"So it's a dead-end, is it? What about Knott?"
Norman shook his head. "Uh-uh. The Chick asked already, Clarence. Yuh gettin it now, honey. We didn't rub up against any Knotts while we was togethuh. That's it! Cool, Cabbage! Livin' is elation and elation's syncopation."
He swung Gabby around deftly, chanting in off-beats. A hand pinched Jake's ear, and a falsetto voice whispered: "Want to dance, Beulah?"
"Will you leave me alone," Lennox growled at the blonde. "Get lost, for Christ's sake!"
"Oh come on girl, get gay."
The blonde entwined himself around Lennox who struggled angrily, and then stopped aghast as he saw Gabby and Norman whirl in a circle and collide with Roy Audibon and the Egyptian girl. Audibon stared at Gabby and his face turned red. He let go of his girl so sharply that she at once disappeared into the crowd.
"What the hell is this?" he said.
"Hello, Roy. This is Mr. Norman. He says that living is elation and elation's syncopation."
"Cool, pal," Norman said genially and extended his hand. Audibon ignored it.
"I'm cutting in," he said.