"Fifteen?"
"That would be fine but you will beat me."
"Should we play for a stake?
You always wished to play for a stake."
"I think we'd better."
"All right.
I will give you eighteen points and we will play for a franc a point."
He played a lovely game of billiards and with the handicap I was only four ahead at fifty.
Count Greffi pushed a button on the wall to ring for the barman.
"Open one bottle please," he said.
Then to me, "We will take a little stimulant."
The wine was icy cold and very dry and good.
"Should we talk Italian?
Would you mind very much?
It is my weakness now."
We went on playing, sipping the wine between shots, speaking in Italian, but talking little, concentrated on the game.
Count Greffi made his one hundredth point and with the handicap I was only at ninety-four.
He smiled and patted me on the shoulder.
"Now we will drink the other bottle and you will tell me about the war." He waited for me to sit down.
"About anything else," I said.
"You don't want to talk about it?
Good.
What have you been reading?"
"Nothing," I said. "I'm afraid I am very dull."
"No.
But you should read."
"What is there written in war-time?"
"There is 'Le Feu' by a Frenchman, Barbusse.
There is 'Mr. Britling Sees Through It."
"No, he doesn't."
"What?"
"He doesn't see through it.
Those books were at the hospital."
"Then you have been reading?"
"Yes, but nothing any good."
"I thought 'Mr. Britling' a very good study of the English middle-class soul."
"I don't know about the soul."
"Poor boy.
We none of us know about the soul.
Are you Croyant?"
"At night."
Count Greffi smiled and turned the glass with his fingers.
"I had expected to become more devout as I grow older but somehow I haven't," he said. "It is a great pity."
"Would you like to live after death?" I asked and instantly felt a fool to mention death.
But he did not mind the word.
"It would depend on the life.
This life is very pleasant.
I would like to live forever," he smiled. "I very nearly have."
We were sitting in the deep leather chairs, the champagne in the ice-bucket and our glasses on the table between us.
"If you ever live to be as old as I am you will find many things strange."