236
DAVID JACKSON
she were the magician's assistant eager to see the effect on the
audience. But when she saw that this effect, on Meredith, was to
rilinimize
him
she resented it, first as a fellow human being, next
because she was womanly and, in Meredith, she wanted a man
who would know who
he
was. It was as if, in considering the
purchase of him, she did not want the goods tampered with.
The evening went right on being Nicolas's as glasses came,
round after round. Eventually, her opportunity came. Meredith
rose and excused himself, in a manner that proved how cowed
he was. Nicolas's grin and remark, "Don't worry, man, we'll
wait," seemed to imply that a Real Life Force Type would never
bother with formalities if he had to
go
to the toilet. And so Mere–
dith was more sent away than excused. Mary Jane was moved to
action.
Ignoring the two others, she turned to Nicolas. They, seem–
ing to expect this would happen as soon as Meredith left, did not
listen.
"Look, Nicolas. Why don't you go back to Venice?"
Confident he had won, Nicolas settled back in his seat.
"Gold, baby. No gold."
"How much, Nicolas?"
"Two ..." he looked at her, "three hundred."
"Two," she replied.
As
a hundred and fifty would have done it, Nicolas
shrugged.
"O.K. Two."
"I'll write them in the women's room," she told him, matter
of factly, as
if
she did this every day. "And when will you leave?"
"Don't you worry, baby, I've
had
this place."
"Just remember, I can always
claim
these checks were stolen,
if you don't..."
Meredith reappeared, coming across the floor, self-con–
sciously, as if they were all watching him. Nicolas had just time
to hiss, "Dollars, that is!" and Mary Jane to give him one small
contemptuous stare, saying, "God!"
