OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE LODGER 27
and settled down behind a billiard-table, the proprietor heaved an
audible sigh and rose lethargically from his chair,
" What can I get you? "
Sylvie ordered two coffees.
From now on it was she who took command; both of them
seemed to accept this as a matter of course. Elie was staring at the
floor, on which sawdust lay in ripples like sand on a sea-beach.
When Sylvie rose to her feet he looked up, but didn't ask what she
was about to do. She went up to a rack on which were some
newspapers rolled round strips of wood.
The man served them in silence. The coffee fell drop by drop
from the nickel-plated percolator resting on each cup. The
apoplectic-looking customer blew his nose noisily.
There was a rustle of paper as Sylvie turned a sheet of the
newspaper she was reading. She looked up to say:
" Put two lumps of sugar in my cup, please."
He did so; then drank his coffee to keep himself in countenance.
" Now—pay," she said.
The proprietor was eyeing them from his seat by the window,
obviously wondering why these two young people had dropped
in at such an hour. Sylvie rose, and Elie followed her out. After
halting on the pavement to take her bearings, she started off towards
the central area.
" Well? "
" The guard gave your description, but he doesn't seem to have
noticed much, except that you were wearing a yellow overcoat."
And promptly Elie felt as if his overcoat were made of lead and
looked anxiously round to make sure no one was watching him.
" Another thing he said was that you'd a foreign accent—but
he didn't say what sort of accent."
As diey walked on, Elie transferred the notes, his handkerchief,,
and a penknife from his overcoat pockets to those of his coat..
Beside a fence running alongside a field used as a rubbish-dump hepaused
and turned to Sylvie.
" Here? "
" No. If it's found they'll know you are in Brussels. You'd betterdrop
it in the canal."
" Where's that? "
" Oh, quite a way from here."
From time to time a tramcar sped by, packed with seated, stolid *
figures, like museum-pieces in a show-case.