He was red in the face; he could have slapped Willy for forcing him to lie.

‘How’s your job holding up? Still with —?’

Mr Newman studied the glittering knife blade. A judicious sucking in of the mouth, and a moment’s direct stare at Willy calculated to preface a personal statement, and he said, ‘I decided to make a break, finally.’

‘That so.’ Willy seemed genuinely interested. He looked into Newman’s glasses with deep sympathy. ‘How long’ve you been out?’

‘Just since yesterday.’

‘Oh, then you’ve just started looking.’

‘I’m not worried about it,’ he assured him with what he assumed was the careless self-confidence of a man who knew his value. ‘I just wondered whether you knew of anything in your place. I do personnel work, you know …’

‘Oh, sure, I remember …’

‘Naturally, there aren’t many firms using my type of man. I mean they would have to be fairly big to need me.’

‘Well, there are some, though. I don’t know how we stand in our place on the personnel angle, but if you like I could find out.’

‘All right, if you happen to think of it. ‘But don’t go to any trouble …’

‘No trouble at all. I’ll ask tomorrow. Who’ve you tried so far? I know a few people around and I could ask in other places.’

‘Well, I was just coming from the Meynes Company when I met you …’

‘Yeh, Meynes would be just right for you. Big staff …’

‘Yes, I had quite a talk with a Mr Bellows up there. Nice fella. Kept me there nearly an hour. He said …’

‘Say, I just remember. You know the place for you to try?’

‘Where?’ Newman asked, taking off his glasses.

In wavering blurs he saw the pink tip of Willy’s tongue stick out slightly as the man looked up and thought, his fingers raised to snap. ‘I’m trying to remember the company he’s with.’ The fingers snapped and he shifted impatiently, his blue eyes intent upon the glass chandelier. ‘I just saw him on Thursday and he mentioned he was looking for a man. If I remember right it was some kind of personnel work.’

‘What’s his name? Maybe I could look him up.’

‘His name is Stevens. Cole Stevens, but I don’t recall the firm … Oh sure, the Akron Corporation. Construction stuff. They lost their man to the Army. Imagine the draft taking a man thirty-six years old and with two kids? Anyway, they can use a man …’

When they emerged from the restaurant, the street lamps were on and darkness was falling in the valley of the street. The giant buildings around them were already lost in the night sky. They walked together to the corner where they would part.

‘Drop up when you get the chance,’ Willy said, taking Newman’s soft hand.

‘Thanks, Willy. And my best to the family.’

‘Sure thing. You want to write down Stevens’ name? He’s with the Akron Corporation. You got that?’