Chapter 8 chapter eight

During this time, Margot had already rented an apartment and started buying household appliances.She first bought a refrigerator.Albinas was very generous and willing to give money, but he was a little risky in spending the money, because he had never seen the apartment—he didn't even know the address of the apartment.She said it would be more interesting for him to visit her new place when it was fully furnished. A week passed.He thought she would call on Saturday.He is on the phone all day.The shiny telephone remained silent.By Monday, he concluded she had cheated him—slid off with the money and never showed up again.In the evening Paul came.Now this kind of visit is like an ordeal for both of them.To make matters worse, Elizabeth was not at home.Paul sat in the study, smoking a cigarette opposite Obinas, staring at the cigarette butt in his hand.He's actually lost weight recently. "He knows it all," Albinus thought unhappily. "Hmph, so what if you know? He is also a man, so he should understand the situation of a man."

Irma ran in.Paul's face brightened.He held Irma on his lap and she pounded his stomach with her small fists to make herself more comfortable.He snorted comically twice. Then Elizabeth came back from her bridge game.Thinking about having dinner soon, and thinking about the long night after the meal, Obinas suddenly felt restless.He said he wasn't home for dinner.His wife asked him kindly why he didn't say it earlier. He has only one wish: to find Margo immediately, no matter the cost.Fate has made a promise to him, and there is no reason to play tricks on him anymore.In a moment of impatience he decided to take a very bold course of action.He knew where she lived before, that she lived with her aunt.He found the place, walked into the backyard, saw a maid making a bed by an open window on the first floor, and asked her.

"Miss Peters?" she asked, holding up the pillow she was beating. "Oh, she probably moved. But you'd better see for yourself. Fifth floor, the door on the left." A scruffy woman with bloodshot eyes opened the door a crack without taking off the chain.She asked him what he was doing. "I'll inquire about the new address of Miss Peters, who was living here with her aunt." "Oh, what's going on?" The woman suddenly showed interest, and finally took off the door chain.She led him into a very small living room, and when he moved around a little, all kinds of things in the room trembled and made tinkling noises.On the table, covered with a tan-stained American tablecloth, lay a plate of mashed potatoes, a torn paper bag of salt, and three empty beer bottles.She smiled mysteriously and asked him to sit down.

"If I were her aunt," she winked, "I don't know her address. Hmm," she got a little excited, "she doesn't have any aunts at all." "Drunk," thought Albinus wearily. "Excuse me," said he, "can you tell me where she went?" "She rented a room with me earlier," said the woman thoughtfully.She thought resentfully that Margo was really unkind, and had concealed this rich friend and her new address from her.However, it didn't take her much trouble to find out where Margot lived now. "What should I do?" Obinas asked. "Can you tell me where to find her?"

Hmph, really heartless.She helped Margo like that before.Now she didn't know if telling the truth would do Margo good or bad (she hoped it would).But the tall, blue-eyed, restless gentleman seemed so anxious that she answered his question with a sigh. "They courted me too. It was a long time ago," she babbled, nodding as she sent him out. "They really courted me." Seven thirty.The lights in the street were all on.At dusk, the soft orange light looks beautiful.The sky was still blue, with a lone orange-red cloud in the distance.This ambiguous interlacing between day and dusk made Obinas a little dizzy.

"In a little while, I'll be in heaven," he thought.His taxi whizzed along the asphalt. There are three tall poplar trees in front of the big brick apartment where Margo lives now.There was a new bronze plate nailed to her door with her name engraved on it.A large woman with a swollen arm ran in to announce his presence. "A cook has been hired," he thought excitedly. "Go in," said the cook back.He straightened his thinning hair and walked in. Margot, in her dressing gown, was lying on an ugly calico-covered sofa with her arms behind her head and an open book on her stomach, cover up.

"You're so quick," she said, holding out a hand lazily. "Hey, you seem to know I'm coming," he said softly. "Guess how I found your address." "I wrote to give you the address," she sighed, throwing her arms behind her head again. "That's funny," Albinas said to himself, not paying attention to what she said-he kept staring at the lipsticked lips, thinking that after a while... "It's funny, you make up Why is my aunt coaxing me?" "What are you doing there?" Margo suddenly became angry. "I wrote the address on the letter - it's in the upper right hand corner, clearly written."

