“I have indeed; a great deal,” agreed Jimmy, more and more abused at the thought of what he was about to lose.
“Ah, that's different,” exclaimed Alfred. “But what have I?”
Jimmy was in no frame of mind to consider his young friend's assets, he was thinking of his own difficulties.
“I'm a laughing stock,” shouted Alfred. “I know it. A 'good thing' who gives his wife everything she asks for, while she is running around with—with my best friend, for all I know.”
“Oh, no, no,” protested Jimmy nervously. “I wouldn't say that.”
“Even if she weren't running around,” continued Alfred excitedly, without heeding his friend's interruption, “what have we to look forward to? What have we to look backward to?”
Again Jimmy's face was a blank.
Alfred answered his own question by lifting his arms tragically toward Heaven. “One eternal round of wrangles and rows! A childless home! Do you think she wants babies?” he cried, wheeling about on Jimmy, and daring him to answer in the affirmative. “Oh, no!” he sneered. “All she wants is a good time.”
“Well,” mumbled Jimmy, “I can't see much in babies myself, fat, little, red worms.”
Alfred's breath went from him in astonishment