"Those children. The rest of the world. Out there. Playing. They don't know I'm going to die. If they knew, they wouldn't care. That hurts more than anything. Doctor, I tell you the world ought to weep when Jason Wall dies. It ought to wear black." "Mr. Wall, I know you won't mind my saying you're the most egotistical man I've ever met." "Mind? I'm delighted. A man ought to be self-centered. Shall we say, ten thousand dollars?" "Ten thousand--" "Your fee, for telling me the truth. For telling me I'm going to die. For not keeping it back." "My fee is fifty dollars, Mr. Wall." "You'll take ten thousand. I give what I want, doctor, so I feel free to take what I want. Ten thousand dollars. You'll have your check in the morning. Thank you." "I'm sorry, Mr. Wall," the doctor said. Jason Wall left the office grumbling. * * * * * Eve came to him that night wearing the stone marten cape he'd given her for Christmas. She was a tall, regal blonde, long-legged and gorgeous. She was half a head taller than Jason Wall, was from Iowa, and had won the Miss Universe contest two years before. Naturally, since she'd been voted the world's most beautiful woman, Jason Wall had had to possess her. He'd given her an outright gift of half a million dollars, and while most girls would have taken that and gone their way, Eve was different. Eve only knew it was a ripple on the surface of Jason Wall's bought happiness. She'd hung around for more. For much more. "Drink?" Jason Wall asked. "The usual." * * * * * They drank. The butler brought dinner, and they ate. Then there was a bottle of brandy, and cigarettes, and love play. Finally Eve said: "You seem restless tonight, Jason darling." "Do I?" "I ought to know. I know you better than anyone else does." "You don't know me at all. No one does, I've seen to it." "Is anything the matter?" "Eve, you've never lied to me. That's one of the things about you I always admired, aside from your more obvious charms. Tell me, what would you do if I died?" "Don't even talk like that!" "Posh! Don't make believe you're sentimental. I want the truth. What would you do if I died in a year or two?" "I--I don't even want to think about it." "Actress! Bah!" Jason Wall grabbed her wrist, twisting cruelly. "Jason, you--you're hurting me!" "Then tell me the truth. What would you do if I died?" His tone was urgent. "I'd be--sad." "Blast it, of course you'd be sad. I've given you the sort of life a girl dreams about. But what would you do?" "I--Jason, really!" "Would you hook onto another man? Another rich man? You'd have to settle for second best, you know. I'm the richest man there is. But don't think I haven't seen how some of my business associates have been eying you. Don't think--" "Jason, my arm." "Then tell me what I want to know."