ALBINUS descended into the town, crossed the
boulevard without quickening his steady pace,
and reached his hotel. He went up and into his
room-their room. It was empty, the bed was not
made; some coffee had been spilled and a little
spoon was gleaming on the white rug. With bent
head he gazed at that shiny spot. At that moment
Margot's shrill laugh sounded from the garden
below.

He leaned out of the window. She was walking
by the side of a youth in white shorts, and the
racket which she brandished as she chattered,
glistened like gold in the sun. Her partner caught
sight of Albinus at the third-floor window. Mar-
got looked up and stopped.

Albinus moved his arm as if grabbing some-
thing to his breast: it was supposed to mean
"come up" and so Margot understood it. She
nodded and lazily came down the gravel walk

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