Her face showed a change of expression. “I’d forgotten about that bet,” she said, and then added after a moment, “I’m sorry I made it.”

“So am I.”

“Do you,” she asked throatily, “want to call it off, Donald? Just forget about it?”

“No,” I told her, “I need the ten bucks.”

Her face flamed with anger. “Why, you—” and then she laughed and said, “You have a great line, don’t you?”

“No line at all,” I told her. “I’m working.”

“And you never let pleasure interfere with business, I take it.”

“Exactly.”

“I’m not certain that I like people like that.”

I said, “You can throw me out after I’ve had my coffee.”