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- 94 - anticipating many months of enforced retirement. But what has been no less preoccupying them is the food question. Before long we shall probably be facing famine, and everyone is devising ways and means of forestalling this eventuality. It is to these neighbours that we owe a wonderful receipt for preserving meat in oil. Yesterday we enquired about the result of this experience and they told us a very sad story indeed. After buying on the black market nine kili of the choicest beef, they boiled it for several hours, after which they plunged it into a large recipient half filled with priceless olive oil. The airtight recipient was then hidden under the titles of their sitting-room for fear of communists. They were now ready to face famine in all security. But for a short time only. Soon from their sitting-room came an unpleasant odour reminiscent of cats. They investigated and found that the nine kili of beef had decomposed. They dug it up from under the tiles and carried the nauseous load to the peasant living in the basement and asked her to dispose of it. Now she understood it to be a gift and to show her appreciation she at once sat down with her husband and child to partake of what was to them a delicious repast. During the night our friends were disturbed by a child crying. Surely the small participant of the feast was suffering from ptomaine poisoning. But no, it proved to be some other child. Next