Chapter 9

           Theywerewaitingforhimandincompletewithouthim.Hewasstilltheincalculableelement;MissWarrenandtheyoungItalianworetheiranticipationasobviouslyasNicole.Thesalonofthehotel,aroomoffabledacoustics,wasstrippedfordancingbuttherewasasmallgalleryofEnglishwomenofacertainage,withneckbands,dyedhairandfacespowderedpinkishgray;andofAmericanwomenofacertainage,withsnowy-whitetransformations,blackdressesandlipsofcherryred.MissWarrenandMarmorawereatacornertable—Nicolewasdiagonallyacrossfromthemfortyyardsaway,andasDickarrivedheheardhervoice:

           "Canyouhearme?I’mspeakingnaturally."

           "Perfectly,"

           "Hello,DoctorDiver."

           "What’sthis?"

           "Yourealizethepeopleinthecentreofthefloorcan’thearwhatIsay,butyoucan?"

           "Awaitertoldusaboutit,"saidMissWarren."Cornertocorner—it’slikewireless."

           Itwasexcitinguponthemountain,likeashipatsea.PresentlyMarmora’sparentsjoinedthem.TheytreatedtheWarrenswithrespect—DickgatheredthattheirfortuneshadsomethingtodowithabankinMilanthathadsomethingtodowiththeWarrenfortunes.ButBabyWarrenwantedtotalktoDick,wantedtotalktohimwiththeimpetusthatsentheroutvagrantlytowardallnewmen,asthoughshewereonaninelastictetherandconsideredthatshemightaswellgettotheendofitassoonaspossible.Shecrossedandrecrossedherkneesfrequentlyinthemanneroftallrestlessvirgins.