t　would　be　interesting　to　hear。　Nothing　happens　here。　I　was　a　great　flop　at　Piacenza。〃

〃I'm　awfully　sorry。〃

〃Oh　yes……I　went　very　badly。　I　sung　well　too。　I'm　going　to　try　it　again　at　the　Lyrico　here。〃

〃I'd　like　to　be　there。〃

〃You're　awfully　polite。　You　aren't　in　a　bad　mess；　are　you？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Don't　tell　me　if　you　don't　want。　How　do　you　happen　to　be　away　from　the　bloody　front？〃

〃I　think　I'm　through　with　it。〃

〃Good　boy。　I　always　knew　you　had　sense。　Can　I　help　you　any　way？〃

〃You're　awfully　busy。〃

〃Not　a　bit　of　it；　my　dear　Henry。　Not　a　bit　of　it。　I'd　be　happy　to　do　anything。〃

〃You're　about　my　size。　Would　you　go　out　and　buy　me　an　outfit　of　civilian　clothes？　I've　clothes　but　they're　all　at　Rome。〃

〃You　did　live　there；　didn't　you？　It's　a　filthy　place。　How　did　you　ever　live　there？〃

〃I　wanted　to　be　an　architect。〃

〃That's　no　place　for　that。　Don't　buy　clothes。　I'll　give　you　all　the　clothes　you　want。　I'll　fit　you　out　so　you'll　be　a　great　success。　Go　in　that　dressing　room。　There's　a　closet。　Take　anything　you　want。　My　dear　fellow；　you　don't　want　to　buy　clothes。〃

〃I'd　rather　buy　them；　Sim。〃

〃My　dear　fellow；　it's　easier　for　me　to　let　you　have　them　than　go　out　and　buy　them。　Have　you　got　a　passport？　You　won't　get　far　without　a　passport。〃

〃Yes。　I've　still　got　my　passport。〃

〃Then　get　dressed；　my　dear　fellow；　and　off　to　old　Helvetia。〃

〃It's　not　that　simple。　I　have　to　go　up　to　Stresa　first。〃

〃Ideal；　my　dear　fellow。　You　just　row　a　boat　across。　If　I　wasn't　trying　to　sing；　I'd　go　with　you。　I'll　go　yet。〃

〃You　could　take　up　yodelling。〃

〃My　dear　fellow；　I'll　take　up　yodelling　yet。　I　really　can　sing　though。　That's　the　strange　part。〃

〃