under the circumstances I was only too willing to confess all.

I went to the hall in the afternoons only, on these preliminary matters.

Once, pressing him, I learned that his job was only part-time, in the afternoons when nothing went on in the hall.

Although it was dark as usual I could see that the hall had only recently contained a great many people.

This desire, I went on, growing voluble as my conviction was aroused, had mounted at such a rate recently that I now found its realization necessary not only to my physical but also to my spiritual wellbeing.

I let up on the accelerator, only to gradually reach again the 60 m.p.h. which would, I hoped, overhaul Herry and the blonde, and as there were cars whose drivers apparently had something more important to catch than had I, Mrs. Major Roebuck settled down to practicing on Corporal Johnson the kittenish wiles she would need when making her duty call on Colonel and Mrs. Somebody in Sante Fe.

The way his red rubber lips were stretched across his pearly little teeth I thought he was only having a little joke, but, no, he wanted me to bend down from the roar of wind so he could roar something into my ear.

Just as I got to my knees, there was again the sound of the fence stretching, and I had time only to start taking my kneeling posture seriously.

Maybe Lou was only unconscious, but right then I thought he must be dead.

But I promised Joyce I would mention her name, if at all, only as a last resort.

I said, `` O.K., so now only Blake knows.

True, she was my Aunt, married to an Uncle related to me only by marriage, but why she had married a man twice her age, and more, perhaps, I did not know or much care.

`` Nope, just you, all the time -- sometimes I think it's the only way I'll ever get a decent partner ''.

His London contract was rescinded, and now, he explains cheerfully, as a bright smile lightens his intense, mobile face, `` I conduct only one hundred and twenty concerts ''!!

`` Now that Bruno Walter is virtually in retirement and my dear friend Dimitri Mitropoulos is no longer with us, I am probably the only one -- with the possible exception of Leonard Bernstein -- who has this special affinity for and champions the works of Bruckner and Mahler ''.

I was chairman, the only not youthful participant.

The latter in turn assured him that `` were I arraigned at the bar, and you my judge, I should expect to stand or fall only by the merits of my cause ''.

`` I could use some help '', Morgan said finally, `` but I can't afford to pay you anything.

`` I know '', Jones said dejectedly.

`` I don't have many strays coming to my front door '', he said.

When they were finally satisfied, Jones said, `` I think he's going to give us work ''.

She said, `` I guess the Lord looks out for fools, drunkards, and innocents ''.

He stopped, embarrassed, and Morgan said, `` I understand that, but I don't savvy why you'd go off and leave your jobs in the first place ''.

`` All my life '', he said, `` I tried.

`` I hate to leave my garden '', Gavin said.

`` That was a terrible thing to do '', I said to Oso.

`` But that was war '', I said.

`` I think Montero did right '', Amy said firmly.

`` I saw your fire '', she said, speaking slowly, making an effort to control her anger.

I meant what I said about that fire.

`` I don't mind washing dishes now and then '', he said pleasantly.

`` I ought to '' -- he said.

`` I said go home, Joseph.

I had always, I said, hankered after working hard with my hands.

He said in a studied voice, `` I didn't do it for you.

`` Why, I meant what I said '', Lord declared.

Finally Hernandez said, `` I could offer you advice, Tomas, but you wouldn't heed it ''.

Still, I was disgusted with myself for agreeing with Montero's methods.

In the brief moment I had to talk to them before I took my post on the ring of defenses, I indicated I was sickened by the methods men employed to live and trade on the river.

Next to him was a young boy I was sure had sat near me at one of the trading sessions.

Now under me I could see him for what he really was, a boy dressed up in streaks of paint.

Such was my state of mind that I did not question the possibility of this ; ;

I was nearly thirty at the time.

It was dark and, I sensed, very large ; ;

Sometimes I was aware of people moving about in the darkness.

This impressed me, until I realized how limited was his sphere of influence.

I felt certain he was really a spineless little man.

In the mornings, I was informed, fluorescent tubes, similar to the one above the counter, illuminated the entire hall.

I was shown, instead, a batch of white tickets of the sort handed out, he told me, every morning.

Now, here was something of obvious importance to me, yet when I reached for the tickets he snatched them away from my hand.

It was, I felt, possible that they were men who, having received no tickets for that day, had remained in the hall, to sleep perhaps, in the corners farthest removed from the counter with its overhead light.

I felt certain it was self-appointed.

I decided to see no more of the clerk until the processing of my papers was completed.

I was constantly searching for clues around the neighborhood of the hall.