restrictions, and without Vestal to watch what I did with it.
Don't jump to the conclusion that it was at this moment I planned to murder her. I never thought of murder, but it did flash through my mind that she might fall ill; she might meet with an accident; she might die.
What an easy way out for me if she did! No planning, no persuading, no disappointments, no frustrations and no more playacting.
If she died. .. .
We spent the next afternoon in the violent heat of a glass factory at Murano, watching men fashion miracles out of molten glass, and we were glad to get back to the cool of our sitting room.
"I guess I'll take a shower," I said. "That factory was too damned hot."
"Yes, it was hot," Vestal returned, sitting limply in a chair. She held her head in her hands. "It's given me a headache."
"Have a drink?"
"No, I don't think I will. I'll just sit for a moment and rest. I’ll be all right. What shall we do tonight, Chad?"
"Whatever you like. Want a gondola?"
"Let's decide after dinner."
I went into the bathroom and took a shower. After I had changed I returned to the sitting room. Vestal wasn't there. I looked for her in the bedroom. I found her lying on the bed, her face drawn and white.
"What's the matter?" I asked, bending over her. "Don't you feel well?"
"I have a terrible headache and I feel sick."
I looked down at her. I could find no pity for her. She looked hideous and awful.
"I'm sorry. I expect the heat has upset you. Why not go to bed?"
"I've taken some Veganin. I'll be all right in a little while."
"Well, I guess I'll have a drink. You take it easy. I'll be up in a few minutes."
I went along to Eve's room and knocked on the door. She opened the door and looked inquiringly at me. She wasn't wearing her glasses, and although her scraped back hair still gave her the spinsterish look, there was that hint of beauty I had seen before.
"Mrs. Winters has a bad headache," I said. "You might see if you can do anything for her."
"I'll go at once."
"She may feel like going to bed," I said, aware that my voice was a little unsteady. "If she does, will you keep me company tonight?"
Her blue eyes were completely expressionless as she said, "She will want me to stay with her."
"She may not. If she doesn't, will you meet me outside the San Marco at nine?"
"I don't think I shall be able to," she said and moving past me, she walked quickly along the corridor to Vestal's room.
I went down to the bar, ordered a double whisky and drank it slowly.
My hand was shaking. I was surprised the barman didn't notice the way my heart was pounding.
No other woman had ever made me feel like this. I knew instinctively that Eve would be waiting for me at nine. The pattern was falling into place. This night was to be the beginning of our destiny together. I felt it.
A little later I went up to Vestal's room.
Her maid met me at the door.
"Mrs. Winters is sleeping," she said. "She doesn't wish to be disturbed."
"Look after her," I said. "If she wants to know, tell her I've gone for a walk."
At ten to nine, I left the hotel and walked along the waterfront, over the Ponte della Paglia, past the Doges' Palace to the square of San Marco.
There was a big crowd in the square, moving slowly around the arcade, looking at the brilliantly lit shops, or sitting at tables, listening to an orchestra that played outside one of the many cafes.
I stood before the great doors of San Marco. Against the purple sky I could see the four bronze horses that stood sentinel on the roof of the basilica.
I was one of many people standing before the building, and I looked anxiously from right to left for Eve.
There was no sign of her, but I waited—sure she would come.
The bronze giants on the Clock Tower were striking the bell for nine o'clock when I felt a hand touch mine.
I turned quickly, my heart skipping a beat.
A girl in a white evening dress, held up by a narrow strap of brilliants stood close to me: a dark-haired beauty whose
Don't jump to the conclusion that it was at this moment I planned to murder her. I never thought of murder, but it did flash through my mind that she might fall ill; she might meet with an accident; she might die.
What an easy way out for me if she did! No planning, no persuading, no disappointments, no frustrations and no more playacting.
If she died. .. .
We spent the next afternoon in the violent heat of a glass factory at Murano, watching men fashion miracles out of molten glass, and we were glad to get back to the cool of our sitting room.
"I guess I'll take a shower," I said. "That factory was too damned hot."
"Yes, it was hot," Vestal returned, sitting limply in a chair. She held her head in her hands. "It's given me a headache."
"Have a drink?"
"No, I don't think I will. I'll just sit for a moment and rest. I’ll be all right. What shall we do tonight, Chad?"
"Whatever you like. Want a gondola?"
"Let's decide after dinner."
I went into the bathroom and took a shower. After I had changed I returned to the sitting room. Vestal wasn't there. I looked for her in the bedroom. I found her lying on the bed, her face drawn and white.
"What's the matter?" I asked, bending over her. "Don't you feel well?"
"I have a terrible headache and I feel sick."
I looked down at her. I could find no pity for her. She looked hideous and awful.
"I'm sorry. I expect the heat has upset you. Why not go to bed?"
"I've taken some Veganin. I'll be all right in a little while."
"Well, I guess I'll have a drink. You take it easy. I'll be up in a few minutes."
I went along to Eve's room and knocked on the door. She opened the door and looked inquiringly at me. She wasn't wearing her glasses, and although her scraped back hair still gave her the spinsterish look, there was that hint of beauty I had seen before.
"Mrs. Winters has a bad headache," I said. "You might see if you can do anything for her."
"I'll go at once."
"She may feel like going to bed," I said, aware that my voice was a little unsteady. "If she does, will you keep me company tonight?"
Her blue eyes were completely expressionless as she said, "She will want me to stay with her."
"She may not. If she doesn't, will you meet me outside the San Marco at nine?"
"I don't think I shall be able to," she said and moving past me, she walked quickly along the corridor to Vestal's room.
I went down to the bar, ordered a double whisky and drank it slowly.
My hand was shaking. I was surprised the barman didn't notice the way my heart was pounding.
No other woman had ever made me feel like this. I knew instinctively that Eve would be waiting for me at nine. The pattern was falling into place. This night was to be the beginning of our destiny together. I felt it.
A little later I went up to Vestal's room.
Her maid met me at the door.
"Mrs. Winters is sleeping," she said. "She doesn't wish to be disturbed."
"Look after her," I said. "If she wants to know, tell her I've gone for a walk."
At ten to nine, I left the hotel and walked along the waterfront, over the Ponte della Paglia, past the Doges' Palace to the square of San Marco.
There was a big crowd in the square, moving slowly around the arcade, looking at the brilliantly lit shops, or sitting at tables, listening to an orchestra that played outside one of the many cafes.
I stood before the great doors of San Marco. Against the purple sky I could see the four bronze horses that stood sentinel on the roof of the basilica.
I was one of many people standing before the building, and I looked anxiously from right to left for Eve.
There was no sign of her, but I waited—sure she would come.
The bronze giants on the Clock Tower were striking the bell for nine o'clock when I felt a hand touch mine.
I turned quickly, my heart skipping a beat.
A girl in a white evening dress, held up by a narrow strap of brilliants stood close to me: a dark-haired beauty whose
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