Зима тревоги нашей

           He’sasuspiciousbastard.

           He’dhardlyleftwhen—well,itwaslikeyesterday—theB.B.D.andD.drummercamein.

           "Notonbusiness,"hesaid."I’mstayingtheweekendoutatMontauk.ThoughtI’ddropin."

           "I’mgladyoudid,"Isaid."Iwanttogiveyouthis."Iheldoutthebillfoldwiththetwentystickingout.

           "Hell,that’sgoodwill.ItoldyouI’mnotonbusiness."

           "Takeit!"

           "Whatyougettingat?"

           "ItconstitutesacontractwhereIcomefrom."

           "What’sthematter,yousore?"

           "Certainlynot."

           "Thenwhy?"

           "Takeit!Thebidsaren’tallin."

           "Jesus—didWaylandsmakeabetteroffer?"

           "No."

           "Who,then—themdamndiscounthouses?"

           Ipushedthetwenty-dollarbillintohisbreastpocketbehindhispeakedhandkerchief."I’llkeepthebillfold,"Isaid."It’snice."

           "LookIcan’tmakeanofferwithoutItalktotheheadoffice.Don’tclosetillmaybeTuesday.I’lltelephoneyou.IfIsayit’sHugh,you’llknowwhoitis."

           "It’syourmoneyinthepayphone."

           "Well,holditopen,willyou?"

           "It’sopen,"Isaid."Doinganyfishing?"

           "Onlyfordames.ItriedtotakethatdishMargieoutthere.Shewouldn’tgo.Damnnearsnappedmyheadoff.Idon’tgetdames."

           "They’recuriouserandcuriouser."

           "Youcansaythatagain,"hesaid,andIhaven’theardthatexpressioninfifteenyears.Helookedworried."Don’tdoanythingtillyouhearfromme,"hesaid."Jesus,IthoughtIwasconningacountryboy."