cwilleford.theburntorangeheresy-第4部分

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instead　of　black；　something　I　might　not　have　noticed　if　it　had　not　been　for　the　Haitian　paintings　on　the　opposite　wall；　where　the　figures　were　black　indeed。
　　The　dozen　Haitian　paintings　Gloria　had　rounded　up　were　all　surprisingly　good。　She　even　had　an　early　Marcel；　circa　1900；　so　modestly　different　from　the　contemporary　primitives　with　their　bold　reds　and　yellows；　it　riveted　one's　attention。　The　scene　was　typically　Haitian；　some　thirty　peopie　engaged　in　voodoo　rites；　with　a　bored；　ical　goat　as　a　central　focusing　point；　but　the　picture　was　painted　in　gray；　black；　and　white…no　primary　colors　at　all。　Marcel；　as　I　recalled；　was　an　early　primitive　who　had　painted　his　canvases　with　chicken　feathers　because　he　could　not　afford　brushes。　It　was　priced　at　only　fifteen　hundred　dollars；　and　someone　would　get　a　bargain　if　he　purchased　the　Marcel　。　。　。
　　〃James；〃　Gloria　clutched　my　elbow；　〃I　want　you　to　meet　Herb　Westcott。　Herb；　this　is　Mr。　Figueras。〃
　　〃How　do　you　do？〃　I　said。　〃Gloria；　where　did　you　get　the　Marcel？〃
　　〃Later；〃　she　said。　〃Talk　to　Herb。〃　She　turned　away；　with　her　long　freckled　right　arm　outstretched　to　a　tottering　old　man　with　rouged　cheeks。
　　Westcott　fingered　his　skimpy　beard。　〃I'm　sorry　I　didn't　recognize　you　before；　Mr。　Figueras…Gioria　told　me　you　were　ing…but　I　thought　you　wore　a　beard。　。　。　。〃
　　〃It's　the　picture　in　my　column。　I　should　replace　the　photo；　I　suppose；　but　it's　a　good　one　and　I　haven't　got　another　one　yet。　I　had　my　beard　for　about　a　year　before　I　shaved　it。　You　shouldn't　tug　at　your　beard；　Mr。　Westcott　。　。　。〃
　　He　dropped　his　hand　quickly　and　shuffled　his　feet。
　　〃I　worked　it　all　out；　Mr。　Westcott；　and　found　that　a　beard　would　add　about　six　weeks　to　my　life；　that　is；　six　full　weeks　of　shaving　time　saved　in　a　lifetime；　seven　weeks　if　one　uses　an　electric　razor。　But　it　wasn't　worth　it。　Like　you；　I　could　hardly　keep　my　fingers　off　the　damned　thing；　and　my　neck　itched　all　the　time。　The　secret；　they　say；　is　never　to　touch　your　beard。　And　if　you've　already　got　that　habit；　Mr。　Westcott；　your　beard　is　doomed。〃
　　〃I　see；〃　he　said　shyly。　〃Thanks　for　the　advice。〃
　　〃Don't　worry；〃　I　added；　〃you　probably　look　handsomer　without　one。〃
　　〃That's　what　Gloria　said。　Here；〃　he　took　my　empty　Dixie　cup…〃let　me　get　you　a　fresh　drink。　What　are　you　drinking？〃
　　〃Eddy　knows。〃
　　I　turned　back　to　examine　the　Marcel　again。　I　wanted　to　leave。　The　small　high…ceilinged　room；　which　seemed　smaller　now　as　it　began　to　get　crowded；　was　jammed　with　loud…voiced　people；　and　I　did　not　want　to　talk　to　Westcott　about　his　paintings。　That's　why　I　got　off　onto　the　beard　gambit。　They　were　all　derivative；　which　he　knew　without　my　telling　him。　The　entire　show；　including　the　Marcel；　wasn't　worth　more　than　one　column　inch　（I　folded　the　catalogue　and　shoved　it　into　my　hip　pocket）；　unless　I　got　desperate　for　more　filler　to　make　the　column　e　out　to　an　even　two　thousand　words。
