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〃He didn't e back here to go in there； he came back to see if I was still out here；〃 she told herself knowingly。
She snapped her fingers authoritatively to the barman； to show she was on the warpath； not idling any more。 〃Put a little more water in this。〃 She wanted to dilute the grenadine dye as much as possible。
He handed it back to her with a lethal scowl。 〃What're you trying to do； make it last over the week end？〃 He didn't guess what she was up to； or he would probably have frustrated her intentions by purposely delaying to return the denatured drink to her。
As it was； she got over to the door； glass in hand； just a bare second before it reopened。 She was standing there saying something to the page as her quarry sought to pass in back of her。 He would have made it without grazing her； but she moved her elbow back into him as he tried to。 The elbow of the hand holding the drink。 The glass turned neatly and the grenadine…water went down the side of her dress。
She let him show all the dismay。 He showed enough for two。 She was good…natured about it。 He flung out a handkerchief； dipped one knee； and patted at it all the way down。
〃Things like that will happen。 I assure you it's nothing； seсor。 It's my fault； I shouldn't have been in the way。〃
〃You must e over here and at least let me buy you another one。〃
She shook her head with sad indifference。 〃It's not much fun drinking alone。〃
He glanced out toward the dancing room。 〃I…I'll sit with you for a minute。 My family's in there； and I have to get back。〃
He was taking an awful chance； in Clo…Clo's opinion； but that was his lookout； not her own。 She settled herself demurely beside him； on the same stool as before。
〃Champagne for the seсorita。 Pol Roget。〃
The barman was all smiles for her now。 He even scraped； trotted out the two French words he knew； reserved only for champagne buyers。 〃Monsou。 Madamasella。〃
〃To a lucky accident。〃
〃To a delightful accident；〃 Clo…Clo improved on it。
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