway I saw them at table.
Catherine's face was away from me and I saw the line of her hair and her cheek and her lovely neck and shoulders.
Ferguson was talking.
She stopped when I came in.
"My God," she said.
"Hello," I said.
"Why it's you!" Catherine said.
Her face lighted up.
She looked too happy to believe it.
I kissed her.
Catherine blushed and I sat down at the table.
"You're a fine mess," Ferguson said. "What are you doing here?
Have you eaten?"
"No."
The girl who was serving the meal came in and I told her to bring a plate for me.
Catherine looked at me all the time, her eyes happy.
"What are you doing in mufti?" Ferguson asked.
"I'm in the Cabinet."
"You're in some mess."
"Cheer up, Fergy.
Cheer up just a little."
"I'm not cheered by seeing you.
I know the mess you've gotten this girl into.
You're no cheerful sight to me."
Catherine smiled at me and touched me with her foot under the table.
"No one got me in a mess, Fergy.
I get in my own messes."
"I can't stand him," Ferguson said. "He's done nothing but ruin you with his sneaking Italian tricks.
Americans are worse than Italians."
"The Scotch are such a moral people," Catherine said.
"I don't mean that.
I mean his Italian sneakiness."
"Am I sneaky, Fergy?"
"You are.
You're worse than sneaky.
You're like a snake.
A snake with an Italian uniform: with a cape around your neck."