lecture's been cancelled and I've got the afternoon free, I'm going to

have lunch with Gail Mitch.e.l.l, who looks sweeter than you.' 'Gail Mitch.e.l.l? Do I know her?'

'I don't think so. She lives in Brooklyn Heights. I met her through a

friend at college. She's rich and impossibly attractive and too tall for

you.'

'I may be only five-foot-seven,' Bradley said, unburdened of his

guilt, 'but what there is, is all man. Anyway, never mind. I was going

to disappoint you. I'm having an unexpected business lunch today, so

I'm glad you're fixed up.'

'Who are you lunching with?'

'Dave Marsh,' Bradley lied instinctively, impelled by the return of

the guilt caused by the thought of Gladys Kinder and using the name of

a friend he often met for lunch.

'You mean that other lawyer?'

'Right.'

'I think I met him at home a few years ago.'

'You did. We once invited him for Thanksgiving. He got drunk and

made a pa.s.s at your mother, which gave her a thrill. Anyway, since it's

urgent, I had to cancel you and arrange to meet him instead.' 'Charming,' Mark retorted.

'Well, I knew you'd have a tall lady at hand, so I wasn't too

worried. Come on, let's go.'

They left the office, took the elevator down to Wall Street, and

stood outside on the busy, sunlit pavement.

'Are you having a long afternoon or just lunch with your Amazon?'

Bradley asked.

'Just lunch.'

'Okay. Since it's Friday afternoon, why not meet me on the

platform of the station at four sharp and we'll go home together?' 'Sounds good,' Mark said.

'Okay, son, I'll see you.' When Mark had sauntered off along the

crowded sidewalk, Bradley grabbed a taxi to the Algonquin Hotel on

44th Street. He found Gladys Kinder already seated in a booth in the

Rose Room, drinking bourbon and smoking a cigarette.

She certainly looked her age, which she had said was thirty-eight,