August 7, 2025 • 24 mins
16 - Book 4, Chapters 35 - 36. A Farewell to Arms.
Ernest Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms is often referred to as a war novel, which is true enough. There is certainly blood and gore, along with a measure of dark humor, but the novel is more a love story than an account of battles between soldiers. Hemingway introduces us to Frederic Henry, an American volunteer serving in the sanitary services of the Italian Army in the north of Italy during World War One. He is a Lieutenant supervising ambulance drivers and is often near the front lines. Badly wounded by a shell, Henry passes through a number of surgeries and, while convalescing, meets Catherine Barkley with whom he begins an affair. Their story follows them from Gorizia, to Milan, to Stresa, and, finally, and ironically, to Switzerland, a neutral nation.
Ernest Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms is often referred to as a war novel, which is true enough. There is certainly blood and gore, along with a measure of dark humor, but the novel is more a love story than an account of battles between soldiers. Hemingway introduces us to Frederic Henry, an American volunteer serving in the sanitary services of the Italian Army in the north of Italy during World War One. He is a Lieutenant supervising ambulance drivers and is often near the front lines. Badly wounded by a shell, Henry passes through a number of surgeries and, while convalescing, meets Catherine Barkley with whom he begins an affair. Their story follows them from Gorizia, to Milan, to Stresa, and, finally, and ironically, to Switzerland, a neutral nation.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Book four, chapters thirty five and thirty six of A
Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain. Chapter thirty five. Catherine went along
the lake to the little hotel to see Ferguson, and
I sat in the bar and read the papers. There
(00:24):
were comfortable leather chairs in the bar, and I sat
in one of them and read until the bar men
came in. The army had not stood at the Taglimento.
They were falling back to the Piave. I remembered the Piave.
The railroad crossed it near San Donna, going up to
the front. It was deep and slow there and quite
narrow down below. There were mosquito marshes and canals. There
(00:48):
were some lovely villas. Once before the war, going up
to the Cortina Tempezo, I had got along it for
several hours in the hills. Up there, it looked like
a trout stream, flowing swiftly, with shallow stretches and pools
under the shadow of the rocks. The road turned off
from it at Kadore. I wondered how the army that
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was up there would come down. The barman came in
Count Greffy was asking for you. He said, who, Count Greffy,
You remember the old man who was here when you
were here before. Is he here? Yes, he's here with
his niece. I told him you were here. He wants
to play billiards. Where is he? He's taking a walk.
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How is he? He's younger than ever. He drank three
champagne cocktails last night before dinner. How's his billiard game good?
He beat me when I told him you were here.
He was very pleased. There is nobody here for him
to play with. Count Greffy was ninety four years old.
He had been a contemporary of Mehernik and was an
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old man with white hair and mustache and beautiful manners.
He had been in the diplomatic service of both Austria
and Ill and his birthday parties were the great social
event of Milan. He was living to be one hundred
years old and played a smoothly fluid game of billiards
that contrast it with his own ninety four year old brittleness.
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I had met him when I had been at Streisa
once before out of season, and while we played billiards,
we drank champagne. I thought it was a splendid custom,
and he gave me fifteen points in a hundred and
beat me. Why didn't you tell me you was here?
I forgot it. Who else is here? No one? You know?
There are only six people altogether. What are you doing now? Nothing?
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Coming out fishing? I could come for an hour. Come on,
bring the trolling line. The barman put on a coat
and we went out. We went down and got a boat,
and I rowed while the barman sat in the stern
and let out the line with a spinner and a
heavy sinker on the end to troll for lake trout.
We rowed along the shore, the barman, holding the line
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in his hand and giving it occasion, jerked forward. Stresa
looked very deserted. From the lake. There were the long
rows of bare trees, the big hotels and the closed villas.
I rowed across to as Labella and went close to
the walls, where the water deep and sharply, and you
saw the rock walls slanting down in the clear water,
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and then up and along to the fisherman's island. The
sun was under a cloud and the water was dark
and smooth and very cold. We did not have a strike,
though we saw some circles on the water from rising fish.
I rode up opposite the fisherman's island, where there were
boats drawn up and men were mending nets. Should we
get a drink? All right? I bought the boat up
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to the stone pier, and the barman pulled in the line,
coiling in the bottom of the boat and hooking the
spinner on the edge of the gunwale. I stepped out
and tied the boat. We went into a little cafe,
sat at a bare wooden table, and ordered, remouth, are
you tired from rowing? No, I'll row back, he said,
I like to row. Maybe if you hold the line
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it will change the luck. All right? Tell me how
goes the war? Rotten? I don't have to go. I'm
too old, like Count Graffy. Maybe you have to go
yet next year they'll call my class, but I won't go.
What will you do? Get out of the country. I
wouldn't go to war. I was at the war once
in Abyssinia. Nicks, why do you go? I dunno? I
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was a fool. Have another vermouth? All right? The barman
rowed back. We trolled up the lake beyond Streisa, and
then went down not far from shore. I held the
taut line and felt the faint pulsing of the spinner
revolving while I looked at the dark November water, at
the lake and the deserted shore. The barman rowed with
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long strokes, and on the forward thrust of the boat,
the line throbbed. Once I had a strike, the line
hardened suddenly and jerked back. I pulled and fell the
live weight at the trout, and then the line throbbed again.
