Strickland's eyesrested on him, and there was in them a malicious expression. I felt sure he wasseeking for some gibe, could think of none, and so was forced to silence.

"I'vebrought an old friend to see you, " repeated Stroeve, beaming cheerfully.

Stricklandlooked at me thoughtfully for nearly a minute. I did not speak.

"I'venever seen him in my life, " he said.

I do not knowwhy he said this, for I felt certain I had caught a gleam of recognition in hiseyes. I was not so easily abashed as I had been some years earlier.

"I sawyour wife the other day, " I said. "I felt sure you'd like to havethe latest news of her. "

He gave a shortlaugh. His eyes twinkled.

"We had ajolly evening together, " he said. "How long ago is it?"

"Fiveyears. "

He called foranother absinthe. Stroeve, with voluble tongue, explained how he and I had met,and by what an accident we discovered that we both knew Strickland. I do notknow if Strickland listened. He glanced at me once or twice reflectively, butfor the most part seemed occupied with his own thoughts; and certainly withoutStroeve's babble the conversation would have been difficult. In half an hourthe Dutchman, looking at his watch, announced that he must go. He asked whetherI would come too. I thought, alone, I might get something out of Strickland,and so answered that I would stay.

思特里克兰德的目光落到他身上，那里面闪现着某种恶意的讥嘲。我敢说他正在寻找一句什么挖苦话，因为找不到合适的，所以只好不开口。

“我给你带来一位老朋友，他要见你，”施特略夫满脸堆笑地又把见面时的话重复了一遍。

思特里克兰德沉思地把我端详了几乎有一分钟。我始终没说话。

“我一生中也没见过这个人，”他说。

我不知道为什么他要这样说，因为从他眼神里我敢肯定他是认识我的。我不象几年以前那样动不动就感到难为情了。

“我前几天见到你妻子了，”我说，“我想你一定愿意听听她最近的消息。”

他干笑了一声，眼睛里闪着亮。

“咱们曾一起度过一个快活的晚上，”他说，“那是多久以前了？”

“五年了。”

他又要了一杯苦艾酒。施特略夫滔滔不绝地解释，他和我如何会面，如何无意中发现都认识思特里克兰德的事。我不知道这些话思特里克兰德是否听进去了。因为除了有一两次他好象回忆起什么而看了我一眼以外，大部分时间他似乎都在沉思自己的事。如果不是施特略夫唠唠叨叨地说个没完没了，这场谈话肯定要冷场的。半个钟头以后这位荷兰人看了看表，声称他必须回去了。他问我要不要同他一起走。我想剩下我一个人也许还能从思特里克兰德嘴里打听到些什么，所以回答他说我还要坐一会儿。