“Your eyebrows were all scrunched up. You looked confused.”

“Oh, nothing. I was just looking at the scallops, or what they claim are scallops. The chances are they’re flounder, cut up with a cookie cutter.”

The waitress brought their drinks and said, “Ready?”

“Yes,” said Ellen. “I’ll have the shrimp cocktail and the chicken.”

“What kind of dressing would you like on your salad? We have French, Roquefort, Thousand Island, and oil and vinegar.”

“Roquefort, please.”

Hooper said, “Are these really bay scallops?”

“I guess so,” said the waitress. “If that’s what it says.”

“All right. I’ll have the scallops, and French dressing on the salad.”

“Anything to start?”

“No,” said Hooper, raising his glass. “This’ll be fine.”

In a few minutes, the waitress brought Ellen’s shrimp cocktail. When she had left, Ellen said, “Do you know what I’d love? Some wine.”

“That’s a very interesting idea,” Hooper said, looking at her. “But remember what I said about impetuousness. I may become irresponsible.”

“I’m not worried.” As Ellen spoke, she felt a blush crawl up her cheeks.

“Okay, but first I better check the treasury.” He reached in his back pocket for his wallet.

“Oh no. This is my treat.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“No, really. I asked you to lunch.” She began to panic. It had never occurred to her that he might insist on paying. She didn’t want to annoy him by sticking him with a big bill. On the other hand, she didn’t want to seem patronizing, to offend his virility.

“I know,” he said. “But I’d like to take you to lunch.”

Was this a gambit? She couldn’t tell. If it was, she didn’t want to refuse it, but if he was just being polite … “You’re sweet,” she said, “but …”

“I’m serious. Please.”

She looked down and toyed with the one shrimp remaining on her plate. “Well …”

“I know you’re only being thoughtful,” Hooper said, “but don’t be. Didn’t David ever tell you about our grandfather?”

“Not that I remember. What about him?”

“Old Matt was known—and not very affectionately—as the Bandit. If he was alive today, I’d probably be at the head of the pack calling for his scalp. But he isn’t, so all I had to worry about was whether to keep the bundle of money he left me or give it away. It wasn’t a very difficult moral dilemma. I figure I can spend it as well as anyone I’d give it to.”

“Does David have a lot of money, too?”

“Yes. That’s one of the things about him that’s always baffled me. He’s got enough to support himself and any number of wives for life. So why did he settle on a meatball for a second wife? Because she has more money than he does. I don’t know. Maybe money doesn’t feel comfortable unless it’s married to money.”

“What did your grandfather do?”

“Railroads and mining. Technically, that is. Basically, he was a robber baron. At one point he owned most of Denver. He was the landlord of the whole red-light district.”