IT WAS LUCKY THAT ADELLE'S SMALL INN WAS USUALLY NOT VERY busy, for lately they had a constant need of using it and it suited them down to the ground to always find rooms available.
At the dinner table, Blanche and Violet remained in silence. Two other guests, sitting at a distance, gazed curiously and surreptitiously at their sumptuous dresses and those of their sisters. Fortunately, they'd arrived in broad daylight, not increasing with a further infringement the terror of having swopped their clothes, which they had already corrected. Nevertheless, they were still pretty scared and hardly able to assimilate the idea of having left the castle. The other four, joined by Adelle, were discussing the bad idea, in Roxanne's opinion, of having stayed so near.
"It's not so much about us," she was telling Joseph. "I'm concerned about you." She glanced at Alan, conscious that she wasn't making him feel included. "Mr. Harris won't let you get away with this."
"Let him come," answered the young man. "Then I'll be able to break the rest of his teeth. He knows my address anyway," he added, returning to his usual calm manner. "We'd be equally exposed."
Roxanne became more worried and regretful for having dragged him into this situation.
"It's OK," he told her, taking her hand. "I don't really expect him to come. You saw that not even in the heat of the moment did he try to get his own back."
That didn't convince Roxanne. She knew Mr. Harris well enough to foresee a more treacherous act on his part.
"I'm going to bed," said Celeste. "And I'm taking these two upstairs with me. If you finally decide that it is better to leave, just let us know and we'll be ready."
She looked so tired. Too tired. The girl in red wondered how much more they'd resist - she, herself would resist - without going to pieces.
"Joseph," said Alan, "I've been pondering for a while whether to bring forward my return home. Three more years seem to me to be a very long wait and I've heard on Playa they're preparing to leave in eight months' time. It would take five to get there from the Northern Territory and the flight is scheduled to be launched in a few weeks. I'll be there in time if I get going right away. But… I… I couldn't bear to leave you like this, though. Why don't you come too?"
His friend looked at him deeply disappointed, although he tried to hide it. Regardless of the idea proposed, he was hurt that he wouldn't have told him anything until it was all decided and the departure was imminent. He was also hurt that Alan hadn't found their friendship as fulfilling as he had.