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himself seated rather comfortably, but the young man had caught one leg in the arm of the other chair and could only keep his balance by supporting himself with one hand on the floor. He began to moan in pain. "That's enough," said Thomas. "We have to talk now." The other men intervened as well. All they wanted was to reduce the prisoner to silence, but with their spastic gestures, they hit him so roughly that the moaning began again in earnest. The noise was unbearable. "Make him shut up!" shouted Thomas. He was so close to the captive that this moaning voice seemed to be coming from his own breast, and it was difficult not to give in to the desire to lament for himself as well. One of the three men cautiously opened his jacket a little. He pulled out a handkerchief and folded it twice; then after looking inquiringly at his comrades, he fell upon the young man, threaten ing to gag him. "What a silly idea," thought Thomas. "That won't fix any thing." He shook his head but was unable completely to prevent the plan from being carried out, for the handkerchief fell to the floor, and the maitre d'h6tel finally placed his hand over the mouth of the bellowing wretch. The two others came closer, and for the first time Thomas saw them distinctly. He wondered how he could ever have compared them to this one who was now so close to him. They were much older; their hair was almost gray. Nor did they have the same sort of look on their faces, although wherever they looked, they too gave rise to an unpleasant sensation. 26
    ((I entered this house inadvertently," Thomas said to them. ((I was passing by on the street outside when someone made a sign to me; I only wanted to stay for a moment. But now I'm in a predicament, for I don't know any one, and no one is expecting me." He noticed that the two men listened attentively. This was already a comfort. ((My situation," he continued, ((has not yet been officially defined. To be a tenant would not seem to me to be a bad thing, but would I be admitted as such? Would I be able to fulfill the requirements? Would I have any guarantees? I arrived only a short time ago, but I have seen enough to make me fear entering into anything with out due consideration." He addressed a cautious glance at his listeners, who nodded their heads. ((I could also try to return to the outside. Out side there are difficulties, and it is not always pleasant to go by foot. But at least one knows where one is going. Have you been assigned to take me somewhere?" The two men looked at each other as if they wanted to pre pare a response in common, but they remained silent. ((I understand," said Thomas, who had hoped for an explanation. ((You cannot answer me. My question is not one that should be addressed to you. From now on I will wait until I am questioned." He fell silent; his words were so futile that he had to wonder whether they had really been spoken at all. Nevertheless, the two men were still standing motionless before him. ((Are they not here to serve me?" he thought, and he could not help shouting: ((Well who are you anyway?" They responded together by holding out their arms, which were encircled byan inscription in Gothic letters. It was a sort of motto. This time Thomas was able to decipher it. I serve alone. The third of the men, seeing that his comrades were making themselves known, did not want to be forgotten, so while maintaining his hold on the prisoner, whose face he hid with his arm, he offered his inscription to be read. It was the same, but instead of being embroidered, it was written carelessly in ink on a white band. ((How can you be of any service?" asked Thomas. ((Service?" they replied in a single voice. One ofthem took from his pocket a small notepad, which he opened to a random page. He waited with a pencil at the ready. ((Now it's time for the interrogation," thought Thomas. It was a relief; now he had only to submit to the will of others. However, there was a long pause before one of them made