“He said it’d kill me if I took another drink.... Well I’m not dead yet am I? He’s a damned ass.”
“Oh but you must take care of yourself and not get all excited.” She kissed him and put a cool slim hand on his forehead.
“Havent I got reason to get excited? If I had my hands on that dirty lilylivered bastard’s neck.... We’d have pulled through if he hadnt lost his nerve. Serve me right for taking such a yellow sop into partnership.... Twentyfive, thirty years of work all gone to hell in ten minutes.... For twentyfive years my word’s been as good as a banknote. Best thing for me to do’s to follow the firm to Tophet, to hell with me. And by the living Jingo you, my own flesh, tell me not to drink.... God almighty. Hay Bob.... Bob.... Where’s that goddam officeboy gone? Hay come here one of you sons of bitches, what do you think I pay you for?”
A nurse put her head in the door.
“Get out of here,” shouted Blackhead, “none of your starched virgins around me.” He threw the pillow from under his head. The nurse disappeared. The pillow hit one of the posts and bounced back on the bed. Gladys began to cry.
“Oh daddy I cant stand it ... and everybody always respected you so.... Do try to control yourself, daddy dear.”
“And why should I for Christ’s sake...? Show’s over,
why dont you laugh? Curtain’s down. It’s all a joke, a smutty joke.”
He began to laugh deliriously, then he was choking, fighting for breath with clenched fists again. At length he said in a broken voice, “Don’t you see that it’s only the whiskey that was keeping me going? Go away and leave me Gladys and send that damned Hindu to me. I’ve always liked you better than anything in the world.... You know that. Quick tell him to bring me what I ordered.”
Gladys went out crying. Outside her husband was pacing up and down the hall. “It’s those damned reporters ... I dont know what to tell ’em. They say the creditors want to prosecute.”