‘Well, I’ll tell you, Larry.’ Fred spoke as though he were only an intermediary. His guile sickened Newman, who felt like hitting him.

‘Like in every big organization there’s a certain element that’s hotheads. You got to expect that. You got to expect that element, you know?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, there’s some who been noticing you. I’ll admit that. Since you got the glasses you got to admit you do look a little Hebey.’

Mr Newman said nothing.

‘I told them, I sez, the man’s been my neighbor a long time. But they claim they know what they’re talking about. I mean when you’re one against ten you got to listen to them, you know?’

‘But you know well enough that I’m …’

‘I know, Larry. But one against ten is a very small percentage.’

Silence again. So they had really discussed him. And Fred had not dared defend him too much.

‘So I stay on the list, is that it?’

‘Well, tell you the truth, Larry, I was making headway for a while there. But when you brought the missus around that’s when you made it tough for yourself.’

‘Why should she make it tough?’ Mr Newman asked angrily.

‘Well, she’s a Jewish girl, ain’t she?’

‘Christ Almighty, Fred, have you gone off?’

‘You mean she …’

‘Of course she’s not. Where in hell do you get that idea?’

For one second Fred held back. Then he said, ‘Well, gee, I’m awful sorry about it, Larry. I didn’t know.’

And now it was the end and Mr Newman got up from his chair. Fred’s fake remorse stank like a dense gas in Mr Newman’s nostrils. He could not bear to plead any longer. Fred did not believe him, probably could not afford to believe him. Fred was getting up now …

‘I’m really sorry about it, Larry. But I myself thought you’d gone and got yourself a Jewish girl.’

The heavy respect with which he mouthed ‘a Jewish girl’ betrayed his continuing belief. And it clinched something in Mr Newman’s chest. He walked to the top step of the porch and stood looking at the houses, snug and dark, across the street.

‘I’m not giving up my house, Fred …’

‘Who gave you that idea,’ Fred laughed thinly.

‘I’m talking, Fred, and I’m telling you what I’m going to do.’ Newman spoke low for if he raised his voice it would have started his body quickly moving toward Fred and he knew it. ‘I’ve bought my house and I’ve paid for it and nobody is going to move me out of it. I don’t give a damn who tries it or how many, I’m staying put. And as far as you’re concerned …’ He turned and looked at Fred, whose face he could see better now that he was standing away from the shadow of the house. ‘As far as you’re concerned, don’t kid yourself about me.’ He did not know how to phrase his hate and his defiance, and so he said, ‘Just don’t kid yourself about me, Fred. I can take care of myself. You understand my meaning? I can take pretty good care of myself. So don’t kid yourself.’