“But I can feel that you like me.
“Yes. I’m very reliable that way but it doesn’t mean a thing.”
“It does mean something.”
“Just what it says.”
“It’s a very nice thing to say,” she said and did not say any thing more nor take her hand away until they had turned at the Boulevard and pulled up behind the old Isotta Fraschini parked in front of the cafe under the old trees. Then she had smiled at him and got out of the small blue car.
Now, at the hotel in the pines that were still being blown by the wind, David and Catherine were alone in their room after she finally came in from settling the girl in the two rooms that she had taken.
“I think she’ll be comfortable,” Catherine said. “Of course the best room beside our own is the one at the far end where you work.”
“And I’m going to keep it,” David said. “I’m going damn well and I won’t change my work room for an imported bitch!”
‘Why are you being so violent?” Catherine said. “No one asked you to give it up. I just said it was the best. But the two next door to it work out very well.”
“Who is this girl anyway?”
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“Don’t be so violent. She’s a nice girl and I like her. I know it was unforgivable to bring her up without speaking to you and I’m sorry. But I did it and it’s done. I thought you’d like to have someone pleasant and attractive for me to have as a friend to go around with while you’re working.”
“I do if you want someone.
“I didn’t want someone. I just ran into someone that I liked and thought you would like and it would be pleasant for her to be here for a little while.”
“But who is she?”
“I haven’t examined her papers. You interrogate her if you need to.”
“Well, she’s decorative at least. But whose girl is she?”
“Don’t be rough. She’s nobody’s.”
“Tell me straight.”
“All right. She’s in love with us both unless I’m crazy.
“You’re not crazy.
“Not yet maybe.”
“So what’s the drill?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Catherine said.
“I wouldn’t either.”
“It’s sort of strange and fun.”
“I wouldn’t know,” David said. “Do you want to go to swim? We missed it yesterday.”
“Let’s swim. Should we ask her? It would only be polite.”
‘We’d have to wear suits.”
“It wouldn’t matter with this wind. It’s no day to be on the sand to tan.”
“I hate to wear suits with you.”
“Me too. But maybe tomorrow the wind will be over.”
Then on the Esterel road with David driving the big old Isotta, feeling and condemning the too sudden brakes and finding how badly the motor needed to be worked over, the three of them sat
together and Catherine said, “There are two or three different coves where we swim without suits when we’re alone. That’s the only way to get really dark.”
“It’s not a good day to tan,” David said. “It’s too windy.”
“We can swim though without suits if you like,” Catherine said to the girl. “If David doesn’t mind. It might be fun.”
“I’d love to,” the girl said. “Do you mind?” she asked David.
In the evening David made martinis and the girl said, “Is everything always as wonderful as it has been today?”
“It’s been a pleasant day,” David said. Catherine had not yet come out from their room and he and the girl were sitting in front of the small bar M. Aurol had installed the previous winter in the corner of the big Provencal room.
‘When I drink I want to say things I should never say,” the girl said.
“Then don’t say them.” “Then what’s the use of drinking?” “It isn’t these. You’ve only had one.” “Were you embarrassed when we swam?”
“No. Should I have been?” “No,” she said. “I loved to see you.
“That’s good,” he said. “How’s the martini?”
“It’s very strong but I like it. Did you and Catherine never swim before like that with anyone?”
“No. Why should we?”
“I’ll get really brown.”