MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[3642] I shall not expound my reasoning. [3643] I could do so easily, so easily.
[3644] Its conclusion made horrible ^{[place = supralinear] [⁁]possible} the composition of the following passage.

[3645] Did you have a good night? I said, as soon as my son opened his eyes.
[3646] I could have waked him, but no, I let him wake naturally. [3647] Finally he told
me he did not feel well. [3648] My son's replies were often beside the point.
[3649] Where are we, I said, and what is the nearest village? [3650] He named it. [3651] I
knew it, I had been there, it was a small town, luck was on our side. [3652] I
even had a few acquaintances, among its inhabitants. [3653] What day is it? I said.

[3654] He specified the day without a moment's hesitation. [3655] And he had only just
regained consciousness! [3656] I told you he had a genius for history and
geography. [3657] It was from him I learned that Condom is on the Baise. [3658] Good,
I said, off you go now to Hole, it'll take you — I worked it out — at
the most three hours. [3659] He stared at me in astonishment. [3660] There, I said, buy
a bicycle to fit you, second-hand for preference.

[3661] You can go up to five
pounds. [3662] I gave him five pounds, in ten-shilling notes. [3663] It must have a
very strong carrier, I said, if it isn't very strong get it changed, for
a very strong one. [3664] I was trying to be clear. [3665] I asked him if he was pleased.
[3666] He did not look pleased. [3667] I repeated these instructions and asked him again
if he was pleased.

[3668] He looked if anything stupefied. [3669] A consequence perhaps
of the great joy he felt. [3670] Perhaps he could not p ^{[place = overwritten] b}elieve his h ^{[place = margin left] [₰]}ears. [3671] Do you
understand if nothing else? I said. [3672] What a boon it is from time to time,
a little real conversation. [3673] Tell me what you are to do, I said. [3674] It was
the only way of knowing if he understood. [3675] Go to Hole, he said, fifteen
miles away.

[3676] Fifteen miles! I cried. [3677] Yes, he said. [3678] All right, I said,
go on. [3679] And buy a bicycle, he said. [3680] I waited. [3681] Silence. [3682] A bicycle! I
cried. [3683] But there are millions of bicycles in Hole! [3684] What kind of bicycle?
[3685] He reflected. [3686] Second-hand, he said, at a venture. [3687] And if you can't find
one second-hand? I said. [3688] You told me second-hand, he said. [3689] I remained