I stood around, tried to look as if I spent my whole life in this kind of atmosphere, didn’t succeed very well.
A girl who I assumed was out of the cabaret strutted across the lobby. Except for a G-string and two gold saucepan lids where they were most needed she was as bare as the back of my hand. When I gaped at her she sneered in disdain.
As she passed me, I said quietly, “Don’t go sitting on a cane-bottomed chair.”
Her long slinky stride faltered, but she kept on. I tried not to peep at her naked back, but I peeped just the same. I decided I was going to like this place.
Clair came out of the ladies’ room. Her dress looked like sea-water sifted over with gold dust.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello,” I said, leering at her. “My wife’s left me. Shall we go off together and have fun?”
“Wouldn’t she mind?” Clair asked gravely.
“She’d be wild,” I returned, “but I’m infatuated with your dress. Let’s go and neck in my car.”
“You mean now—this very minute?”