I had missed him. Did he feel big? Pretty big? Once?
When I was out trolling alone, I had the line
on my teeth and one struck and nearly took my
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mouth out. The best way is to have it over
your leg, I said, Then you feel it and don't
lose your teeth. I put my hand in the water.
It was very cold. We were almost opposite the hotel.
Now I have to go in. The barman said to
be there for eleven o'clock. Lur du cactail. All right.
I pulled in the line and wrapped it on a
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stick notched at each end. The barman put the boat
in a little slip from the stone wall and locked
it with a chain and padlock. Any time you wanted.
He said, I'll give you the key. Thanks. We went
up to the hotel and in the bar. I did
not want another drink so early in the morning, so
I went up to our room. The maid had just
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finished doing the room and Catherine was not yet back.
I lay down on the bed and tried to keep
from thinking. When Catherine came back, it was all right again.
Ferguson was downstairs. She said she was coming to lunch.
I knew you wouldn't mind. Catherine said no. I said,
what's the matter, darling. I don't know. I know you
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haven't got anything to do. All you have is me
and I go away. It's true. I'm sorry, darling. I
know it must be a dreadful feeling to have nothing
at all. Suddenly my life used to be full of everything.
I said, Now, if you oughn't with me, I haven't
a thing in the world. But I'll be with you.
I was only gone for two hours. Isn't there anything
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you can do? I went fishing with the barman. Wasn't
it fun? Yes, don't think about me when I'm not here.
That's the way I worked it at the front. But
there was something to do. Then othello with his occupation gone.
She teased Othello was a nigger? I said, besides, I'm
not jealous. I'm just so in love with you that
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there isn't anything else. Will you be a good boy
and be nice to Ferguson. I'm always nice to Ferguson
unless she curses me. Be nice to her. Think how
much we have and she hasn't anything. I don't think
she wants what we have. You don't know much, darling,
for such a wise boy. I'll be nice to her,
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I know you will. You're so sweet. She won't stay afterward,
will she No, I'll get rid of her and then
we'll come up here. Of course, what do you think
I want to do? We went downstairs to have lunch
with Ferguson. She was very impressed by the hotel and
the splendor of the dining room. We had a good
lunch with a couple of bottles of white capri. Count
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Graffey came into the dining room and bowed to us.
His niece, who looked a little like my grandmother, was
with him. I told Catherine and Ferguson about him, and
Ferguson was very impressed. The hotel was very big and
grand and empty. But the food was good, the wine
was very pleasant, and finally, the wine made us all
feel very well. Well. Catherine had no need to feel
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any better. She was very happy. Ferguson became quite cheerful.
I felt very well myself. After lunch, Ferguson went back
to her hotel. She was going to lie down for
a while after lunch, she said, along late in the afternoon,
some one knocked on our door. Who is it? The
Count Greffey wishes to know if you will play billiards
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with him. I looked at my watch. I had taken
it off and it was under the pillow. Do you
have to go, darling, Catherine whispered, I think i'd better.
The watch was a quarter past four o'clock. Out loud,
I said, tell the Count Graffy, I will be in
the billiard room at five o'clock. At a quarter to five,
I kissed Catherine good bye and went into the bathroom
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to dress, nodding my tie and looking in the glass,
I looked strange to myself in the civilian clothes. I
must remember to buy some more shirts and socks. Will
you be away a long time? Catherine asked. She looked
lovely in the bed, di'd you hand me the brush.
I watched her brushing her hair, holding her head so
the weight of her hair all came on one side.
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It was dark outside, and the light over the head
of the bed shone on her hair and on her
neck and shoulders. I went over and kissed her, and
held her hand with the brush, and her head sunk
back on the pillow. I kissed her neck and shoulders.
I felt faintly, loving her so much. I don't want
to go away. I don't want you to go away.
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I won't go then, yes, go, it's only for a
little while, and then you'll come back. We'll have dinner
up here. Hurry and come back. I found the Count
Greffy in the billiard room. He was practicing strokes, looking
very fragile under the light that came down above the
billiard table. On a card table a little way beyond
the light was a silver icing bucket with the necks
(09:51):
and corks of two champagne bottles showing above the ice.
Count Greffey straightened up when I came toward the table
and walked toward me out his hand. It is such
a great pleasure that you are here. You are very
kind to come to play with me. It was very
nice of you to ask me. Are you quite well?
They told me you were wounded on the ISANSO. I
(10:13):
hope you are well again. I'm very well. Have you
been well? Oh? I'm always well. But I'm getting old.
I detect signs of age now I can't believe it. Yes,
do you want to know? One? It is easier for
me to talk Italian. I discipline myself, but I find
that when I am tired that it is so much
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easier to talk Italian. So I know I must be
getting old. We could talk Italian. I'm a little tired too. Oh,
but when you are tired, it will be easier for
you to talk English. American, Yes, American, you will please
talk American. It is a delightful language. I hardly ever
see Americans. You must miss them. One miss this one's countrymen,
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and especially one's country women. I know that experience. Should
we play or are you too tired? I'm not really tired.
