It dawned on me that while I had a hundred questions for Gail, I was too confused at the moment to know which ones I should be asking. “Um, the parts are a thing of beauty. Or things of beauty. I’m sure you’d prefer me to bring them to the rehearsal tomorrow rather than burden you with them now, right?”

Gail said she’d be grateful if I’d do that, as Russ, who’d been rocking back a bit too far on the rear legs of his chair, toppled backward.

“Steady there, Russ,” I said, righting him with the help of two waiters.

“Whoops-a-daisy,” Russ commented. He sat there mopping his face.

“He’s stinking,” Toby observed. Such a help.

“Why are you doing this, Russ?” snapped Martha.

Russ gave a big smiling shrug with outstretched hands and turned to see several patrons staring at him. “Hello,” he said. “Anyone get the license plate of the bus that just hit me?”

Gail went over to him. “Russ, stop it.”

He put his arms around her. “Oh, Gaily, Gaily, I love you daily. You never give your uncle Russ a hug and a kiss, do ya?” He began to fall backward in his chair again and reached out toward Gail to stop his fall. His hand grabbed the left shoulder of her evening gown and, in doing so, exposed her left breast for two seconds. The women at the next table gasped and reflexively put their hands up to their bosoms. For the second time in the last minute, I helped Russ to his feet.

Gail’s cheeks flushed. “Okay, come on, Toby, we’re going.” She turned to me. “See you at the rehearsal, Ray?”

I suggested we rendezvous around two-thirty at Pacific House and walk to the three o’clock rehearsal together. She agreed and departed with Ackland, who made no offer to assist with a tip or the cost of the drinks.

“He’s completely soused,” said Martha, looking at Russ with the loathing she usually reserved for me. “We’d better walk him around outside.”

I heard Jack tap his baton on a music stand, our three-minute call. “I’m sorry, Martha, my break is over.”

Russ was laughing quietly now at some personal joke. He mopped his brow again and put his handkerchief in his pants pocket.

Martha asked, “Do you have time to get him to the men’s room?”

I looked at my watch. “I can get him there, but he’ll have to find his own way back. Russ, come on, we’re going for a walk.”