OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE LODGER III
kitchen—on hearing a familiar creak; Elie's door had just been
opened. It closed again immediately, and nothing more could be
heard.
Elie had moved in his sleep and was sheltering his eyes with his
arm from the sunlight flooding in through the window.
" Get up at once! " Sylvie shook his arm vigorously.
He groaned, and shifted his position again. When at last he
opened his eyes and saw the girl gazing down at him, he muttered:
" What on earth . . . ? "
His head was throbbing, and he could remember nothing of the
night before. There was a foul taste in his mouth, and he had an
impression that his neck had gone stiff again. He stared vacantly
at Sylvie.
" You got my message, didn't you? " she said. " Well? "
There was a vicious edge to her voice; no compassion in her eyes.
In a half-dream Elie watched the sunlight playing on her hair,
rippling along the sleeve of her fur coat.
" Get up, damn it! Don't you realize they're after you, and they'll
be here any minute? "
He leapt out of bed and landed on his feet with the agility of a
monkey.
" What's that? " Suspicion flickered in his eyes.
" Don't play the fool! I tell you, the game's up. They're at the
door."
His face grew contorted with fury.
" Ah, so you betrayed me, did you? "
" Betrayed you, indeed! Stop play-acting and get your clothes
on.
He stared at her for a moment, then exclaimed:
" I've tumbled to it! It's just a trick of yours to get me out of this
house. Very clever of you, but—nothing doing! "
Then he noticed the taxi drawn up outside, and he went to the
window. Sylvie pointed.
" Do you see that fellow there, beside the tram-stop? He's a
plain-clothes man."
Even now Elie seemed only half convinced. He went to the basin,
gargled and spat the water out. Never had his features looked so
angular, his cheeks so pale and wasted.
" Yes," he said bitterly, " I understand it all now."
" Good! In that case, hurry up and get dressed."
" Yes," he said again, " and, what's more, I know why you gave