They came around the side of the hotel where the spired tower of the Casino was ahead and he notched down the throttle and the Ford backfired with a tight neat puff and they slowed. The air over them was still, free of dust, and she began to remove her wraps. They came to a stop before the Casino. He was airy, jubilant, seething and joyous for the night before him. He said, “Here we go. Another night to clean pockets and unstuff shirts. Give everyone a taste of what they want. God, I do love these people.”

She stepped out of the car and removed the duster and folded it and set it in on the floorboards. Untied her hat and took it off and placed it atop the duster. Lifted out her satchel and placed it on the lawn behind her and brushed her dress: a dark violet satin, the color of moonlit midnight. Her buttoned boots blood red, saddle leather. Her eyes turned off toward the tennis courts. She said, “No, you don’t. You hate them all.”

He could barely hear her. He shut down the Ford. Thinking, Here we are again. He said, “I wouldn’t want to be a one of them. But that doesn’t mean I hate them. At least, not more than most anybody else.” And grinned at her.

She picked up the satchel. Then turned back to face him. A clump of guests were coming up behind the stopped car. He was keen with awareness of them. She said, “It’s not necessary you stay up so late every night to see me home. I can get rides.”

“I bet so. I bet that cornet player would be happy to give you a lift. Thing is, I guess he’d lose his way, get lost. I bet he’d do that.”

Her eyes on him. “I know the way.”

“That’s what worries me.”

“He’s just a musician. More pecker than brain. You don’t have to worry about me. I just feel a little cornered is all. Roped in. It’s not that I don’t like seeing you setting out there. It’s just maybe sometimes I’d like to have to work it all out myself.”

He nodded. “You bet.” Knowing they were both lying now. He said, “Well I’ll leave you be then.”

“I’m not telling you to run up there and screw some girl working laundry.”

“I never thought it. Unless that’s what you mean.”

“Don’t twist me around like that.”

He got out of the car. Went around the front and lifted the crank down and inserted it. Paused then and looked at her. He said, “I’m not twisting you one way you didn’t set out to have me do.”

She swung away from him, the satchel striking her thigh. The violet dress slapped tight against her. Without looking back, she said, “Don’t be an idiot.”