I said that for a joke. What handicap will you
give me? Have you been playing very much? None at all?
You play very well? Ten points and a hundred. You
flatter me fifteen that would be fine, but you will
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beat me. Should we play for a steak? You always
wish to play for a steak? I think we'd better
all right. I will give you eighteen points and we
will play for a franc a point. He played a
lovely game of billiards, and with the handicap I was
only four ahead at fifty. Count Griffey pushed a button
on the wall to ring for the barman. Open one bottle, please,
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he said, Then to me, we will take a little stimulant.
The wine was icy cold and very dry and good.
Should we talk Italian? Would you mind very much? It
is my great weakness. Now we went a playing, sipping
the wine between in shots, speaking in Italian, but talking little,
concentrated on the game. Count Graffi made his one hundredth point,
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and with a handicap I was only at ninety four.
He smiled and patted me on the shoulder. Now we
will drink the other bottle and you will tell me
about the war. He waited for me to sit down
about anything else. I said, you don't want to talk
about it? Good? What have you been reading? Nothing? I said,
I'm afraid I'm very dull. No, but you should read
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what is there written in wartime? There is le Few
by a Frenchman Barbous, there is mister Brightling sees through it?
No he doesn't what he doesn't see through it? Those
books were at the hospital then you have been reading, yes,
but nothing any good, I thought, mister Brightling, a very
good study of the English middle class soul. I don't
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know much about the soul, poor boy. We none of
us know about the soul? Are you CROI hung at night?
Count Graffy smiled and turned the glass with his fingers.
I'd expect it to become more devout as I grow older,
but somehow I haven't. He said. It is a great pity.
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Would you like to live after death? I asked, and
instantly felt a fool to mention death, But he did
not mind the word. It would depend on the life.
This life is very pleasant. I would like to live forever,
he smiled. I very nearly have. We are sitting in
the deep leather chairs, the champagne and the ice bucket,
and are glasses on the table between us. If you
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ever live to be as old as I am, you
will find anything strange. You never seem old. It is
the body that is old. Sometimes I am afraid I
will break off a finger as one breaks a stick
of chalk, And the spirit is no older and not
much wiser. You are wise, No, that is the great
fallacy the wisdom of old men. They do not grow wise,
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they grow careful. Perhaps that is wisdom, It is a
very unattractive wisdom. What do you value most? Someone I
love with me? It is the same. That is not wisdom.
Do you value life? Yes? So do I, because it
is all I have. And to give birthday parties? He laughed.
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You are probably wiser than I. You do not give
birthday parties. We both drank the wine. What do you
think of the war? Really, i asked, I think it
is stupid. Who will win it? Italy? Why they are
a younger nation? Do younger nations always win wars? They
are apt to for a time? Then what happens they
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become older nations? You said you were not wise, dear boy,
that is not wisdom. That is cynicism. Sounds very wise
to me. It's not particularly I can quote you the
examples on the other side, but it is not bad.
Have we finished the champagne almost? Should we drink some more?
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Then I must dress. Perhaps we'd better not. Now you
are sure you don't want more? Yes, I stood up.
I hope you will be very fortunate, very happy, and
very very healthy. Thank you, and I hope you will
live forever. Thank you. I have. And if you ever
become devout, pray for me if I am dead, I
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am asking several of my friends to do that. I'd
expect it to become devout myself. But it has not come.
I thought. He smiled sadly, but I could not tell.
He was so old and his face was very wrinkled,
so that a smile used so many lines that all
gradations were lost. I might become very devout, I said. Anyway,
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I'll pray for you. I had always expected to become devout.
All my family died very devout. But somehow it does
not come. It's too early, maybe it's too late. Perhaps
I have outlived my religious feeling. My own comes only
at night. Then, too, You are in love, do not
forget that is a religious feeling, you believe? So of course,
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he took a step toward the table. You are very
kind to play. It was a great pleasure. We will
walk upstairs together. Chapter thirty six. That night there was
a storm, and I woke to hear the rain lashing
the window panes. Who was coming in the open window?
Some one had knocked on the door. I went to
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the door, very softly, not to disturb Catherine, and opened it.
The bar man stood there. He wore his overcoat and
carried his wet hat. Can I speak to you, tenante?
What's the matter? It's a very serious matter. I looked around.
The room was dark. I saw the water on the
floor from the window. Come in, I said. I took
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him by the arm into the bathroom, locked the door
and put on the light. I sat on the edge
of the bath tub. What's the matter, Emelia? Are you
in trouble? No, you are, tenant. They yes, they're going
to arrest you in the morning. Yes, I came to
tell you. I was out in the town and I
heard them talking in a cafe. I see he stood there,
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his coat wet, holding his wet hat, and said nothing.
Why are they going to arrest me for something about
the war? Do you know what? No? But I know
that they know you were here before as an officer,
and now you are here out of uniform. After this retreat.
