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Now as she stood there in the blue hour； in the death watch of the night； defiantly determined Upon her repense。 the soft crush of a foot upon loose…packed earth； upon imperfectly bedded small stones； reached her from around this projection； from behind her own back。 Somebody' was ing along there； along the unpaved margin of San Marco； about to turn this razor corner and happen upon her。
Somebody； and no matter who it was； she wanted something of the night； she would not let him by without exacting tribute； to repair her loss and assuage her shattered self…esteem。 She dried her eyes by stabbing a knuckle into them； in quick succession。 She opened her bag and started to redden her mouth with flurried urgency； the smile of gamin friendliness with which she intended to halt him in another moment already turning up its corners even as she did so； for the loose top layer of tiny stones and gravel was already shifting in sight of her； out there beyond the knifelike corner； like sluggish water riding outwards from an impact still unseen； the cause of it still hidden for a moment more。
In another instant they would be face to face； eye to eye。 She could already have reached her hand explorativeby backward around the stone screen and touched him as he sidled up。
The lipstick dipped。 Her smile was ready now。 She turned it up toward the night； eyes half lidded with expectancy。
They had taken her away by the time Manning arrived； at seven that same morning； in a taxi。 The flatiron corner of San Marco and Justicia looked dainty in early…morning water colors： peach pink and pastel blue。 Pink sunlight in the faces of the men standing around； and bight…blue shadows on the ground behind them。
There was one other color； on the wall on the Justicia side： as though somebody had been careless with some kind of overripe fruit。
There weren't many people around。 A country Indian on his way to early market with a basket of persimmons on his head seemed to have bee permanently rooted to one particular spot on his way past； stood there mouth agape in inprehension； poised to go on but forgetting to。 On the opposite sidewalk a street sweeper also stood looking on； resting on his broom of twigs。 Occasionally he would make a couple of passes with it； then stop and look on some more。 On a third…floor balcony on that same side a plump woman had e out to watch； but had brought her hairbrush with her and continued stroking her bong black glossy hair while she did so。 That was about all； the rest were all those whose business it was to be there。
Manning had not only not been informed this time； but could even tell he was somewhat persona non grata when he got out of the cab and joined them。 Robles glanced up； greeted him uncordially with： 〃You again？ We have work to do here。 Please； no more suggestions from the sidelines； if you don't mind！〃 And then he added； 〃What are you； a mind reader？ How did you know？〃
〃It's all over town already。 The milkman told the mozo that brings my morning coffee to me from across the street； and the mozo told me。 Who was it this time？〃
〃An habituй of the cafйs known as Clo…Clo A lady of the evening； poor creature。 Mendez here knew her。 Didn't you； Mendez？〃
Mendez dropped his eyelids disclaimingly。 〃Only in the line of duty。〃
Manning had caught sight of several small objects awaiting removal； which had been placed； meanwhile； on a sheet of newspaper spread out on top of an opened campstool。 〃Where does the lipstick e in？〃 he asked。
〃It was lying on the ground close beside her body。 It fell out of her handbag； I suppose； in the course of the death struggle。〃
Manning took a while。 Then finally he asked； 〃WThat else fell out？〃
〃Nothing else fell out。〃
〃Was the bag open or closed when it was found？〃
Robles was fair enough…and incautious enough…to hold one finger up for the benefit of those around him。 〃Ah。 He has made a good point there； the American。 The bag was still closed when we found it。 Therefore； it is true that the lipstick could not have fallen out； she must have removed it herself。〃 He waved his hand blandly。 〃However； it is just a detail； it has no bearing on the matter one way or the other。〃
〃Oh no； no bearing at all；〃 agreed Manning treacherously。 〃 Except to show that it was a man who waylaid her here on this corner。 She would not have rouged her lips for a quadruped； I believe？〃
Robles gave his arms a slight flip at his sides； said in an heroically restrained voice to those immediately around him； but excluding Manning as though he weren't there： 〃That again。 What did I do to deserve this hornet buzzing in my ears？ Mendez。 Gipriano。 Stand one on each side of him。 Each of you take an arm。 Yes； like that。 Now walk him over to that cab over there； put him in it； and see that it takes him back wherever it is he came from。〃
Robles wasn't kidding。 He was a little too white at the corners of the eyes and mouth to have been anything but serious。 It might have been； partly； the early hour of the day。
Neither； for that matter； was Manning。 〃Your theory must be pretty shaky；〃 he said witheringly； 〃if it can't stand a little honest difference of opinion。 What's the matter； afraid it'll fall down flat。 Take your hands off me。 This is a public street。 I'm entitled to stand here as long as I want。〃
It could very easily have been the starting point of actual ill…feeling； bad blood between them。 Fortunately； an interruption occurred just then which took everyone's mind off all lesser matters。
There was a great motion and fanfare at the curb； and the jefe de policia himself stepped down from a breath…taking Bugatti； one of the last to be imported before the war。 Everyone fell silent； drew himself up where he stood at stiff attention； as he approached surrounded by a small group of subordinates。
He was a short； wiry clerical…looking man； with an aggressive manner and a voluminous； resonant voice that must have been ideal for addressing large gatherings。 He cast only the briefest of glances at the vestiges remaining on wall and ground； concentrated on the men before him instead。 He stood there glittering balefully through his spectacles at them； like an infuriated；owl blinking in the sunlight。
〃You are in charge here； inspector？〃 he thundered after a dramatic pause。
〃 Si； excelencia；〃 Robles quailed in a small voice。
〃How many more times is this going to happen？ This fiend must be exterminated！ I want its carcass shown to me within the next twenty…four hours； is that clear？〃 He included the others； turning his head to take them in。 〃Is that clear to all of you？ The mayor and the ayuntamiento are showing concern； are having a reward posted to the general public； independent of your efforts。 It is a reflection on my department。 There is already a city…wide panic brewing。 The tourist season is about to begin。 This can do incalculable harm； people will avoid ing here！〃
He strode back to the Bugatti； delivered the postscript from there。 〃There should be nothing plicated about this matter！ If one animal has a better head on it than the best heads we have on the police force； then it is time there was