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Three
Hehadalmostdozedoffwhenheheardakeyturn,adooropenandclose,andasmoothmalevoicesay,"Ofcourse,you’rethefirstI’veshownaroundtoday,butI’vegotalistofpeopleaslongasyourarmwhoareinterested."
"It’snotaslargeasIimagined,fromthedetailsyourofficesentus,"saidawoman.
"It’scompact,yes.ButIliketothinkofthatasavirtue."
Richardhadnotbotheredlockingthebathroomdoor.Hewas,afterall,theonlypersonthere.
Agruffer,roughermalevoicesaid,"Thoughtyousaiditwasanunfurnishedapartment.Looksprettydamnedfurnishedtome."
"Theprevioustenantmusthaveleftsomeofhisaccoutrementsbehind.Funny.Theynevertoldmeanythingaboutthat."
Richardstoodupinthebathtub.Then,becausehewasnaked,andthepeoplecouldwalkinatanymoment,hesatbackdown.Ratherdesperately,helookedaroundthebathroomforatowel."Ohlook,George,"saidthewomaninthehallway."Someone’sleftatowelonthischair."
Richardinspectedandrejectedaspoortowelsubstitutesaloofah,ahalf-emptybottleofshampoo,andasmallyellowrubberduck."What’sthebathroomlike?"askedthewoman.Richardgrabbedawashclothanddrapeditinfrontofhiscrotch.Thenhestoodup,withhisbacktothewall,andpreparedtobemortified.Thedoorwaspushedopen.Threepeoplewalkedintothebathroom:ayoungmaninacamel-haircoat,andamiddle-agedcouple.Richardwonderediftheywereasembarrassedashewas.
