ht to carry； being empty except for two shirts； and stood under the roof of the station in the rain while the train went on。 I found a man in the station and asked him if he knew what hotels were open。 The Grand…Hotel & des Isles Borrom閑s was open and several small hotels that stayed open all the year。 I started in the rain for the Isles Borrom閑s carrying my bag。 I saw a carriage ing down the street and signalled to the driver。 It was better to arrive in a carriage。 We drove up to the carriage entrance of the big hotel and the concierge came out with an umbrella and was very polite。
I took a good room。 It was very big and light and looked out on the lake。 The clouds were down over the lake but it would be beautiful with the sunlight。 I was expecting my wife； I said。 There was a big double bed； a _letto matrimoniale_ with a satin coverlet。 The hotel was very luxurious。 I went down the long halls； down the wide stairs； through the rooms to the bar。 I knew the barman and sat on a high stool and ate salted almonds and potato chips。 The martini felt cool and clean。
〃What are you doing here in _borghese？_〃 the barman asked after he had mixed a second martini。
〃I am on leave。 Convalescing…leave。〃
〃There is no one here。 I don't know why they keep the hotel open。〃
〃Have you been fishing？〃
〃I've caught some beautiful pieces。 Trolling this time of year you catch some beautiful pieces。〃
〃Did you ever get the tobacco I sent？〃
〃Yes。 Didn't you get my card？〃
I laughed。 I had not been able to get the tobacco。 It was American pipe…tobacco that he wanted； but my relatives had stopped sending it or it was being held up。 Anyway it never came。
〃I'll get some somewhere；〃 I said。 〃Tell me have you seen two English girls in