

But now I had escaped, and I was sitting at a table with a red-andwhite-checkered tablecloth, feeling cleansed and safe. The sun shone yellow through the wine, sparrows were scolding on a heap of horse manure, the owner's cat was watching them with well-fed disinterest, a light breeze was blowing across the silent square, and life was as beautiful as it can only be in our dreams.