TWO PROSTITUTES
445
Somewhat astonished, Giacomo turned to the older woman,
lowering his voice, not so much because he was afraid that the other
would hear him as because he was ashamed of what he was saying.
"I wonder if we mightn't move along. . . . I was thinking I
might go somewhere else, perhaps with just one of you ."
"No, not with just one of us," Rina rejoined promptly. "It's
either both of us or nothing."
"Why so?"
"Because that's the way we do it."
"What shall I do with two women?" Giacomo wondered. The
idea of their being sisters intrigued him. "And how much is it for
you both?"
"Twenty thousand liras. Ten thousand each."
Giacomo could not help thinking that this was quite a lot, but
Rina's tone of voice was such as to rule out any possibility of bar–
gaining.
"Very well," he said . "But where shall we go?"
"To your place," she answered.
"I haven't a place of my own," said Giacomo. "I live in a
boarding-house."
"Then I don't know."
"Can't we go to where you live?"
"I must preserve the sanctity of my home," she said with
mellifluous pride.
"You take people there all the time!" her sister said languidly,
her bitterness tempered by the effects of the wine.
"Which one of you am I to believe?" Giacomo asked. T hen,
realizing that he had made a faux pas, he added: "Well, just this once
anyhow... ." And he took Rina's hand.
Rina smiled and shook her head.
"I can't take you home. It's impossible."
"How so?"
"It's just impossible, that's all."
Giacomo saw that he had to take another tack.
"Then let's go to a hotel," he said.
"Out of the question! They always ask to see your papers.
"
"What was the name of that hotel where we went a few days
ago with that . .. ?" put in the younger sister with a strange hesita-
