“There you are,” she said. “Have I kept you waiting?”
“I—I didn’t recognize you,” I said, “maybe it’s the new dress.”
She gave me a sharp glance, “Do you like it?” she asked, smiling again. “Especially for you.”
“I think it’s swell,” I said, wondering what was different about her. “Let’s sit down. I’ve had a strenuous hour.”
She went over to one of the tables and sat down. I followed her. “Well,” I said when we were settled with our drinks, “it’s nice to rest my eyes on a beautiful woman.” I looked at her knees with interest, “You’ve got pretty elbows,” I went on, “I don’t seem to have noticed them before.”
She laughed. “You’ve developed an. awful squint since we last met.”
“Yeah,” I said, watching her closely. “You got rid of Whisky then?”
“I got rid of him,” there was a little note of grimness in her voice that made me stare still more intently. She smiled, but her eyes weren’t amused. “Did you have an interesting morning?”
“I certainly did,” I said and I told her about Peppi. She sat quietly listening and when I was through she said, “What are you going to do?”
“You mean about the job? Why, I guess nothing. I wouldn’t want to work for Peppi.”