Finally, I remarked that it was getting late, and Raymond agreed.
“Time’s gone mighty fast this evening,” he added, and in a way that was true.
I wanted to be in bed, only it was such an effort making a move.
I must have looked tired, for Raymond said to me,
“You mustn’t let things get you down.”
At first I didn’t catch his meaning.
Then he explained that he had heard of my mother’s death; anyhow, he said, that was something bound to happen one day or another.
I appreciated that, and told him so.
When I rose, Raymond shook hands very warmly, remarking that men always understood each other.
After closing the door behind me I lingered for some moments on the landing.
The whole building was as quiet as the grave, a dank, dark smell rising from the well hole of the stairs.
I could hear nothing but the blood throbbing in my ears, and for a while I stood still, listening to it.
Then the dog began to moan in old Salamano’s room, and through the sleep-bound house the little plaintive sound rose slowly, like a flower growing out of the silence and the darkness.
IV
I HAD a busy time in the office throughout the week. Raymond dropped in once to tell me he’d sent off the letter.
I went to the pictures twice with Emmanuel, who doesn’t always understand what’s happening on the screen and asks me to explain it.
Yesterday was Saturday, and Marie came as we’d arranged.
She had a very pretty dress, with red and white stripes, and leather sandals, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
One could see the outline of her firm little breasts, and her sun-tanned face was like a velvety brown flower.
We took the bus and went to a beach I know, some miles out of Algiers. It’s just a strip of sand between two rocky spurs, with a line of rushes at the back, along the tide line.
At four o’clock the sun wasn’t too hot, but the water was pleasantly tepid, and small, languid ripples were creeping up the sand.
Marie taught me a new game. The idea was, while one swam, to suck in the spray off the waves and, when one’s mouth was full of foam, to lie on one’s back and spout it out against the sky.
It made a sort of frothy haze that melted into the air or fell back in a warm shower on one’s cheeks.
But very soon my mouth was smarting with all the salt I’d drawn in; then Marie came up and hugged me in the water, and pressed her mouth to mine. Her tongue cooled my lips, and we let the waves roll us about for a minute or two before swimming back to the beach.
When we had finished dressing, Marie looked hard at me. Her eyes were sparkling.
I kissed her; after that neither of us spoke for quite a while.
I pressed her to my side as we scrambled up the foreshore. Both of us were in a hurry to catch the bus, get back to my place, and tumble on to the bed.
I’d left my window open, and it was pleasant to feel the cool night air flowing over our sunburned bodies.
Marie said she was free next morning, so I proposed she should have luncheon with me.
She agreed, and I went down to buy some meat. On my way back I heard a woman’s voice in Raymond’s room.
A little later old Salamano started grumbling at his dog and presently there was a sound of boots and paws on the wooden stairs; then,
“Filthy brute!
Get on, you cur!” and the two of them went out into the street.
I told Marie about the old man’s habits, and it made her laugh.
She was wearing one of my pajama suits, and had the sleeves rolled up.
When she laughed I wanted her again.
A moment later she asked me if I loved her.
I said that sort of question had no meaning, really; but I supposed I didn’t.
She looked sad for a bit, but when we were getting our lunch ready she brightened up and started laughing, and when she laughs I always want to kiss her.
It was just then that the row started in Raymond’s room.
First we heard a woman saying something in a high-pitched voice; then Raymond bawling at her,
“You let me down, you bitch!
I’ll learn you to let me down!”
There came some thuds, then a piercing scream—it made one’s blood run cold—and in a moment there was a crowd of people on the landing.
Marie and I went out to see.
The woman was still screaming and Raymond still knocking her about.
Marie said, wasn’t it horrible! I didn’t answer anything.
Then she asked me to go and fetch a policeman, but I told her I didn’t like policemen.
However, one turned up presently; the lodger on the second floor, a plumber, came up, with him.
When he banged on the door the noise stopped inside the room.