Rejtő, Jenő: The three musketeers in Africa; Q 19045

12 construction. The name of this prisoner is — Levin. A man well into middle age, he is serving his tenth year in the Legion, instead of five, because of the countless "juggages" he managed to collect through a strange passion of his — or call it affliction: from time to time he is overcome by an irresistible desire for good food, and this gluttonous drive is so powerful that he will shrink from nothing in order to satisfy his craving. Like someone running amok, Levin, when the fit's on him, will steal, rob or break into houses to get by some cash, and will then go absent without leave -- to the nearest bigger place where he can tuck into it. Then, having had his fling, he will give himself up at the nearest guard-room. Levin talks of practically nothing but food; or when he speaks of something else, he phrases what he has to say as if he were rattling off a recipe. He knows innumerable sophisticated and fanciful recipes — and is apparently known throughout the vast French African colonial empire as "the great Levin". If anyone asks him straight who he really is, he will tell him to stop making fun of him, and turn away, deeply hurt. /Only a little before the end does the reader learn about Levin's background. - I.F./ Just before they enter the detention room, Hopkins /resorting to sleight of hand/ lays hold on a letter he has received, which was withheld in the regimental office. It was vrritten by a young lady