MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[2134] the poison I had just been given. [2135] I stirred restlessly in my arm-chair,
ran my hands over my face, crossed and uncrossed my legs, and so on. [2136] The
colour and weight of the world were changing already, soon I would have to
admit I was anxious.

[2137] I remembered with vexation ^{[place = supralinear] annoyance} the lager I had just absorbed. [2138] Would I be
granted the body of Christ after a pint of Wallenstein? [2139] And I ^{[place = overwritten] i}f I said
nothing? [2140] Have you come fasting, my son? [2141] He would not ask. [2142] But God would
know, sooner or later. [2143] Perhaps he would pardon me. [2144] But would the eucharist
produce the same effect, taken on top of beer, however light? [2145] I could
always try. [2146] What was the teaching of the Church on the matter? [2147] What if I
were about to commit sacrilege? [2148] I decided to suck a few peppermints on the
way to the presbytery.

[2149] I got up and went to the kitchen. [2150] I asked if Jacques was back. [2151] I
H ^{[place = overwritten] h}aven't seen him, said Martha. [2152] She seemed in bad humour. [2153] And the man, ^{[place = overwritten] ?} I
said. [2154] What man? she said. [2155] The man who came for a glass of beer, I said.
[2156] No one came for anything, said Martha. [2157] By the way, I said, unperturbed
apparently, I shall not eat lunch today. [2158] She asked if I were ill. [2159] For I
was naturally a rather heavy eater.

[2160] And my Sunday midday meal especially
I always liked extremely copious. [2161] It smelt good in the kitchen. [2162] I shall
have lunch a little later today, that's all, I said. [2163] Martha looked at me
furiously. [2164] Say four o'clock, I said. [2165] In that wizened, grey skull what
raging and rampaging then, I knew.

[2166] You will not go out today, I said coldly,
I regret. [2167] She flung herself at her pots and pans, dumb with anger. [2168] You will
keep all that hot for me, I said, as best you can. [2169] And knowing her capable
of poisoning me I added, You can have all day ^{[place = supralinear] [⁁]the whole day off} tomorrow, if that is any good
to you.

[2170] I left her and went out on the road. [2171] So Gaber had gone without his beer.
[2172] And yet he had wanted it badly. [2173] It was a good brand, Wallenstein. [2174] I stt ^{[place = overwritten] o}od