She walked in to find Jack and Burr playing checkers. Marcie was cross-legged on the floor, in velvet lounging pants and a silk shirt, humming while she covered the top of the round cocktail table with a plastic veneer treated to look like marble. She smiled up at Laura, who paused to admire her. “Alcohol proof,” Marcie said, rattling the table cover. “Mr. Marquardt gave it to me. We’re advertising it for a new client, and they passed some around today. It sticks by itself. How do you like it?” “It looks wonderful,” Laura said. So did Marcie, her cheeks pink with enthusiasm. “You’ve had it, Mann,” Burr said, and Laura heard a checker smacking triumphantly over the board in a devastating series of jumps. “Touché, boy.” “Why don’t you take up tiddly winks? I could beat you at tiddly winks.” Jack sat with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hand. He looked up at Laura without raising his head and smiled. She looked at him, absorbed in the idea that he had once been infatuated with the man beside him, and Burr had never known it. Burr thought he was as normal as himself. But of course, they had never roomed together. Suddenly Laura recalled that she had agreed to go out with Jack. “Jack—” she began, but he cut her off. “I see I have less allure than your typewriter,” he said. He cocked an eye at her. “Well, never mind, I don’t have so many friends I can afford to be jealous of their typewriters.” “Thanks, Jack,” she said with a little smile. She turned to go into the kitchen, but he jumped up and followed her. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” “Straight to the icebox. I’m starved.” “We have a date. I’m taking you out to dinner.” “Why don’t we just stay here?” she pleaded. But all he said was, “No,” and she understood that he had made his mind up and had something planned. She was reluctant to leave Marcie, who looked so pretty. But the prettier Marcie looked, the worse Laura suffered. Maybe it would be better just to talk about her tonight. Talk to Jack about her. It sounded good. “Okay, but let’s get home early. I’m beat, I really am,” she said. “Whatever you say, Mother.” He smiled, and she felt suddenly that it was terribly good to have him for a friend. When they got outside she said, “Let’s go over to Hempel’s. It’s only a block.” “No. We’re going to The Cellar.” “Oh, God no! It’s miles away. We wouldn’t get home till midnight.” “A friend of mine wants to meet you.” “Who?” “The name wouldn’t mean anything. It would just scare you away, probably. She saw you when we were there last week. She likes your face.” “Oh, that’s ridiculous. Come on, I’m starving. I’ve got to eat or I’ll faint.” “This is a very interesting girl. She could teach you a lot.” “I know everything I want to know.” He laughed, but she went on, “Jack, I’m not going to the Village with you.”