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〃Go to bed and don't bother me。〃
I stood there。 〃I mean it； Dad；〃 I said。 It was the first time I had called him that since I was a kid。
He got to his feet slowly。 〃No；〃 he said。 〃You're too young。〃
That was all he said。 It would never occur to him to ask who； what； why。 No； only I was too young。 〃All right； Father；〃 I said； turning toward the door。 〃Remember I asked you。〃
〃Wait a minute；〃 he said。 I stopped； my hand on the doorknob。 〃Where is she？〃
〃Waiting in the parlor；〃 I answered。
He looked at me shrewdly。 〃When did you decide？〃
〃Tonight；〃 I answered。 〃Just tonight。〃
〃I suppose she's one of those silly little girls who show up at the club dance and she's waiting on pins and needles to meet the old man？〃 he asked。
I rose to her defense。 〃She's not like that at all。 As a matter of fact； she doesn't even know that I'm in here asking you。〃
〃You mean you haven't even asked her yet？〃
〃I don't have to；〃 I answered； with the supreme confidence of my years。 〃I know her answer。〃
My father shook his head。 〃Just for the record； don't you think you had better ask her？〃
I went out and brought Rina back into the room。 〃Rina； this is my father； Father； this is Rina Marlowe。〃
Rina nodded politely。 For all you could tell from her manner； it could have been high noon instead of two o'clock in the morning。
Father looked at her thoughtfully。 There was a curious expression on his face I had never seen before。 He came around his desk and held out his hand to her。 〃How do you do； Miss Marlowe？〃 he said in a soft voice。 I stared at him。 I had never seen him do that with any of my friends before。
She took his hand。 〃How do you do？〃
Still holding her hand； he let his voice fall into a semi…amused tone。 〃My son thinks he wants to marry you； Miss Marlowe； but I think he's too young。 Don't you？〃
Rina looked at me。 For a moment； I could see into her eyes。 They were bright and shining； then they were guarded again。
She turned to Father。 〃This is very embarrassing； Mr。 Cord。 Would you please take me home？〃
Stunned； unable to speak； I watched my father take her arm and walk out of the room with her。 A moment later； I heard the roar of the Duesenberg and angrily I looked around for something to vent my spleen on。 The only thing available was the lamp on the table。 I smashed it against the wall。
Two weeks later； at college； I got a telegram from my father。
RINA AND I WERE MARRIED THIS MORNING。 WE ARE AT THE WALDORF…ASTORIA； NEW YORK。 LEAVING TOMORROW ON LEVIATHAN FOR EUROPEAN HONEYMOON。
I picked up the telephone and called him。
〃There's no fool like an old fool！〃 I shouted across the three thousand miles of wire between us。 〃Don't you know the only reason she married you was for your money？〃
Father didn't even get angry。 He even chuckled。 〃You're the fool。 All she wanted was a man； not a boy。 She even insisted that we sign a premarital property agreement before she would marry me。〃
〃Oh； yeah？〃 I asked。 〃Who drew the agreement？ Her lawyer？〃
Father chuckled again。 〃No。 Mine。〃 His voice changed abruptly。 It grew heavy and coarse with meaning。 〃Now get back to your studies； son； and don't meddle in things that don't concern you。 It's midnight here and I'm just about to go to bed。〃
The telephone went dead in my hands。 I stared at it for a moment； then slowly put it down。 I couldn't sleep that night。 Across my mind's eye unreeled pornographic pictures of Rina and my father in wild sexual embrace。 Several times； I woke up in a cold sweat。
A hand was shaking me gently。 Slowly I opened my eyes。 The first thing I saw was Nevada's face。 〃Wake up； Jonas；〃 he said。 〃We're home。〃
I blinked my eyes to clear the sleep from them。
The last piece of sun was going down behind the big house。 I shook my head and stepped out of the car。 I looked up at the house。 Strange house。 I don't think I'd spent more than two weeks in it since my father had it built and now it was mine。 Like everything else my father had done。
I started for the steps。 Rina had thought of everything。 Except this。 My father was dead。 And I was going to tell her。
6
THE FRONT DOOR OPENED AS I CROSSED THE VERANDA。 My father had built a traditional Southern plantation house； and to run it； he had brought Robair up from New Orleans。 Robair was a Creole butler in the full tradition。
He was a giant of a man； towering a full head over me； and as gentle and efficient as he was big。 His father and grandfather had been butlers before him and even though they had been slaves； they had instilled in him a pride in his work。 He had a sixth sense for his duties。 Somehow； he was always there when he was wanted。
He stepped aside to let me enter。 〃Hello； Master Cord。〃 He greeted me in his soft Creole English。
〃Hello； Robair；〃 I said； turning to him as he closed the door。 〃e with me。〃
He followed me silently into my father's study。 His face impassive； he closed the door behind him。 〃Yes； Mr。 Cord？〃
It was the first time he had called me Mister； instead of Master。 I looked at him。 〃My father is dead；〃 I said。
〃I know；〃 he said。 〃Mr。 Denby called。〃
〃Do the others know？〃 I asked。
He shook his head。 〃I told Mr。 Denby that Mrs。 Cord was out and I haven't said anything to the other servants。〃
There was a faint sound outside the closed door。 Robair continued speaking as he moved swiftly toward it。 〃I figured you would want to break the sad news yourself。〃 He threw the door open。
There was no one there。 He stepped quickly out the door。 I followed him。 A figure was hurrying up the long staircase that curved around the entrance hall to the upper floor。
Robair's voice was low but held the whip of authority。 〃Louise！〃
The figure stopped。 It was Rina's personal maid。
〃e down here；〃 he manded。
Louise came down the steps hesitantly。 I could see the terrified look on her face as she approached。 〃Yes； Mr。 Robair？〃 Her voice was frightened； too。
For the first time； Robair let me see how he kept the servants in line。 He moved almost lazily but his hand met her face with the impact of a pistol shot。 His voice was filled with contempt。 〃How many times do I tell you not to listen at doors？〃
She stood holding her hand to her face。 The tears began to run down her cheeks。
〃Now you get back to the kitchen。 I'll deal with you later。〃
She ran toward the kitchen； still holding her face。 Robair turned back to me。 〃I apologize for her； Mr。 Cord；〃 he said； his voice once more deep and soft。 〃Ordinarily； my servants don't do such a thing； but that one is pretty hard to keep in her place。〃
I took out a cigarette and almost before I had it in my mouth； Robair struck a match and held it for me。 I dragged deep。 〃That's all right； Robair。 I don't think she'll be with us much longer。〃
Robair put out the match and carefully deposited it in an ash tray。 〃Yes； sir。〃
I looked at the staircase speculatively。 Oddly enough； I hesitated。
Robair's voice came over my shoulder。 〃Mrs。 Cord is in her room。〃
I looked at him。 His face was an impenetrable butler's mask。 〃Thank you； Robair。 I'll go up and tell her。〃
I started up the staircase。 His voice held me。 〃Mr。 Cord？〃 I turned and