Читать книгу The Complete Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald онлайн

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“Say, fella,” said the Greek, “what time does the boss come in?”

“Why—two o’clock. Just a few minutes now.”

“All right. That’s all. I just wanted to speak to him about something.”

Stuart realized that Edna was standing beside the table; both men turned toward her.

“Say, girlie,” said the young man, “I want to talk to you. Sit down.”

“I can’t.”

“Sure you can. The boss don’t mind.” He turned menacingly to Stuart. “She can sit down, can’t she?”

Stuart did not answer.

“I say she can sit down, can’t she?” said the young man more intently, and added, “Speak up, you little dummy.”

Still Stuart did not answer. Strange blood currents were flowing all over his body. He was frightened; anything said determinedly had a way of frightening him. But he could not move.

“Sh!” said the Greek to his companion.

But the younger man was angered.

“Say,” he broke out, “sometime somebody’s going to take a paste at you when you don’t answer what they say. Go on back to your desk!”

Still Stuart did not move.

“Go on away!” repeated the young man in a dangerous voice. “Hurry up! Run!”