They arrest everybody. I thought a minute. What time do
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they come to arrest me in the morning. I don't
know the time. What do you say to do? He
put his hat in the wash bowl. It was very
wet and had been dripping on the floor. If you
have nothing to fear and arrest is nothing, But it
is always bad to be arrested, especially now. I don't
want to be arrested and go to Switzerland. How in
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my boat there is a storm, I said, The storm
is over. It is rough, but you will be all right.
When should we go right away? They might come to
arrest you early in the morning. What about our bags?
Get them packed? Get your lady dressed. I will take
care of them. Where will you be I will wait here.
I don't want anyone to see me outside in the hall.
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I opened the door, closed it and went in the bedroom.
Catherine was awake. What is it, darling, It's all right, kat,
I said. Would you like to get dressed right away
and go in a boat to Switzerland? Would you no?
I said, I'd like to go back to bed. What
is it about? The barman says they are going to
arrest me in the morning. Is the barman crazy? No?
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Then please hurry darling, and get dressed so we can start.
She sat up on the side of the bed. She
was still sleepy. Is that the barman in the bathroom? Yes,
then I won't wash. Please look the other way, darling,
and I'll be dressed in just a minute. I saw
her white back as she took off her nightgown, and
then I looked away because she wanted me to. She
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was beginning to be a little big with the child,
and she did not want me to see her. I
dressed here in the rain on the windows. I did
not have much to put in my bag. There's plenty
of room in my bag. Cat, if you need any
I'm almost packed, she said, Darling, I'm awfully stupid. But
why is the barman in the bathroom. Sh he's waiting
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to take our bags down. He's awfully nice. He's an
old friend, I said. I nearly sent him some pipe tobacco.
Once I looked out the open window at the dark night,
I could not see the lake, only the dark and
the rain, but the wind was quieter. I'm ready, darling,
Catherine said, all right. I went to the bathroom door.
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Here are the bags, Amelia, I said. The barman took
the two bags. Very good to help us, Catherine said,
that's nothing, lady. The barman said, I'm glad to help you,
just so I don't get in trouble myself. Listen, he
said to me, I'll take these out of the servant's
stairs and to the boat. You just go out as
though you were going for a walk. It's a lovely
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night for a walk. Catherine said, it's a bad night,
all right. I'm glad I've an umbrella, Catherine said. We
walked down the hall and down the wide, thickly carpeted stairs.
At the foot of the stairs by the door, the
porter sat behind his desk. He looked surprised at seeing us.
You're not going out, sir, he asked, yes, I said,
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we're going to see the storm along the lake. Haven't
you got an umbrella, sir, no, I said, this coat
sheds water. He looked at it doubtfully. I'll get you
an umbrella, sir, he said. He went away and came
back with a big umbrella. It is a little big, sir,
he said. I gave him a ten lira note. Oh
you're too good, sir, Thank you very much, he said.
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He held the door open and we went out into
the rain. He smiled at Catherine and she smiled at him.
Don't stay out in the storm, he said, you will
get wet, sir and lady. He was only the second porter,
and his English was still literally translated. We'll be back,
I said. We walked down the path under the giant
umbrella and out through the dark wet gardens to the
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road and across the road to the trellised pathway along
the lake. The wind was blowing off shore. Now it
was a cold, wet November wind. I knew it was
snowing in the mountains. We came along past the chain
boats and the slips along the quay to where the
barman's boat should be. The water was dark against the stone.
The barman stepped from beside the row of trees. The
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bags are in the boat. He said, I want to
pay you for the boat. I said, how much money
have you got? Not so much. You send me the
money later, that will be all right. How much what
you want? Tell me how much? If you get through
seventy five hundred francs. You won't mind that if you
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get through, all right. Here are sandwiches. He handed me
a package. Everything there was in the bar. It's all here.
This is a bottle of brandy and a bottle of wine.
I put them in my bag. Let me pay you
for those, all right, give me fifty liri. I gave
it to him. The brandy is good, he said, you
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don't need to be afraid to give it to your lady.
She'd better get in the boat. He held the boat
it rising and falling against the stone wall, and I
helped Catherine in. She sat in the stern and pulled
her cape around her. You know where to go up
the lake? You know how far past Luino, past Luino Canero, Conobio,
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Toranzano you want in Switzerland until you come to Brizago.
You have to pass Monte Tamara. What time is it,
Catherine asked, it's only eleven o'clock. I said, if you
row all the time, you ought to be there by
seven o'clock in the morning. Is it that far It's
thirty five kilometers. How should we go in this rain?
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We need a compass. No rota Isola Bella. Then on
the other side of Isola Madre. Go with the wind.
The wind will take you to Palanza. You will see
the lights. Then go up the shore. Maybe the wind
will change. No, he said, this wind will blow like
this for three days. It comes straight down from the matorone.
There is a can to bail with. Let me pay
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you something for the boat, now, No, I'd rather take
a chance. You get through. You pay me all you can.
All right. I don't think you'll get drowned. It's good.
Go with the wind up the lake. All right. I
stepped in the boat. Did you leave the money for
the hotel, yes, in an envelope in the room. All right,
good luck, tenante, good luck. We thank you many times.
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You won't thank me if you get drowned. What does
he say, Catherine asked. He says good luck, good luck.
