〃I　am　sure。〃

〃You　are　sure？〃

〃Yes。〃

He　was　serious。　〃Then　let　me　tell　you　one　thing。　Do　not　go　about　with　that　coat。〃

〃Why？〃

〃On　the　sleeves　it　shows　very　plainly　where　the　stars　have　been　cut　away。　The　cloth　is　a　different　color。〃

I　did　not　say　anything。

〃If　you　have　no　papers　I　can　give　you　papers。〃

〃What　papers？〃

〃Leave…papers。〃

〃I　have　no　need　for　papers。　I　have　papers。〃

〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃But　if　you　need　papers　I　can　get　what　you　wish。〃

〃How　much　are　such　papers？〃

〃It　depends　on　what　they　are。　The　price　is　reasonable。〃

〃I　don't　need　any　now。〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃I'm　all　right；〃　I　said。

When　I　went　out　he　said；　〃Don't　forget　that　I　am　your　friend。〃

〃No。〃

〃I　will　see　you　again；〃　he　said。

〃Good；〃　I　said。

Outside　I　kept　away　from　the　station；　where　there　were　military　police；　and　picked　up　a　cab　at　the　edge　of　the　little　park。　I　gave　the　driver　the　address　of　the　hospital。　At　the　hospital　I　went　to　the　porter's　lodge。　His　wife　embraced　me。　He　shook　my　hand。

〃You　are　back。　You　are　safe。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Have　you　had　breakfast？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃How　are　you；　Tenente？　How　are　you？〃　the　wife　asked。

〃Fine。〃

〃Won't　you　have　breakfast　with　us？〃

〃No；　thank　you。　Tell　me　is　Miss　Barkley　here　at　the　hospital　now？〃

〃Miss　Barkley？〃

〃The　English　lady　nurse。〃

〃His　girl；〃　the　wife　said。　She　patted　my　arm　and　smiled。

〃No；〃　the　porter　said。　〃She　is　away。〃

My　heart　went　down。　〃You　are　sure？　I　mean　the　tall　blonde　English　young　lady。〃

〃I　am　sure。　She　is　gone　to　Stresa。〃

〃When　did　she　go？〃

〃She　went　two　days　ago　with　the　other　lady　Engl