The Moon And Sixpence 33.1

Two or threedays later Dirk Stroeve called on me."I hearyou've seen Blanche, " he said."How onearth did you find out?""I wastold by someone who saw you sitting with them. Why didn't you tell me?""I thoughtit would only pain you. ""What do Icare if it does? You must know that I want to hear the smallest thing abouther. "I waited forhim to ask me questions."What doesshe look like?" he said."Absolutelyunchanged. ""Does sheseem happy?"I shrugged myshoulders."How can Itell? We were in a cafe; we were playing chess; I had no opportunity to speakto her. ""Oh, butcouldn't you tell by her face?"I shook myhead. I could only repeat that by no word, by no hinted gesture, had she givenan indication of her feelings. He must know better than I how great were herpowers of self-control. He clasped his hands emotionally."Oh, I'mso frightened. I know something is going to happen, something terrible, and Ican do nothing to stop it. ""What sortof thing?" I asked."Oh, Idon't know, " he moaned, seizing his head with his hands. "I foreseesome terrible catastrophe. "两三天以后，戴尔克·施特略夫来找我。“听说你见到勃朗什了？”他说。“你怎么会知道的？”“有人看见你同他们坐在一起，告诉我了。你干嘛不告诉我？”“我怕会使你痛苦。”“使我痛苦又有什么关系？你必须知道，只要是她的事，哪怕最微不足道的，我也想知道。”我等着他向我提问。“她现在是什么样子？”他问。“一点儿也没改变。”“你看她的样子幸福吗？”我耸了耸肩膀。“我怎么知道？我们是在咖啡馆里，我在同思特里克兰德下棋。我没有机会同她谈话。”“啊，但是你从她的面容看不出来吗？”我摇了摇头。我只能把我想到的给他讲了一遍：她既没用话语也没用手势向我透露她的任何感情。他一定比我更了解，她自我克制的力量多么大。戴尔克感情激动地两手紧握在一起。“啊，我非常害怕。我知道一定会发生一件事，一件可怕的事，可是我却没有办法阻止它。”“会发生什么样儿的事？”我问道。“啊，我也不知道，”他用两手把头抱住，呻吟道，“我预见到一件可怕的灾难。”