gment　…　one　of　those　peppermint　candies。　He　held　it　out；　but　at　first　the　mouse　ignored　it；　stretching　out　its　neck　toward　the　man　instead；　sniffing　at　his　breath　the　way　a　person　might　sniff　at　a　bouquet　of　flowers。　Its　little　oildrop　eyes　slitted　most　of　the　way　closed　in　an　expression　that　looked　like　ecstasy。　Delacroix　kissed　its　nose；　and　the　mouse　allowed　its　nose　to　be　kissed。　Then　it　took　the　offered　piece　of　candy　and　began　to　munch　it。　Delacroix　looked　at　it　a　moment　longer；　then　looked　at　me。　All　at　once　I　got　it。

〃The　mouse　told　you；〃　I　said。　〃Am　I　right？〃

〃Oui。〃

〃Like　he　whispered　his　name　to　you。〃

〃Oui；　in　my　ear　he　whisper　it。〃

〃Lie　down；　Del；〃　I　said。　〃Have　you　a　little　rest。　All　that　whispering　back　and　forth　must　wear　you　out。〃

He　said　something　else…accused　me　of　not　believing　him；　I　suppose。　His　voice　seemed　to　be　ing　from　a　long　way　off　again。　And　when　I　went　back　up　to　the　duty　desk；　I　hardly　seemed　to　be　walking　at　all　…　it　was　more　like　I　was　floating；　or　maybe　not　even　moving；　the　cells　just　rolling　past　me　on　either　side；　movie　props　on　hidden　wheels。

I　started　to　sit　like　normal；　but　halfway　into　it　my　knees　unlocked　and　I　dropped　onto　the　blue　cushion　Harry　had　brought　from　home　the　year　before　and　plopped　onto　the　seat　of　the　chair。　If　the　chair　hadn't　been　there；　I　reckon　I　would　have　plopped　straight　to　the　floor　without　passing　Go　or　collecting　two　hundred　dollars。

I　sat　there；　feeling　the