your old tooth…brushing glass。 I kept it all the time to remind me of you。〃
〃To remind you to brush your teeth。〃
〃No。 I have my own too。 I kept this to remind me of you trying to brush away the Villa Rossa from your teeth in the morning； swearing and eating aspirin and cursing harlots。 Every time I see that glass I think of you trying to clean your conscience with a toothbrush。〃 He came over to the bed。 〃Kiss me once and tell me you're not serious。〃
〃I never kiss you。 You're an ape。〃
〃I know； you are the fine good Anglo…Saxon boy。 I know。 You are the remorse boy； I know。 I will wait till I see the Anglo…Saxon brushing away harlotry with a toothbrush。〃
〃Put some cognac in the glass。〃
We touched glasses and drank。 Rinaldi laughed at me。
〃I will get you drunk and take out your liver and put you in a good Italian liver and make you a man again。〃
I held the glass for some more cognac。 It was dark outside now。 Holding the glass of cognac； I went over and opened the window。 The rain had stopped falling。 It was colder outside and there was a mist in the trees。
〃Don't throw the cognac out the window；〃 Rinaldi said。 〃If you can't drink it give it to me。〃
〃Go something yourself；〃 I said。 I was glad to see Rinaldi again。 He had spent two years teasing me and I had always liked it。 We understood each other very well。
〃Are you married？〃 he asked from the bed。 I was standing against the wall by the window。
〃Not yet。〃
〃Are you in love？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃With that English girl？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Poor baby。 Is she good to you？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃I mean is she good to you practically speaking？〃
〃Shut up。〃
〃I will。 You will see I am a man of extreme delicacy。 Does sh