I'll bet you can sing。〃
He lay back in bed smoking a cigarette。
〃Don't bet too much。 But I can sing though。 It's damned funny； but I can。 I like to sing。 Listen。〃 He roared into 〃Africana；〃 his neck swelling； the veins standing out。 〃I can sing；〃 he said。 〃Whether they like it or not。〃 I looked out of the window。 〃I'll go down and let my cab go。〃
〃e back up； my dear fellow； and we'll have breakfast。〃 He stepped out of bed； stood straight； took a deep breath and menced doing bending exercises。 I went downstairs and paid off the cab。
34
In civilian clothes I felt a masquerader。 I had been in uniform a long time and I missed the feeling of being held by your clothes。 The trousers felt very floppy。 I had bought a ticket at Milan for Stresa。 I had also bought a new hat。 I could not wear Sim's hat but his clothes were fine。 They smelled of tobacco and as I sat in the partment and looked out the window the new hat felt very new and the clothes very old。 I myself felt as sad as the wet Lombard country that was outside through the window。 There were some aviators in the partment who did not think much of me。 They avoided looking at me and were very scornful of a civilian my age。 I did not feel insulted。 In the old days I would have insulted them and picked a fight。 They got off at Gallarate and I was glad to be alone。 I had the paper but I did not read it because I did not want to read about the war。 I was going to forget the war。 I had made a separate peace。 I felt damned lonely and was glad when the train got to Stresa。
At the station I had expected to see the porters from the hotels but there was no one。 The season had been over a long time and no one met the train。 I got down from the train with my bag； it was Sim's bag； and very lig