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They became acquainted by leaps and bounds。 He began to smile more and more often。 The smiles became grins。 The grins became gusts of hearty laughter。 Once or twice he glanced behind him； in remembered caution。
〃Don't you think the music is a little too loud out here？〃 he suggested finally。 Since he had just e from where it was actually playing； he seemed to have developed unusual sensitivity all at once。 But then maybe in there there hadn't been anybody he considered worth listening to。
Clo…Clo had no fault to find with this point。 〃Yes it is； it makes it hard to hear what one is saying；〃 she agreed。
〃Barman； is there some other place around here where we can get further away from the music； be a little more secluded？〃
〃There is a little private room； looking out on the rear terrace； if the seсor and lady would like to try that。 Straight back at the end of the corridor there。〃
〃Send in another bottle； and something to eat。〃 Then； as an afterthought； he came back a step； leaned toward the barman confidentially。 〃Anc in case anyone happens to be looking for me； I have gone out to get a breath of air for a minute。〃 He put something in his hand。 〃 That way。〃 He pointed in the opposite direction to the one。 they were about to take。
〃Hit me on the back again；〃 he pleaded in a strangled voice。 〃I can't help it； I laugh until my throat closes up…〃 The rest of it was lost in an exhausted cough。 He continued to shake； wiping the excess water from his eyes。
Clo…Clo jumped up from the table alarmedly； ran around behind him。 〃You should rest for five minutes。〃 Thump。 〃You'll kill yourself。〃 Thump。 〃Isn't there something sad we can talk about； just until you get over this？〃
He continued to shake。 〃We tried that；〃 he said weakly。 〃That was what we were supposed to be doing this time。 But even when you try to tell something sad； it es out funny。 Harder than that； there must be a piece of chicken lodged there。〃
〃Wait a minute； I'll pour a little cold champagne down the back of your neck。 The shock may dislodge it。 Like with hiccups。 Do you mind？〃
He waved a hand in helpless permission。 〃Go ahead。 I don't care what you do to me。 If I die here in this chair； it's been worth it…〃
〃I'll get up high；〃 the helpful Clo…Clo said。 〃So it'll give a little splash。〃 She pulled her own chair around to the rear of his； stood up on it； and tilted a champagne bottle with both hands。 〃Now get ready； here it es…〃
The door was flung open without the preliminary of any knock； and what can best be described as a gasp of virtuous outrage entered and swirled about the room like a current of chill air。 Its producer remained posed accusingly at the threshold without ing forward。 It was the same priggish young man with the needle…pointed mustaches whom Clo…Clo had glimpsed earlier in the bar alcove。
They were both staring at him by indirection； in a wall mirror opposite that gave them back his reflection； ing from behind them。
Clo…Clo's supper panion murmured ruefully for her private benefit； 〃That was the shock I needed。 It went down by itself。〃
She regained the floor with a lithe bound； returned the bottle of christening champagne to its bucket。
No one had said anything yet； at least not for general inclusion。
The dinner…jacketed sphinx in the open doorway finally broke the ice。 He said a single word： 〃 Papa！ 〃
The older man in the chair waved his hand disgustedly； without turning to look at him。 〃Please close the door。 I'll be right out。〃
〃I'll wait for you in the foyer。 You came here with us； please remember that！〃
Clo…Clo's host mumbled something indistinct that sounded like； 〃Try and forget it！〃 The door closed。
Clo…Clo gasped； 〃Not your son！ Why you hardly look…〃
He sighed； shrugged； clapped his sides frustratedly as he rose to his feet。 〃It is having sons like him that makes one old；〃 he plained half under his breath。
Then his expression changed； he smiled at her； wistfully； almost tenderly。 He took her hand between both of his； carried it to his lips。 〃Never mind； we had some fun； didn't we？ I'll have to go now。 I don't know whether we'll ever meet again。 We live outside of town； and I'll never hear the end of this。 But； little Clo…Clo； you're a lovely girl。 You've made me feel young again for an hour or two。 Like I used to be years ago。 You've made me feel happy with your laughter and your little ways。 Let me do something for you。 You deserve it。 That sour…pussed daughter…in…law of mine gets enough of it as it is。〃
〃Not so much； seсor！〃 For probably the first time in her life the protest was genuine； almost alarmed。
