“I am glad you find it so.” Druse went to the edge, glanced down. “I have never put a railing here,” he said, “because I am interested in Death. Whenever I’m depressed I look at my jumping-off place, only a few feet away, and am reminded that life is very sweet.” He stared at the edge, stroked the side of his jaw with his fingers. “Nothing to climb over, no windows to raise — just walk.”
She smiled wryly. “A moralist — and morbid. Did you bring me here to suggest a suicide pact?”
“I brought you here to sit still and be decorative.”
“And you?”
“I’m going hunting.” Druse went over and stood frowning down at her. “I’ll try not to be long. The boy will bring you anything you want — even good whiskey, if you can’t get along without it. The view will grow on you — you’ll find one of the finest collections of books on satanism, demonology, witchcraft, in the world inside.” He gestured with his head and eyes. “Don’t telephone anyone — and, above all, stay here, even if I’m late.”
She nodded vaguely.
He went to the wide doors that led into the living room, turned, said: “One thing more — who are Mister Hanan’s attorneys?”
She looked at him curiously. “Mahlon and Stiles.”
He raised one hand in salute. “So long.”
She smiled, said: “So long — good hunting.”