Catherine said, thank you very much. Are you ready? Yes?
He bent down and shoved us off. I dug at
the water with the oars, then waved one hand. The
barman waved back deprecatingly. I saw the lights of the
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hotel and rode out, rowing straight out until they were
out of sight. There was quite a sea running, But
we're going with the wind. And of Chapter thirty six,
Book four, chapters thirty five and thirty six of A
Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain. Chapter thirty five. Catherine went along
the lake to the little hotel to see Ferguson, and
I sat in the bar and read the papers. There
(00:24):
were comfortable leather chairs in the bar, and I sat
in one of them and read until the bar men
came in. The army had not stood at the Taglimento.
They were falling back to the Piave. I remembered the Piave.
The railroad crossed it near San Donna, going up to
the front. It was deep and slow there and quite
narrow down below. There were mosquito marshes and canals. There
(00:48):
were some lovely villas. Once before the war, going up
to the Cortina Tempezo, I had got along it for
several hours in the hills. Up there, it looked like
a trout stream, flowing swiftly, with shallow stretches and pools
under the shadow of the rocks. The road turned off
from it at Kadore. I wondered how the army that
(01:10):
was up there would come down. The barman came in
Count Greffy was asking for you. He said, who, Count Greffy,
You remember the old man who was here when you
were here before. Is he here? Yes, he's here with
his niece. I told him you were here. He wants
to play billiards. Where is he? He's taking a walk.
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How is he? He's younger than ever. He drank three
champagne cocktails last night before dinner. How's his billiard game good?
He beat me when I told him you were here.
He was very pleased. There is nobody here for him
to play with. Count Greffy was ninety four years old.
He had been a contemporary of Mehernik and was an
(01:52):
old man with white hair and mustache and beautiful manners.
He had been in the diplomatic service of both Austria
and Ill and his birthday parties were the great social
event of Milan. He was living to be one hundred
years old and played a smoothly fluid game of billiards
that contrast it with his own ninety four year old brittleness.
(02:14):
I had met him when I had been at Streisa
once before out of season, and while we played billiards,
we drank champagne. I thought it was a splendid custom,
and he gave me fifteen points in a hundred and
beat me. Why didn't you tell me you was here?
I forgot it. Who else is here? No one? You know?
There are only six people altogether. What are you doing now? Nothing?
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Coming out fishing? I could come for an hour. Come on,
bring the trolling line. The barman put on a coat
and we went out. We went down and got a boat,
and I rowed while the barman sat in the stern
and let out the line with a spinner and a
heavy sinker on the end to troll for lake trout.
We rowed along the shore, the barman, holding the line
(02:57):
in his hand and giving it occasion, jerked forward. Stresa
looked very deserted. From the lake. There were the long
rows of bare trees, the big hotels and the closed villas.
I rowed across to as Labella and went close to
the walls, where the water deep and sharply, and you
saw the rock walls slanting down in the clear water,
(03:18):
and then up and along to the fisherman's island. The
sun was under a cloud and the water was dark
and smooth and very cold. We did not have a strike,
though we saw some circles on the water from rising fish.
I rode up opposite the fisherman's island, where there were
boats drawn up and men were mending nets. Should we
get a drink? All right? I bought the boat up
(03:41):
to the stone pier, and the barman pulled in the line,
coiling in the bottom of the boat and hooking the
spinner on the edge of the gunwale. I stepped out
and tied the boat. We went into a little cafe,
sat at a bare wooden table, and ordered, remouth, are
you tired from rowing? No, I'll row back, he said,
I like to row. Maybe if you hold the line
(04:04):
it will change the luck. All right? Tell me how
goes the war? Rotten? I don't have to go. I'm
too old, like Count Graffy. Maybe you have to go
yet next year they'll call my class, but I won't go.
What will you do? Get out of the country. I
wouldn't go to war. I was at the war once
in Abyssinia. Nicks, why do you go? I dunno? I
(04:29):
was a fool. Have another vermouth? All right? The barman
rowed back. We trolled up the lake beyond Streisa, and
then went down not far from shore. I held the
taut line and felt the faint pulsing of the spinner
revolving while I looked at the dark November water, at
the lake and the deserted shore. The barman rowed with
(04:50):
long strokes, and on the forward thrust of the boat,
the line throbbed. Once I had a strike, the line
hardened suddenly and jerked back. I pulled and fell the
live weight at the trout, and then the line throbbed again.
I had missed him. Did he feel big? Pretty big? Once?
When I was out trolling alone, I had the line
on my teeth and one struck and nearly took my
(05:12):
mouth out. The best way is to have it over
your leg, I said, Then you feel it and don't
lose your teeth. I put my hand in the water.
It was very cold. We were almost opposite the hotel.
Now I have to go in. The barman said to
be there for eleven o'clock. Lur du cactail. All right.
I pulled in the line and wrapped it on a
(05:34):
stick notched at each end. The barman put the boat
in a little slip from the stone wall and locked
it with a chain and padlock. Any time you wanted.
He said, I'll give you the key. Thanks. We went
up to the hotel and in the bar. I did
not want another drink so early in the morning, so
I went up to our room. The maid had just
(05:54):
finished doing the room and Catherine was not yet back.
