PARTISAN REVIEW
353
Never say that, said Camier.
So they adjourned across the way.
Sitting at the bar they discoursed of this and that, brokenly, as was
their custom. They spoke, fell silent, listened to each other, stopped
listening, each as he fancied or as bidden from within. There were
moments, minutes on end, when Camier lacked the strength to raise
his glass to his mouth. Mercier was subject to the same failing. Then
the less weak of the two gave the weaker to drink, inserting between his
lips the rim of his glass. A press of sombre shaggy bulks hemmed them
about, thicker and thicker as the hour wore on. From their conversa–
tion there emerged in spite of all, among other points, the following.
1.
It would be useless, nay, madness, to venture any further for the
mOlJlent.
2. They need only ask Helen to put them up for the night.
3. Nothing would prevent them from setting out on the morrow,
hail, rain or shine, at the crack of.dawn.
4. They had nothing to reproach themselves with.
5. Did what they were looking for exist?
6. What were they looking for?
7. There was no hurry.
8. All their judgements relating to the expedition called for revi-
sion, in tranquillity.
9. Only one thing mattered: depart.
10. To hell with it all anyway.
Back in the street they linked arms. After a few hundred yards
Mercier drew Camier's attention to the fact that they were not in step.
You have your gait, said Camier, I have mine.
I'm not accusing anyone, said Mercier, but it's wearing. We ad–
vance in jerks.
I'd prefer you to ask me straight out, said Camier, straight out
plump and plain, either to let go your arm and move away or else to
fall in wi th your titubations.
Camier, Camier, said Mercier, squeezing his arm.
They came to a crossroads and stopped.
Which way do we drag ourselves now? said Camier.
Our situation is no ordinary one, said Mercier, I mean in relation
to Helen's home, if I know where we are. For these different ways all
lead there with equal success.
Then let us turn back, said Camier.
