of the visitors who had come to Provincetown for the day, the weekend, or the previous week were packing up now or had already left; the town seemed quiet. At a table just behind where Clarisse sat at the bar two men in their late forties were fighting, merely for the pleasure of it, it seemed. Their relationship had broken up formally eight years before but they still debated the causes and the blame, and seemed very pleased that Clarisse was attending closely to them.
To her right at the bar were seven men, of greatly varying age and appearance but all Provincetown regulars, engaged in a kind of round-table discussion on who had the biggest tits in Hollywood. The contest had narrowed to Kathryn Grayson and Mamie Van Doren, with Miss Jane Russell contemptuously dismissed as publicity hype. When Valentine placed a second drink before Clarisse, one of the men turned to her and asked, âYou ever had a screen test, honey?â
When she went to the ladiesâ room, Clarisse passed through a dark corner of the bar, and to her surprise, discovered Ann and Margaret sitting at a tiny table that was nearly hid behind a vast palm in an Art Nouveau pot. Holding hands and gazing intently into each otherâs eyes, they did not even notice her until she spoke.
âGood afternoon,â said Clarisse pleasantly.
The two women looked up, grasped for recognition, and then broke into smiles.
âHi,â said Ann, lifting her drink in a toast.
âHello, Clarisse,â said Margaret with a smile.
They spoke for a moment about the party, about Noahâs pool, about their plans for the evening, then Clarisse went on into the ladiesâ room. When she came out again, Ann said, âHave Daniel bring me another gin and tonic, will you please? Heâs been forgetting me.â
âNo, he hasnât,â said Margaret in a low voice. âYouâve had enough. If you have any more, youâre not going to be able to taste your dinner.â
âI want one more!â protested Ann.
Margaret sighed and nodded to Clarisse. âHave Daniel send one over, and a Perrier for me.â
Clarisse walked away, and heard the two women buzzing behind her. When she got to the bar, she said, âThe lady who doesnât need another gin and tonic wants another gin and tonic.â
âThatâs six,â said Valentine, shaking his head. âDo you think sheâll try to bust up the place?â
âI like to drink,â said Clarisse. âBut I think itâs undignified for a woman with an appearance to maintain to fall on her face before eight oâclock. Barroom floors always smudge your makeup.â
âIf I had Terry OâSullivan for a boss, Iâd get sloshed on my vacation too.â
âMargaret is trying to keep her in line, thatâs something. Is this summer love or is it a real affair, do you think?â
âSummer love. Unfortunately, theyâre involved in a four-sided triangle.â Clarisse turned to him inquiringly. âAnn will have to go back to Miriam in Boston. Miriam has a lot of money and an ugly temper.â
âAnd Margaret?â
âIs married to Joyce, in Toronto. Joyce is thin, and supports her mother in a nursing home.â
âHow do you know all this?â
Valentine shrugged. âA good bartender learns a little something about every one of his customers.â
âYou eavesdrop, you mean.â
Valentine held up his hands in protest. âI draw the line at mechanical listening devices. I scorn hidden microphones. All my information is obtained legally. This information came from Mr. Terry OâSullivan.â He moved away to wait on Mamie Van Dorenâs most fervent partisan. In the dark corner of the bar, Ann burst into tears and fled into the ladiesâ room.
Margaret came to the bar. âTell Daniel to forget about the reorder, Clarisse. Ann and I are leaving. You donât happen to know where I could
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