I lay down on the bed and tried to keep
from thinking. When Catherine came back, it was all right again.
Ferguson was downstairs. She said she was coming to lunch.
I knew you wouldn't mind. Catherine said no. I said,
what's the matter, darling. I don't know. I know you
(06:16):
haven't got anything to do. All you have is me
and I go away. It's true. I'm sorry, darling. I
know it must be a dreadful feeling to have nothing
at all. Suddenly my life used to be full of everything.
I said, Now, if you oughn't with me, I haven't
a thing in the world. But I'll be with you.
I was only gone for two hours. Isn't there anything
(06:36):
you can do? I went fishing with the barman. Wasn't
it fun? Yes, don't think about me when I'm not here.
That's the way I worked it at the front. But
there was something to do. Then othello with his occupation gone.
She teased Othello was a nigger? I said, besides, I'm
not jealous. I'm just so in love with you that
(06:58):
there isn't anything else. Will you be a good boy
and be nice to Ferguson. I'm always nice to Ferguson
unless she curses me. Be nice to her. Think how
much we have and she hasn't anything. I don't think
she wants what we have. You don't know much, darling,
for such a wise boy. I'll be nice to her,
(07:18):
I know you will. You're so sweet. She won't stay afterward,
will she No, I'll get rid of her and then
we'll come up here. Of course, what do you think
I want to do? We went downstairs to have lunch
with Ferguson. She was very impressed by the hotel and
the splendor of the dining room. We had a good
lunch with a couple of bottles of white capri. Count
(07:40):
Graffey came into the dining room and bowed to us.
His niece, who looked a little like my grandmother, was
with him. I told Catherine and Ferguson about him, and
Ferguson was very impressed. The hotel was very big and
grand and empty. But the food was good, the wine
was very pleasant, and finally, the wine made us all
feel very well. Well. Catherine had no need to feel
(08:02):
any better. She was very happy. Ferguson became quite cheerful.
I felt very well myself. After lunch, Ferguson went back
to her hotel. She was going to lie down for
a while after lunch, she said, along late in the afternoon,
some one knocked on our door. Who is it? The
Count Greffey wishes to know if you will play billiards
(08:23):
with him. I looked at my watch. I had taken
it off and it was under the pillow. Do you
have to go, darling, Catherine whispered, I think i'd better.
The watch was a quarter past four o'clock. Out loud,
I said, tell the Count Graffy, I will be in
the billiard room at five o'clock. At a quarter to five,
I kissed Catherine good bye and went into the bathroom
(08:45):
to dress, nodding my tie and looking in the glass,
I looked strange to myself in the civilian clothes. I
must remember to buy some more shirts and socks. Will
you be away a long time? Catherine asked. She looked
lovely in the bed, di'd you hand me the brush.
I watched her brushing her hair, holding her head so
the weight of her hair all came on one side.
(09:08):
It was dark outside, and the light over the head
of the bed shone on her hair and on her
neck and shoulders. I went over and kissed her, and
held her hand with the brush, and her head sunk
back on the pillow. I kissed her neck and shoulders.
I felt faintly, loving her so much. I don't want
to go away. I don't want you to go away.
(09:29):
I won't go then, yes, go, it's only for a
little while, and then you'll come back. We'll have dinner
up here. Hurry and come back. I found the Count
Greffy in the billiard room. He was practicing strokes, looking
very fragile under the light that came down above the
billiard table. On a card table a little way beyond
the light was a silver icing bucket with the necks
(09:51):
and corks of two champagne bottles showing above the ice.
Count Greffey straightened up when I came toward the table
and walked toward me out his hand. It is such
a great pleasure that you are here. You are very
kind to come to play with me. It was very
nice of you to ask me. Are you quite well?
They told me you were wounded on the ISANSO. I
(10:13):
hope you are well again. I'm very well. Have you
been well? Oh? I'm always well. But I'm getting old.
I detect signs of age now I can't believe it. Yes,
do you want to know? One? It is easier for
me to talk Italian. I discipline myself, but I find
that when I am tired that it is so much
(10:34):
easier to talk Italian. So I know I must be
getting old. We could talk Italian. I'm a little tired too. Oh,
but when you are tired, it will be easier for
you to talk English. American, Yes, American, you will please
talk American. It is a delightful language. I hardly ever
see Americans. You must miss them. One miss this one's countrymen,
(10:59):
and especially one's country women. I know that experience. Should
we play or are you too tired? I'm not really tired.
I said that for a joke. What handicap will you
give me? Have you been playing very much? None at all?
You play very well? Ten points and a hundred. You
flatter me fifteen that would be fine, but you will
(11:22):
beat me. Should we play for a steak? You always
wish to play for a steak? I think we'd better
all right. I will give you eighteen points and we
will play for a franc a point. He played a
lovely game of billiards, and with the handicap I was
only four ahead at fifty. Count Griffey pushed a button
on the wall to ring for the barman. Open one bottle, please,
(11:45):
he said, Then to me, we will take a little stimulant.
The wine was icy cold and very dry and good.