He'd given her a hundred and fifty pesos； out of a wallet that must have held close to a thousand。
〃Take it； take it；〃 he said。 He folded her fingers persuasively back upon it； patted her hand reassuringly。 〃Anyone that calls you bad； they must be blind；〃 he said with low…voiced sincerity。 〃To make others happy； what better claim to goodness is there than that？〃
She looked down； abashed for a moment。 She was used to all sorts of pliments； but not to having her sanctity praised。
He gave a little smile of mischievous approval。
〃That's right； put it down where they won't get at it； don't let them take it from you； hang Onto it。〃 And then； almost as though some premonition were assailing him； he urged： 〃Be careful； little Clo…Clo。 I know I've got champagne in me； but… Don't let anything happen to you。 Your way of life is so dangerous at times。 I am a man that would not hurt you。 But there are others… Go home； now that I've given you this。 Don't stay out any more tonight。〃
〃I won't；〃 she promised fervently； hands pressed tight to her bosom where the money now rested。 〃Believe me； I won't！〃
Something about her must be still getting at him。 He even made a move toward removing a large diamond ring on his little finger。 Then he changed his mind regretfully。 〃Those two vultures would miss it the first thing； and only make trouble for you。〃
The door was flung open again at this point。 The younger man was even sorer than before。 〃Papa！ The car is waiting。 I've told Elena you've been suffering from an upset stomach。 How much longer do you think I can keep her from finding out about this…this situation I've found you in？〃
〃I'm ing！〃 Clo…Clo's late host thundered infuriatedly。 〃I'm ing； you damn kill…joy！〃
He turned and went out after him。 Even so； his last thought was of Clo…Clo。 As he closed the door lingeringly after him； he repeated what he'd said before； in a poignant murmur of farewell。 〃Don't let anything happen to you； little Clo…Clo。 Take care of yourself。〃
She got up and waltzed around the room； holding skirt aloft at waist level and revealing a sector of abbreviated pink hip trunk。 A chair went over at her spinning passage and she let it lie。 She snatched up one of their partially filled glasses and drained it on the wing； put it back again the next time she came around。 Then the second one。 Then she stopped whirling and attended to the bottle remaining in the ice bucket。 This was not dipsomania on her part； it was thrift pure and simple。 It was a shame to waste good champagne that had already been paid for。
She was standing there with her back to the ceiling…high terrace windows； alternating gulps of champagne and bites of chicken sandwich； when something upaccountably made her turn her head。 The drapes had been drawn closed over the window； for privacy； by the waiter when they first came in。 There was a gap； however； midway down the long intersection where they had fallen partly open again。 A feeling of being looked at through it came over her。 It was so strong she even went over toward it and tried to peer through。 There wasn't anything or anyone out there。 Just the canalized light gleam cast on the terrace flooring by the room lights in here escaping through。
She came out of the room a few minutes later； munching the last of the chicken。 The barman； wiping a glass； said jeeringly out of the corner of his mouth as she passed； 〃Left flat； eh？〃
She thumbed her nose at him in a long； lingering farewell insult； that lasted from the third bar stool all the way out to the porte…cochere； turning her head slowly in time with it as she did so。
And now to go home。 She was whistling softly under her breath as the pinkish…amber glow of the Tabarin's lights faded out behind her。 There were stars overhead； and the night felt cool and good。 And the hundred fifty pesos at her bosom felt even better。 She snapped her thumbnail at the fluted iron post of a street lamp as she passed it； just for luck。 It hummed hollowly for several moments after； like a muted organ note。
She was passing through tortuous； cobbled San Rafael Street a few minutes later； when a church bell somewhere near by tolled the hour。 She counted the strokes as they lowered out above her in the night stillness； each one seeming to hang vibrantly suspended until the next had e along to displace it。
Three already。 She shivered defensively； quickened her step a little。 The Deathwatch was begining。 The Blue Hours。 Time to get in； pull walls around you。 She quitted the sliver of sidewalk； took th