　　Gloria　was　standing　by　the　bar；　together　with　a　dozen　other　thirsty　guests。　Poor　Westcott；　who　was　paying　for　the　liquor；　hovered　on　the　outskirts　trying　to　get　Eddy's　attention。　I　took　the　opportunity　to　slip　into　the　foyer　and　then　out　the　door。　I　was　on　Worth　Avenue　in　the　late　twilight；　and　heading　for　home。　If　Mr。　Cassidy　wanted　to　meet　me；　he　could　get　my　telephone　number　from　Gloria　and　call　for　an　appointment。
　　Twilight　doesn't　last　very　long　in　Florida。　By　the　time　I　reached　my　ocherous　predepression　stucco　apartment　house…a　mansion　in　the　twenties；　now　cut　up　into　small　apartments…my　depression　was　so　bad　I　had　a　headache。　I　took　off　my　jacket　and　sat　on　a　concrete　bench　beneath　a　tamarisk　tree　in　the　patio　and　smoked　a　cigarette。　The　ocean　wind　was　warm　and　soft。　A　few　late　birds　twittered　angrily　as　they　tried　to　find　roosting　places　in　the　crowded　tree　above　my　head。　I　was　fified　with　emptiness　up　to　my　eyes；　but　not　to　the　point　of　overflowing。　Old　Mrs。　Weissberg；　who　lived　in　No。　2；　was　limping　down　the　flagstone　path　toward　my　bench。　To　avoid　talking　to　her　I　got　up　abruptly；　climbed　the　stairs；　heated　a　Patio　Mexican　Dinner　for　thirty　minutes　in　the　oven；　ate　half　of　it；　and　went　to　bed。　I　fell　asleep　at　once　and　slept　without　dreams。
　　
　　
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　　Gloria　shook　me　awake　and　switched　on　the　lamp　beside　the　Murphy　bed。　She　had　let　herself　in　with　the　extra　key　I　kept　hidden　in　the　potted　geranium　on　the　porch。　She　had　either　witnessed　Beremce　using　the　key　or　heard　her　mention　that　one　was　there。　I　blinked　at　Gloria　in　the　sudden　light；　trying　to　pull　myself　together。　My　heart　was　still　fluttering；　but　the　burbling　fear　of　being　wakened　in　the　dark　was　gradually　going　away。
　　〃I'm　sorry；　James；〃　Gloria　said　briskly；　〃but　I　knocked　and　you　didn't　answer。　You　really　ought　to　get　a　doorbell；　you　know。〃
　　〃Try　phoning　next　time。　I　almost　always　get　up　to　answer　the　phone；　in　case　it　might　be　something　unimportant。〃　I　didn't　try　to　conceal　the　irritation　in　my　voice。
　　My　cigarettes　were　in　my　trousers；　which　were　hanging　over　the　back　of　the　straight　chair　by　the　coffee　table。　I　slept　nude；　with　just　a　sheet　over　me；　but　because　I　was　angry　as　well　as　in　need　of　a　smoke；　I　threw　the　sheet　off；　got　up　and　fumbled　in　the　pockets　of　my　trousers　for　my　cigarettes。　I　lit　one　and　tossed　the　match　into　the　stoneware　ashtray　on　the　coffee　table。
　　〃This　is　important　to　me；　James。　Mr。　Cassidy　came　and　you　weren't　there。　He　asked　about　you　and　I　told　him　you　had　a　headache　and　left　early…〃
　　〃True。〃
　　Gloria　wasn't　embarrassed　by　my　nakedness；　but　now　I　felt　self…conscious；　standing　bare　assed　in　the　center　of　the　room；　smoking　and　carrying　on　a　moronic　conversation。　Gloria　was　in　her　late　forties；　and　had　been　married　for　about　six　months　to　a　hardware…store　owner　in　Atlanta；　so　it　wasn't　her　first　time　to　see　a　man　without　any　clothes　on。　Nevertheless；　I　took　a　terry…cloth　robe　out　of　the　closet　and　slipped　into　it。
　　〃He　wants　you　to　e　to　supper；　James。　And　here　I　am；　ready　to　take　you。〃
　　〃What　time　is　it；　anyway？〃
　　〃About　ten　forty。〃　She　squinted　at　the　tiny　hands　on　her　platinum　wristwatch。　〃Not　quite　ten　forty…five。〃
