"'So be it. But there can be no need to tell Dia of this.'
"The Irishman nodded, and that afternoon, again, he and Dia were in the garden, throwing stones at a sardine-tin on a stick to see who could hit it first. Dia knocked it down easily, and Jan, sitting indoors with his coat off, heard them laughing.
"At supper that night he looked up to Dia.
"'This coffee has a sour taste,' he said.
"'Mine hasn't,' said the Irishman.
"'Try mine, then,' said Jan, and passed Dia his cup to hand to him. She fumbled in taking it and dropped it on the floor. The new cup that she poured out for him had no sour taste.
"For several days after that there was a sour taste in many things that he ate and drank, and he complained of it each time.
"'You must be getting ill,' Dia said.
"'It is possible,' he answered, watching her. 'I have felt very strange of late days.'
"He saw the color leave her cheeks, and a light come into her eyes.