Chapter 7

           InapauseRosemarylookedawayandupthetablewhereNicolesatbetweenTommyBarbanandAbeNorth,herchow’shairfoamingandfrothinginthecandlelight.Rosemarylistened,caughtsharplybytherichclippedvoiceininfrequentspeech:

           "Thepoorman,"Nicoleexclaimed."Whydidyouwanttosawhimintwo?"

           "NaturallyIwantedtoseewhatwasinsideawaiter.Wouldn’tyouliketoknowwhatwasinsideawaiter?"

           "Oldmenus,"suggestedNicolewithashortlaugh."Piecesofbrokenchinaandtipsandpencilstubs."

           "Exactly—butthethingwastoproveitscientifically.Andofcoursedoingitwiththatmusicalsawwouldhaveeliminatedanysordidness."

           "Didyouintendtoplaythesawwhileyouperformedtheoperation?"Tommyinquired.

           "Wedidn’tgetquitethatfar.Wewerealarmedbythescreams.Wethoughthemightrupturesomething."

           "Allsoundsverypeculiartome,"saidNicole."Anymusicianthat’lluseanothermusician’ssawto—"

           Theyhadbeenattablehalfanhourandaperceptiblechangehadsetin—personbypersonhadgivenupsomething,apreoccupation,ananxiety,asuspicion,andnowtheywereonlytheirbestselvesandtheDivers’guests.NottohavebeenfriendlyandinterestedwouldhaveseemedtoreflectontheDivers,sonowtheywerealltrying,andseeingthis,Rosemarylikedeveryone—exceptMcKisco,whohadcontrivedtobetheunassimilatedmemberoftheparty.