"Upper right corner? Clearly?" Obinas frowned suspiciously. "What are you talking about?" She snapped the book shut and sat up on the couch. "You didn't get my letter?" "What letter?" Albinus asked—he suddenly covered his mouth with his hand, his eyes widened. "I sent you a letter this morning," she said, lying down again, staring at him incredulously. "I reckon you'll get the letter in the evening mail and come see me straight away." "You lied to me!" Obinas yelled. "Of course I did. I can recite the letter to you: 'Obi dear, the nest is ready and the bird is waiting for you. But don't hold me too tight, it will kill your baby Spoiled.' That's about it."

"Margot," he said hoarsely, "Margot, why are you so reckless? I left the house before I got the letter. The postman... won't be here until a quarter to eight. Now it's..." "It's not my fault," she said. "Really, you are such a difficult person to serve. My letter is so sweet." She shrugged, picked up the book, and turned her back to him.A photograph of Greta Garbo is printed on the right-hand page. Albinus thought: "It's strange that I'll notice a photograph when this disaster strikes." It was twenty-eight.Margot lay curled up, motionless, like a lizard.

"You ruined..." He yelled loudly, but swallowed the words back.He ran out the door, down the stairs, and jumped into a taxi.He sat on the edge of the seat, leaning forward (thus shortening the distance by a few inches), his eyes fixed on the driver's back—there was no hope in the man's back. Got home.He jumped out of the car and handed the driver a gold coin like in the movie without even looking at it.Walking to the garden railing, he saw the familiar figure—the thin postman with splayed feet talking to the squat janitor. "Is there a letter from me?" Obinas asked out of breath.

"It's up, sir," said the postman with a friendly smile. Obinas looked up, and all the windows in his apartment were brightly lit—somewhat abnormal.Gritting his teeth, he walked into the apartment and started upstairs.First layer, then second layer. "Listen to me...a young painter asked me for help...she's out of her mind and loves to write love letters to strangers."...It's all bullshit—it's irreparable this time. Before reaching his own door, he turned around and ran downstairs.A cat crosses the garden path and nimbly slips over the railing. Ten minutes later he returned to the apartment he had just visited with such joy.Margo lay curled up on the couch, still maintaining the original posture - like a dormant lizard.The book was still open, still on the same page.Albinus sat next to her, rattling his knuckles. "Don't wring your fingers," said Margot without looking up. He stopped and opened it again after a while. "Has the letter arrived?" "Oh, Margo," he cleared his throat several times. "It's too late, too late," he cried, his voice trembling. He got up, paced the room, blew his nose, and sat down in the chair again. "She opens all my letters," he said, staring tearfully at the tip of his toe, trying to match it with the quivering pattern on the carpet. "You should have forbidden her to read your letter." "Margot, you don't understand...it's always been a habit, a pleasure, for us. Sometimes I miss the letter before I can read it. I get all kinds of interesting letters, how can I keep her from reading them?" I can't imagine what she's going to do now. If a miracle happens, even just this once... maybe she's busy with something else... maybe she's... oh!" "Please don't show your face when she comes here. I'll see her alone, in the living room." "Meet who? When?" he asked.He vaguely remembered the drunken woman he had seen - it seemed a long time ago. "When? Anytime. Doesn't she already know my address?" Obinas still didn't understand. "Oh, I see," he murmured at last. "You're a fool, Margot! Seriously, it would never have happened, anyway. She's not that kind of person." "That would be easier," thought Margo.She suddenly elated.After posting the letter, she had expected it to be just a little dispute—he wouldn't let his wife read it, and she got angry, stomped, and cried.So she began to mistrust him, and things were easier.But now luck helped Margot, and the obstacle was cleared away at once.Looking at his dejected look.She let the book slide to the floor and smiled.Now is the time to act, she thought. Margo stretched her waist, and felt her slender body tremble with excitement.She stared at the ceiling and said, "Come here." He came over and sat on the edge of the sofa, shaking his head dejectedly. "Kiss me," she closed her eyes. "I'm here to relieve your worries."