　　I　felt　refreshed　and　wide…awake；　although　I　had　only　slept　two　hours。　Being　awakened　that　way；　so　unexpectedly；　had　stirred　up　my　adrenalin。
　　〃I　think　you're　overstating　the　case；　Gloria。　What；　precisely；　did　Mr。　Cassidy　say　to　make　you　so　positive　he　wanted　me…in　particular…to　e　to　his　little　gathering？〃
　　She　rubbed　her　beaky　nose　with　a　skinny　forefinger　and　frowned。　〃He　said；　'I　hope　that　Mr。　Figueras'　headache　won't　keep　him　from　ing　over　this　evening　for　a　drink。'　And　I　said；　'Oh；　no。　He　asked　me　to　pick　him　up　later　at　his　apartment。　James　is　veiy　anxious　to　meet　you：
　　〃I　see。　You　turned　a　lukewarm　chunk　of　small　talk　into　a　big　deal。　And　now　I　have　to　go　with　you　to　get　you　off　the　hook。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　put　it　that　way。　He　bought　a　picture　from　me；　James；　one　of　the　primitives…the　big　one　with　the　huge　pile　of　different　kinds　of　fruit。　For　his　colored　cook　to　hang　in　the　kitchen。〃
　　〃No　Westcotts？〃
　　〃He　didn't　like　Herb's　pictures　very　well。　I　could　tell；　although　he　didn't　say　anything　one　way　or　another。〃
　　〃I　think　he　did。　Buying　a　Haitian　primitive　for　his　cook　says　something；　don't　you　think？　Do　I　need　another　shave？〃
　　She　felt　my　chin　with　the　tips　of　her　fingers。　〃I　don't　think　so。　Brush　your　teeth；　though。　Your　breath　is　simply　awful。〃
　　〃That's　from　the　Mexican　dinner　I　had　earlier。〃
　　I　dressed　in　gray　slacks；　a　white　shirt；　and　brown　leather　tie；　dark　brown　loafers；　and　a　gray…and…white　striped　seersucker　jacket；　resolving　to　take　my　soiled　dinner　jacket　to　the　cleaner's　in　the　morning。　I　remember　how　calm　I　was；　and　how　well　my　mind　seemed　to　be　functioning　after　only　two　hours　of　sleep。　All　of　my　muscles　were　loose　and　stretchy。　There　was　a　spring　to　my　step；　as　though　I　were　wearing　cushioned　soles。　I　was　in　a　pleasant　mood；　so　much　so　that　I　pinched　old　Gloria　through　her　girdle　as　we　left　the　apartment。
　　〃Oh；　for　God's　sake；　James！〃
　　As　we　drove　toward　the　Royal　Palm　Towers；　a　sevenstory　horror　of　poured　concrete；　in　Gloria's　white　Pontiac；　I　found　myself　looking　forward　to　meeting　Mr。　Cassidy　and　to　seeing　his　paintings。　He　was　bound　to　have　a　few　pichires　in　his　apartment；　although　his　famous　collection　was　safe　in　Chicago。　I　wondered；　as　well；　why　he　had　elected　to　live　in　the　Royal　Palm　Towers；　which　overlooked　Lake　Worth　instead　of　the　Atlantic。　He　would　be　able　to　see　the　Atlantic　from　his　rooftop　patio；　but　only　from　a　distance；　and　that　wasn't　the　same　as　being　on　the　beach。
　　The　Towers　was　a　formless　mixture　of　rental　apartments；　condominium　apartments；　hotel　rooms；　and　rental　suites。　The　corporation　that　owned　the　building　had　overlooked　very　little　in　the　way　of　ine…producing　cells。　There　were　rental　offices　on　the　mezzanine　（Cassidy　also　had　a　suite　of　offices　there）；　and　on　the　ground　floor　the　corporation　leased　space　for　shops　of　all　kinds；　including　a　small　art　gallery。　The　coffee　shop；　the　lounge…bar；　and　the　dining　room　were　all　leased　to　various　entrepreneurs。　The　corporation　itself　invested　nothing　in　services　and　took　from　everybody。　Cassidy　probably　maintained　the　penthouse；　I　decided；　because