Newman disagreed. A month ago he would have disputed obstinately. But this was the first time that Fred had ever sat on his porch with him.’ I never knew that.’

‘Sure,’ Fred said, and turned his head toward the truck to their right.’ Can you read the sign on that truck?’

Newman put on his glasses. ‘Ice,’ he said.

‘No, I mean under that.’

‘Oh no, I can’t read that.’

‘“Dominick Auditore, Coal & Ice. 46 Broome Street.” ’Reading the address he seemed to have surprised himself. Both were struck by it. ‘Broome Street,’ he repeated. ‘That’s on the lower East Side.’ He turned and looked at Newman.’ That’s the element he’s bringin’ around.’

For a moment they both stared at the truck and at Finkelstein who was standing by. Fred turned and seemed about to speak, but sat looking at his neighbor’s face.

Newman felt releasing words about to leap from his throat. But he was not sure they would not sound slightly false. He was not accustomed to speaking in terms of violence. And Mrs Depaw was really looking at him from across the street now that Fred had come out. He remained silent. Fred kept looking straight into his face. He felt his cheeks reddening. He took out his handkerchief and covering his face, loudly blew his nose.

‘Carlson was betting me you’d buy from him this morning.’

‘From him?’ Newman heard himself starting to laugh.

‘I knew you wouldn’t. We’re gonna have Billy on that corner every Sunday from now on.’

‘Swell,’ Newman said quietly. Fred nodded, and turned again toward the corner.

Newman felt as though a cool relaxing breeze were passing over him, and leaned back. Vision of a bright Monday suffused him, possibly a job with General Electric, more money too … Comfortably, ‘How are your dogs?’ he asked.

‘Lazy but all right. I’m getting up a big hunt for the new season.’

‘Going up to Jersey again?’

‘Yeh.’ Fred shook his head dreamily. ‘Boy, what I wouldn’t give to go hunting now. I could keep it up all year. Goddam.’

Never before had even such a confidence passed between them. Newman felt a timbre of friendship. He had always been irritated at the suspicion that Fred thought him a fogy. Now for some reason he had risen in Fred’s eyes. It was good. ‘Going to bring back any more foxes for the wife?’

‘She’s got two now. Don’t want to go spoiling her. See my new rifle?’

‘Got a new one, eh? Funny, I never saw much in hunting.’ Perhaps … perhaps he might go along next time. A good new job tomorrow, and hunting with the boys.

‘Didn’t you ever shoot anything?’ Fred asked, incomprehensibly.

‘Well, no …’

‘You were in the war, weren’t you?’

‘Yeh, but …’ The idea of likening the shooting of an animal with what he had done in the war confused him. ‘I hardly ever talk about it, frankly. Something you like to forget.’

‘Did you get any of them?’