Should we talk Italian? Would you mind very much? It
is my great weakness. Now we went a playing, sipping
the wine between in shots, speaking in Italian, but talking little,
concentrated on the game. Count Graffi made his one hundredth point,
(12:08):
and with a handicap I was only at ninety four.
He smiled and patted me on the shoulder. Now we
will drink the other bottle and you will tell me
about the war. He waited for me to sit down
about anything else. I said, you don't want to talk
about it? Good? What have you been reading? Nothing? I said,
I'm afraid I'm very dull. No, but you should read
(12:33):
what is there written in wartime? There is le Few
by a Frenchman Barbous, there is mister Brightling sees through it?
No he doesn't what he doesn't see through it? Those
books were at the hospital then you have been reading, yes,
but nothing any good, I thought, mister Brightling, a very
good study of the English middle class soul. I don't
(12:55):
know much about the soul, poor boy. We none of
us know about the soul? Are you CROI hung at night?
Count Graffy smiled and turned the glass with his fingers.
I'd expect it to become more devout as I grow older,
but somehow I haven't. He said. It is a great pity.
(13:16):
Would you like to live after death? I asked, and
instantly felt a fool to mention death, But he did
not mind the word. It would depend on the life.
This life is very pleasant. I would like to live forever,
he smiled. I very nearly have. We are sitting in
the deep leather chairs, the champagne and the ice bucket,
and are glasses on the table between us. If you
(13:38):
ever live to be as old as I am, you
will find anything strange. You never seem old. It is
the body that is old. Sometimes I am afraid I
will break off a finger as one breaks a stick
of chalk, And the spirit is no older and not
much wiser. You are wise, No, that is the great
fallacy the wisdom of old men. They do not grow wise,
(14:01):
they grow careful. Perhaps that is wisdom, It is a
very unattractive wisdom. What do you value most? Someone I
love with me? It is the same. That is not wisdom.
Do you value life? Yes? So do I, because it
is all I have. And to give birthday parties? He laughed.
(14:24):
You are probably wiser than I. You do not give
birthday parties. We both drank the wine. What do you
think of the war? Really, i asked, I think it
is stupid. Who will win it? Italy? Why they are
a younger nation? Do younger nations always win wars? They
are apt to for a time? Then what happens they
(14:47):
become older nations? You said you were not wise, dear boy,
that is not wisdom. That is cynicism. Sounds very wise
to me. It's not particularly I can quote you the
examples on the other side, but it is not bad.
Have we finished the champagne almost? Should we drink some more?
(15:09):
Then I must dress. Perhaps we'd better not. Now you
are sure you don't want more? Yes, I stood up.
I hope you will be very fortunate, very happy, and
very very healthy. Thank you, and I hope you will
live forever. Thank you. I have. And if you ever
become devout, pray for me if I am dead, I
(15:29):
am asking several of my friends to do that. I'd
expect it to become devout myself. But it has not come.
I thought. He smiled sadly, but I could not tell.
He was so old and his face was very wrinkled,
so that a smile used so many lines that all
gradations were lost. I might become very devout, I said. Anyway,
(15:49):
I'll pray for you. I had always expected to become devout.
All my family died very devout. But somehow it does
not come. It's too early, maybe it's too late. Perhaps
I have outlived my religious feeling. My own comes only
at night. Then, too, You are in love, do not
forget that is a religious feeling, you believe? So of course,
(16:13):
he took a step toward the table. You are very
kind to play. It was a great pleasure. We will
walk upstairs together. Chapter thirty six. That night there was
a storm, and I woke to hear the rain lashing
the window panes. Who was coming in the open window?
Some one had knocked on the door. I went to
(16:35):
the door, very softly, not to disturb Catherine, and opened it.
The bar man stood there. He wore his overcoat and
carried his wet hat. Can I speak to you, tenante?
What's the matter? It's a very serious matter. I looked around.
The room was dark. I saw the water on the
floor from the window. Come in, I said. I took
(16:57):
him by the arm into the bathroom, locked the door
and put on the light. I sat on the edge
of the bath tub. What's the matter, Emelia? Are you
in trouble? No, you are, tenant. They yes, they're going
to arrest you in the morning. Yes, I came to
tell you. I was out in the town and I
heard them talking in a cafe. I see he stood there,
(17:20):
his coat wet, holding his wet hat, and said nothing.
Why are they going to arrest me for something about
the war? Do you know what? No? But I know
that they know you were here before as an officer,
and now you are here out of uniform. After this retreat.
They arrest everybody. I thought a minute. What time do
(17:41):
they come to arrest me in the morning. I don't
know the time. What do you say to do? He
put his hat in the wash bowl. It was very
wet and had been dripping on the floor. If you
have nothing to fear and arrest is nothing, But it
is always bad to be arrested, especially now. I don't
want to be arrested and go to Switzerland. How in
(18:05):
my boat there is a storm, I said, The storm
is over. It is rough, but you will be all right.
When should we go right away? They might come to
arrest you early in the morning. What about our bags?
Get them packed? Get your lady dressed. I will take
care of them. Where will you be I will wait here.
I don't want anyone to see me outside in the hall.
(18:27):
I opened the door, closed it and went in the bedroom.
