“I see no possible beauty for a place of four walls fifty mètres high; and there can be no health where all is so hot night and day; and so I only listen and am content to be counted so stupid. Why do you go to Zurich Monday?”
The question terminated his monologue with such suddenness that she started involuntarily.
“Why do you ask?”
“Naturally because I want to know.”
“I go because I am anxious to be out of Switzerland before the first of July.”
“But Switzerland is very nice in July.”
“I know; and it is also very crowded.”
“Where shall you be in July?”
“I am not sure; probably in the Tyrol.”
He got up from his seat, went to the chimney-piece, lifted up a vase and turned it about in his hand with a critical air. Then he faced her again and said, with emphasis: