I do not knowwhy I made my enquiry as casual as possible.

"Does Mr.Strickland live here by any chance?" I asked.

"Numberthirty-two. On the sixth floor. "

I was sosurprised that for a moment I did not answer.

"Is hein?"

The waiterlooked at a board in the bureau.

"He hasn'tleft his key. Go up and you'll see. "

I thought it aswell to put one more question.

"Madameest la?"

"Monsieurest seul. "

The waiterlooked at me suspiciously as I made my way upstairs. They were dark andairless. There was a foul and musty smell. Three flights up a Woman in adressing-gown, with touzled hair, opened a door and looked at me silently as Ipassed. At length I reached the sixth floor, and knocked at the door numberedthirty-two. There was a sound within, and the door was partly opened. CharlesStrickland stood before me. He uttered not a word. He evidently did not knowme.

I told him myname. I tried my best to assume an airy manner.

"You don'tremember me. I had the pleasure of dining with you last July. "

"Come in," he said cheerily. "I'm delighted to see you. Take a pew. "

我自己不知道为什么我向他打听思特里克兰德时要装出一副漫不经心的样子。

“这里住没住着一位思特里克兰德先生？”我问。

“三十二号，六楼。”

我大吃一惊，一时没有答出话来。

“他在家吗？”

侍者看了看账房里的一块木板。

“他的钥匙不在这里。自己上去看看吧。”

我想不妨再问他一个问题。

“太太也在这里吗③？”

③原文为法语。

“只有先生一个人④。”

④原文为法语。

当我走上楼梯的时候，侍者一直怀疑地打量着我。楼梯又闷又暗，一股污浊的霉味扑鼻而来。三层楼梯上面有一扇门开了，我经过的时候，一个披着睡衣、头发蓬松的女人一声不吭地盯着我。最后，我走到六楼，在三十二号房门上敲了敲。屋里响动了一下，房门开了一条缝。查理斯·思特里克兰德出现在我面前。他一语不发地站在那里，显然没有认出我是谁来。

我通报了姓名。我尽量摆出一副大大咧咧的样子。

“你不记得我了。今年六月我荣幸地在你家吃过饭。”

“进来吧，”他兴致很高地说，“很高兴见到你。坐下。”