The Moon And Sixpence 20.1

Dirk Stroeveagreed to fetch me on the following evening and take me to the cafe at whichStrickland was most likely to be found. I was interested to learn that it wasthe same as that at which Strickland and I had drunk absinthe when I had goneover to Paris to see him. The fact that he had never changed suggested asluggishness of habit which seemed to me characteristic.

"There heis, " said Stroeve, as we reached the cafe.

Though it wasOctober, the evening was warm, and the tables on the pavement were crowded. Iran my eyes over them, but did not see Strickland.

"Look.Over there, in the corner. He's playing chess. "

I noticed a manbending over a chess-board, but could see only a large felt hat and a redbeard. We threaded our way among the tables till we came to him.

"Strickland."

He looked up.

"Hulloa,fatty. What do you want?"

"I'vebrought an old friend to see you. "

Strickland gaveme a glance, and evidently did not recognise me. He resumed his scrutiny of thechessboard.

"Sit down,and don't make a noise, " he said.

戴尔克·施特略夫答应第二天晚上来找我，带我到一家多半会找到思特里克兰德的咖啡馆去。我觉得非常有趣，因为我发现这正是上次我来巴黎看思特里克兰德时我们一起在那里饮苦艾酒的地方。这么多年，他连晚上消闲的地方也没有更换，这说明他习性不易改变，据我看来，这也正是他的一种个性。

“他就在那里，”当我们走到这家咖啡馆的时候，施特略夫说。

虽然季节已是十月，晚饭后还很暖和，摆在人行道上的咖啡台子坐满了人。我在人群里张望了一会儿，并没有看到思特里克兰德。

“看哪，他就坐在那边，在一个角落里。他在同人下棋呢。”

我看见一个人俯身在棋盘上，我只能看到一顶大毡帽和一捧红胡须。我们从桌子中间穿过去，走到他跟前。

“思特里克兰德。”

他抬头看了看。

“哈啰，胖子。你有什么事？”

“我给你带来一位老朋友，他想见你。”

思特里克兰德看了我一个眼，显然没有认出我是谁来。他的眼睛又回到棋盘上。

“坐下，别出声音，”他说。