"It may have been my idea, but—"
"It was your bankroll."
"Oh. He blew it. In French or English?"
Cooper hoisted himself up on the piano and sat swinging his legs. Then he began to speak, choosing his words carefully.
"I appreciate what you tried to do, Jake.... But let me tell you how. Last year a kid cousin of mine bought me a birthday present. He saved up his allowance and bought the best present he could think of ... a bag of marbles."
"Immies," Lennox corrected absently.
"What?"
"They call them immies on The Rock."
"All right, immies. I appreciated that present, Jake. I was really touched. I appreciated your present the same way. It touched me the same way. You understand?"
"No."