‘Yes,’ I said. ‘But you’ll bloody well have to take my word for it.’
‘All right,’ he said. ‘I’ll start checking up. But I warn you, if I find you’re playing some game of your own—’ He turned on his heel, and then stopped. ‘And keep clear of Alice whilst you’re here.’ He went back to his sister then. He bent over her for a moment, talking to her, then with a quick glance at me, he hurried out of the lounge.
I went over to the table. Again I was conscious of her gaze on my leg. She began to put the tea things together as though she were going to carry them out herself. As she didn’t speak I said, ‘How long will you be in Milan?’
‘Not long,’ she said. ‘I am going to Rapallo and then to stay with some friends of Alec’s at Cannes.’
‘I hope you have a nice time,’ I murmured.
‘The sun will be nice, and I think we shall enjoy oursleves.’ Her voice was barely audible. Then she suddenly said: ‘Please go now, Dick.’
I nodded. ‘Yes. I’ll go now. Goodbye then.’
‘Goodbye.’
She didn’t look up. I went back to my table and collected my things. As I passed her on the way out she didn’t look at me. She was staring out of the window. I hesitated in the doorway. But she made no sign and I went up to my room.
They were gone next morning. I don’t know what hotel they went to. All I know is that I didn’t see them at breakfast and when I inquired at the reception desk I was told they had left.