whenthecarstoppedoutfrontandthedooropenediwentoutandstoodatthetopofthestepstocalldown.butthemiddle-agedcoloreddriverwasholdingthedoorforhertogetout.thenhefollowedherupthestepscarryingasmallovernightcase.soijustwaited.

shereachedthetopandturnedtothedriver:“mr.marlowewilldrivemetomyhotel,amos.thankyouforeverything.i’llcallyouinthemorning.”

“yes,mrs.loring.mayiaskmr.marloweaquestion?”

“certainly,amos.”

heputtheovernightcasedowninsidethedoorandshewentinpastmeandleftus.

“‘igrowold...igrowold...ishallwearthebottomsofmytrousersrolled.’whatdoesthatmean,mr.marlowe?”

“notabloodything.itjustsoundsgood.”

hesmiled.“thatisfromthe‘lovesongofj.alfredprufrock.’here’sanotherone.‘intheroomthewomencomeandgo/talkingofmichaelangelo.’doesthatsuggestanythingtoyou,sir?”

“yeah—itsuggeststomethattheguydidn’tknowverymuchaboutwomen.”

“mysentimentsexactly,sir.nonethelessiadmiret.s.eliotverymuch.”

“didyousay‘nonetheless’?”

“why,yesidid.mr.marlowe.isthatincorrect?”

“no,butdon’tsayitinfrontofamillionaire.hemightthinkyouweregivinghimthehotfoot.”

hesmiledsadly.“ishouldn’tdreamofit.haveyouhadanaccident,sir?”

“nope.itwasplannedthatway.goodnight,amos.”

“goodnight,sir.”

hewentbackdownthestepsandiwentbackintothehouse.lindaloringwasstandinginthemiddleofthelivingroomlookingaroundher.

“amosisagraduateofhowarduniversity,”shesaid.“youdon’tliveinaverysafeplace—forsuchanunsafeman,doyou?”

“therearen’tanysafeplaces.”

“yourpoorface.whodidthattoyou?”

“mendymenendez.”

“whatdidyoudotohim?”

“nothingmuch.kickedhimatimeortwo.hewalkedintoatrap.he’sonhiswaytonevadainthecompanyofthreeorfourtoughnevadadeputies.forgethim.”

shesatdownonthedavenport.

“whatwouldyouliketodrink?”iasked.igotacigaretteboxandhelditouttoher.shesaidshedidn’twanttosmoke.shesaidanythingwoulddotodrink.

“ithoughtofchampagne,”isaid.“ihaven’tanyicebucket,butit’scold.i’vebeensavingitforyears.twobottles.cordonrouge.iguessit’sgood.i’mnojudge.”

“savingitforwhat?”sheasked.

“foryou.”

shesmiled,butshewasstillstaringatmyface.“you’reallcut.”shereachedherfingersupandtouchedmycheeklightly.“savingitforme?that’snotverylikely.it’sonlyacoupleofmonthssincewemet.”

“theniwassavingituntilwemet.i’llgogetit.”ipickedupherovernightbagandstartedacrosstheroomwithit.

“justwhereareyougoingwiththat?”sheaskedsharply.

“it’sanovernightbag,isn’tit?”

“putitdownandcomebackhere.”

ididthat.hereyeswerebrightandatthesametimetheyweresleepy.

“thisissomethingnew,”shesaidslowly.“somethingquitenew.”

“inwhatway?”

“you’veneverlaidafingeronme.nopasses,nosuggestiveremarks,nopawing,nonothing.ithoughtyouweretough,sarcastic,mean,andcold.”

“iguessiam—attimes.”

“nowi’mhereandisupposewithoutpreamble,afterwehavehadareasonablequantityofchampagneyouplantograbmeandthrowmeonthebed.isthatit?”

“frankly,”isaid,“somesuchideadidstiratthebackofmymind.”

“i’mflattered,butsupposeidon’twantitthatway?ilikeyou.ilikeyouverymuch.butitdoesn’tfollowthatiwanttogotobedwithyou.aren’tyouratherjumpingatconclusions—justbecauseihappentobringanovernightbagwithme?”

“couldbeimadeanerror,”isaid.iwentandgotherovernightbagandputitbackbythefrontdoor.“i’llgetthechampagne.”

“ididn’tmeantohurtyourfeelings.perhapsyouwouldrathersavethechampagneforsomemoreauspiciousoccasion.”