Catherine was awake. What is it, darling, It's all right, kat,
I said. Would you like to get dressed right away
and go in a boat to Switzerland? Would you no?
I said, I'd like to go back to bed. What
is it about? The barman says they are going to
arrest me in the morning. Is the barman crazy? No?
(18:51):
Then please hurry darling, and get dressed so we can start.
She sat up on the side of the bed. She
was still sleepy. Is that the barman in the bathroom? Yes,
then I won't wash. Please look the other way, darling,
and I'll be dressed in just a minute. I saw
her white back as she took off her nightgown, and
then I looked away because she wanted me to. She
(19:12):
was beginning to be a little big with the child,
and she did not want me to see her. I
dressed here in the rain on the windows. I did
not have much to put in my bag. There's plenty
of room in my bag. Cat, if you need any
I'm almost packed, she said, Darling, I'm awfully stupid. But
why is the barman in the bathroom. Sh he's waiting
(19:34):
to take our bags down. He's awfully nice. He's an
old friend, I said. I nearly sent him some pipe tobacco.
Once I looked out the open window at the dark night,
I could not see the lake, only the dark and
the rain, but the wind was quieter. I'm ready, darling,
Catherine said, all right. I went to the bathroom door.
(19:55):
Here are the bags, Amelia, I said. The barman took
the two bags. Very good to help us, Catherine said,
that's nothing, lady. The barman said, I'm glad to help you,
just so I don't get in trouble myself. Listen, he
said to me, I'll take these out of the servant's
stairs and to the boat. You just go out as
though you were going for a walk. It's a lovely
(20:17):
night for a walk. Catherine said, it's a bad night,
all right. I'm glad I've an umbrella, Catherine said. We
walked down the hall and down the wide, thickly carpeted stairs.
At the foot of the stairs by the door, the
porter sat behind his desk. He looked surprised at seeing us.
You're not going out, sir, he asked, yes, I said,
(20:38):
we're going to see the storm along the lake. Haven't
you got an umbrella, sir, no, I said, this coat
sheds water. He looked at it doubtfully. I'll get you
an umbrella, sir, he said. He went away and came
back with a big umbrella. It is a little big, sir,
he said. I gave him a ten lira note. Oh
you're too good, sir, Thank you very much, he said.
(21:01):
He held the door open and we went out into
the rain. He smiled at Catherine and she smiled at him.
Don't stay out in the storm, he said, you will
get wet, sir and lady. He was only the second porter,
and his English was still literally translated. We'll be back,
I said. We walked down the path under the giant
umbrella and out through the dark wet gardens to the
(21:23):
road and across the road to the trellised pathway along
the lake. The wind was blowing off shore. Now it
was a cold, wet November wind. I knew it was
snowing in the mountains. We came along past the chain
boats and the slips along the quay to where the
barman's boat should be. The water was dark against the stone.
The barman stepped from beside the row of trees. The
(21:46):
bags are in the boat. He said, I want to
pay you for the boat. I said, how much money
have you got? Not so much. You send me the
money later, that will be all right. How much what
you want? Tell me how much? If you get through
seventy five hundred francs. You won't mind that if you
(22:07):
get through, all right. Here are sandwiches. He handed me
a package. Everything there was in the bar. It's all here.
This is a bottle of brandy and a bottle of wine.
I put them in my bag. Let me pay you
for those, all right, give me fifty liri. I gave
it to him. The brandy is good, he said, you
(22:27):
don't need to be afraid to give it to your lady.
She'd better get in the boat. He held the boat
it rising and falling against the stone wall, and I
helped Catherine in. She sat in the stern and pulled
her cape around her. You know where to go up
the lake? You know how far past Luino, past Luino Canero, Conobio,
(22:49):
Toranzano you want in Switzerland until you come to Brizago.
You have to pass Monte Tamara. What time is it,
Catherine asked, it's only eleven o'clock. I said, if you
row all the time, you ought to be there by
seven o'clock in the morning. Is it that far It's
thirty five kilometers. How should we go in this rain?
(23:12):
We need a compass. No rota Isola Bella. Then on
the other side of Isola Madre. Go with the wind.
The wind will take you to Palanza. You will see
the lights. Then go up the shore. Maybe the wind
will change. No, he said, this wind will blow like
this for three days. It comes straight down from the matorone.
There is a can to bail with. Let me pay
(23:35):
you something for the boat, now, No, I'd rather take
a chance. You get through. You pay me all you can.
All right. I don't think you'll get drowned. It's good.
Go with the wind up the lake. All right. I
stepped in the boat. Did you leave the money for
the hotel, yes, in an envelope in the room. All right,
good luck, tenante, good luck. We thank you many times.
(24:00):
You won't thank me if you get drowned. What does
he say, Catherine asked. He says good luck, good luck.
Catherine said, thank you very much. Are you ready? Yes?
He bent down and shoved us off. I dug at
the water with the oars, then waved one hand. The
barman waved back deprecatingly. I saw the lights of the
(24:21):
hotel and rode out, rowing straight out until they were
out of sight. There was quite a sea running, But
we're going with the wind. And of Chapter thirty six,
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