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laughed； and he took an insane delight in hearing her。 Just before daylight
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he fell asleep； resting his head on his arms； that were spread across the
table。 Madam Marx kissed him as he slept； murmuring to herself
contentedly； 〃Ah； well； in time。〃
When Gregorio woke the sun was high in the heavens； blazing out of a
brazen sky。 Clouds of dust swept past the door from time to time； and cut
his neck and face as he stood on the threshold smoking lazily。 It was too
late to go down to the quay； for his place must have long ago been filled
by another。 He was not sorry； since he by no means desired to toil again
under the hot sun； the heavy drinking of the night had made him lethargic；
and he was so thirsty the heat nearly choked him。 He called out to a water…
carrier staggering along in the scanty shade on the opposite side of the
street； and took eagerly a draught of water。 He touched the pigskin with
his hand； and it was hot。 The water was warm and made him sick； he spat
it from his mouth hastily； and hearing a laugh behind him； turned round
and saw Madam Marx。
〃See； here is some wine； my friend； leave the water for the Arabs。〃
Gregorio gratefully seized the flagon and let the wine trickle down his
throat； while Madam Marx； with arms akimbo； stood patiently before him。
〃I must go now；〃 he said； as he handed back the half…emptied flask。
〃Why？〃
〃Because I must get some work。〃
〃It is not easy to get work in the summer。〃
〃I know； but I must get some。 I owe money to Amos。〃
〃Yes； I know。 But your wife is making money now。〃
The man scowled at her。 〃How do you know that？ Before God； I swear
that she is not。〃
〃Come； come； Gregorio。 You were drunk last night； and your tongue
wagged pretty freely。 It's not a bit of use being angry with me； because I
only know what you've told me。 Besides； I'm your friend； you know that。〃
Gregorio flushed angrily at the woman's words； but he knew quite well
it was no use replying to them； for she was speaking only the truth。 But the
knowledge that he had betrayed his secret annoyed him。 He had grown
used to the facts and could look at them easily enough； but he had not
reckoned on others also learning them。
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He determined to go out and find work； or at any rate to tramp the
streets pretending to look for something to do。 The woman became
intolerable to him； and the Penny…farthing Shop； reeking with the odour of
stale tobacco and spilled liquor； poisoned him。 He took up his hat
brusquely and stepped into the street。
Madam Marx； standing at the door； laughed at him as she called out；
〃Good…bye； Gregorio； when will you come back？〃
He did not answer； but the sound of her laughter followed him up the
street； and he kicked angrily at the stones in his path。
At last he passed by the Ras…el…Tin barracks。 He looked curiously at
the English soldiers。 Some were playing polo on the hard brown space to
the left； and from the windows of the building men leaned out； their shirt…
sleeves rolled up and their strong arms bared to the sun。 They smoked
short clay pipes； and innumerable little blue spiral clouds mounted
skyward。 Obviously the heat did not greatly inconvenience them； for they
laughed and sang and drank oceans of beer。
The sight of them annoyed Gregorio。 He looked at the pewter mugs
shining in the sunlight。 He eyed greedily the passage of one from hand to
hand； and when one man； after taking a long pull； laughed and held it
upside down to show him it was empty； he burst into an uncontrollable fit
of anger； and shook his fist impotently at the soldiers； who chaffed him
good…naturedly。 As he went along by the stables； a friendly lancer； pitying
him； probably； too； wearying of his own lonely watch； called to him； and
offered him a drink out of a stone bottle。 Gregorio drank again feverishly；
and handed the bottle back to its owner with a grin； and passed on without
a word。 The soldier watched him curiously； but said nothing。
When he reached the lighthouse Gregorio flung himself on to the
pebble…strewn sand and looked across the bay。 The blue water； calm and
unruffled as a sheet of glass； spread before him。 The shipsAustrian Lloyd
mail…boats； P。 and O。 liners； and grimy coal…hulkslay motionless against
the white side of the jetty。
The khedive's yacht was bright with bunting； and innumerable fishing…
boats near the breakwater made grateful oases in the glare whereon his
eyes might rest。 But he heeded them not。 Angrily he flung lumps of stone
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and sand into the wavelets at his feet； and pushed back his hat that his face
might feel the full heat of the sun。 Then he lit a cigarette and began to
think。
But what was the good of thinking？ The thoughts always formed
themselves into the same chain and reached the same conclusion； and ever
on the glassy surface of the Levantine sea a woman poised herself and
laughed at him。
When the sun fell behind the horizon； and the breakwater； after
dashing up one flash of gold； became a blue blur； Gregorio rose to go。 As
he walked back toward the Penny…farthing Shop he felt angry and
unsatisfied。 The whole day was wasted。 He had done nothing to relieve his
wife； nothing to pay off Amos。 Madam met him at the door； a flask of
wine in her hand。 Against his will Gregorio entered her cafe and smiled；
but his smile was sour and malevolent。
〃You want cheering； my friend；〃 said madam； laughing。
〃I have found nothing to do；〃 said Gregorio。
〃Ah！ I told you it would be hard。 There are no tourists in Alexandria
now。 And it is foolish of you to tramp the streets looking for work that you
will never find； when you have everything you can want here。〃
〃Except money； and that's everything；〃 put in Gregorio； bluntly。
〃Even money； my friend。 I have enough for two。〃
Madam Marx had played her trump card； and she watched anxiously
the effect of her words。 For a moment the man did not speak； but trifled
with his cigarette tobacco；