Chapter 12

           TheywereatVoisinswaitingforNicole,sixofthem,Rosemary,theNorths,DickDiverandtwoyoungFrenchmusicians.Theywerelookingovertheotherpatronsoftherestauranttoseeiftheyhadrepose—DicksaidnoAmericanmenhadanyrepose,excepthimself,andtheywereseekinganexampletoconfronthimwith.Thingslookedblackforthem—notamanhadcomeintotherestaurantfortenminuteswithoutraisinghishandtohisface.

           "Weoughtnevertohavegivenupwaxedmustaches,"saidAbe."NeverthelessDickisn’ttheONLYmanwithrepose—"

           "Oh,yes,Iam."

           "—buthemaybetheonlysobermanwithrepose."

           Awell-dressedAmericanhadcomeinwithtwowomenwhoswoopedandflutteredunselfconsciouslyaroundatable.Suddenly,heperceivedthathewasbeingwatched—whereuponhishandrosespasmodicallyandarrangedaphantombulgeinhisnecktie.Inanotherunseatedpartyamanendlesslypattedhisshavencheekwithhispalm,andhiscompanionmechanicallyraisedandloweredthestubofacoldcigar.Theluckieronesfingeredeyeglassesandfacialhair,theunequippedstrokedblankmouths,orevenpulleddesperatelyatthelobesoftheirears.

           Awell-knowngeneralcamein,andAbe,countingontheman’sfirstyearatWestPoint—thatyearduringwhichnocadetcanresignandfromwhichnoneeverrecovers—madeabetwithDickoffivedollars.

           Hishandshangingnaturallyathissides,thegeneralwaitedtobeseated.