On the second floor the curve of the staircase created a wide, rectangular hall. There was a window over the stairwell that would vent an impressive daytime light down into the foyer. The color of the walls seemed to have been selected to subdue the sensation of space; it was a sand that worked with the darker carpet and the white enamel of the staircase molding to bring the walls more within reach. In a smaller area the effect might be oppressive. Now Norma came out of her bedroom at the back of the house. She was still dressed; she had slipped off her shoes and her hair looked as if she had had her head on a pillow.

“Is everything all right?”

“Sure. I thought you were going to be downstairs with that coffee.”

“Do you want a cup? Would you mind helping yourself? It was all I could do to wait up until you were in the house.”

“I’ll get the coffee if I want it. I’m not finished yet—I have to go out again. Do you have a key I could borrow? I could come and go without disturbing you.”

“Wait a minute.” She went back to her room. “Come on, Joe. I’m in a fog. I didn’t mean for you to stand there.”

He followed to the door. It was a dark, masculine-looking room. She went to her purse on the night table for the key. “It’s almost eleven-thirty. What can you hope to accomplish now?”

“I want to set up an appointment for tomorrow. And some other things.”

“Are they my business?”

“In part. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.”

She returned. “And your conversation with Wendell,” she said.

“That’s right. Good night. You look like you need some rest.”

She smiled wearily. “Thanks a lot. So do you. I get up early. What time do you want to be awakened?”

“Seven, if that’s what you mean by early.”

She nodded. “Anything special for breakfast?”

“I’ll eat whatever you put in front of me. Thanks.”

“Good night, Joe.”

“Good night, kid.”

This time he went in the other direction, away from the campus, to make his calls. The public buildings were closed at this hour. There was a row of stores seven blocks to the south, he was sure of that much, and with luck, a bar with a public telephone. He was going to try to get his father at the station but not at home: at home his father would be asleep. Then he was going to try Mike again and tell him what he wanted. That would be the end of the business calls and he would be able to call Karen.