The Tabarin was brimming over。 She retouched herself at a mirror panel in the lobby and went sauntering in。
You couldn't demand a cut in these swell places。 You had to be glad if they'd let you in at all。
The barman looked her over； got her immediately。 〃Take the one on the end；〃 he said； just as she was about to e to rest on one of the coral leather stools。 〃I want the middle left clear for paying customers。〃
She shifted acquiescently； at the same time letting him know pertly： 〃Don't let it worry you； I don't expect to be on it very long。〃
An unacpanied； rather insipid…looking youth with a needle…pointed mustache came up the steps out of the dancing room； stood up to the bar； and gulped a quick drink between pieces without taking the time to sit down。
He felt the eye flash and turned to look at her； glass in hand。 She smiled； blew a slender wand of smoke at his face。 It didn't reach； but there was no mistaking her aim； she'd pointed it with her mouth。 He must have had someone waiting for him in there。 He turned away again as though he hadn't seen her； just a trifle more priggishly than was necessary。 He threw down a coin； went back again； just as the next tango got under way。
The barman cautioned her； as soon as he'd gone； 〃Now listen； nothing too raw； understand？ Leave off this smoke…ring stuff。 Watch your manners。〃
〃How much are you charging to give lessons in deportment？〃 she asked wearily。 〃Who dolls the place up more； me or that dead…fish face you frighten them away from your bar with？〃
〃There are worse faces than mine；〃 he grunted。
〃You've been looking at people upside down。〃 It wasn't really a wrangle； they understood one another too well。 Just idle repartee while they were both killing time。
She would have gone back to the Select after all； only she'd already invested her twenty…five centavos here and she was going to cash in on it。
Somebody else came up the steps from the lower level； presently。 This time it was a somewhat portly； dignified…looking gentleman of uncertain years； whose florid mustache was just beginning to whiten at the tips。 He carried himself erect enough； and his skin had a healthy coppery tint to it； as though he spent a great deal of time in the open； but just now he wore a harassed expression； as though he had been greatly bored； was wishing he was anyplace but here。 He threw away the mangled remnants of a cigar and stepped up to the bar。
〃Could you tell me…〃 Then he became aware of Clo…Clo； muffled the rest of it。
The barman said； 〃Where that page is standing； seсor。〃
Just before the door closed after him he took another brief look at her。 The page turned and entered after him； probably to be on hand in case he required a whisk broom or hairbrush。
He emerged and headed back toward the dancing room； but not without throwing still one more quick look in her direction。
〃Technique a little rusty；〃 Clo…Clo thought with a chuckle。 〃Probably has had a wife since the last time he tried it。〃
She put Out her cigarette； got up； sauntered over to the page； drink in hand。 The barman looked like the kind that would empty it out on you behind your back； if you left it unguarded； to get you out of the place。
〃How'd you do just now？〃 she inquired with ready camaraderie。
The boy's eyes rounded enthusiastically。 〃A whole solid peso for doing nothing！ He just looked at himself in the glass； asked if I knew who you were； and asked me about how old I would take him to be！〃
〃Ricardo； you're on duty；〃 the barman warned disapprovingly。
〃So am I…from now on；〃 Clo…Clo said to herself； drifting back to her original perch again。 She'd found out all she wanted to know。
She gambled on it and waited patiently； although if she had turned out to be wrong； the time wastage would have been irretrievable。 But she was usually right； and she turned out to be this time too。 Two tangos later he had e back again。
He advanced halfway to the bar； took a good hard look at her； then made an abrupt turn and went in the same doorway as previously。
〃He didn't e back here to go in there； he came back to see if I was still out here；〃 she told herself knowingly。
She snapped her fingers authoritatively to the barman； to show she was on the warpath； not idling any more。 〃Put a little more water in this。〃 She wanted to dilute the grenadine dye as much as possible。
He handed it back to her with a lethal scowl。 〃What're you trying to do； make it last over the week end？〃 He didn't guess what she was up to； or he would probably have frustrated her intentions by purposely delaying to return the denatured drink to her。
As it was； she got over to the door； glass in hand； just a bare second before it reopened。 She was standing there saying something to the page as her quarry sought to pass in back of her。 He would have made it without grazing her； but she moved her elbow back into him as he tried to。 The elbow of the hand holding the drink。 The glass turned neatly and the grenadine…water went down the side of her dress。
She let him show all the dismay。 He showed enough for two。 She was good…natured about it。 He flung out a handkerchief； dipped one knee； and patted at it all the way down。
〃Things like that will happen。 I assure you it's nothing； seсor。 It's my fault； I shouldn't have been in the way。〃
〃You must e over here and at least let me buy you another one。〃
She shook her head with sad indifference。 〃It's not much fun drinking alone。〃
He glanced out toward the dancing room。 〃I…I'll sit with you for a minute。 My family's in there； and I have to get back。〃
He was taking an awful chance； in Clo…Clo's opinion； but that was his lookout； not her own。 She settled herself demurely beside him； on the same stool as before。
〃Champagne for the seсorita。 Pol Roget。〃
The barman was all smiles for her now。 He even scraped； trotted out the two French words he knew； reserved only for champagne buyers。 〃Monsou。 Madamasella。〃
〃To a lucky accident。〃
〃To a delightful accident；〃 Clo…Clo improved on it。
They became acquainted by leaps and bounds。 He began to smile more and more often。 The smiles became grins。 The grins became gusts of hearty laughter。 Once or twice he glanced behind him； in remembered caution。
〃Don't you think the music is a little too loud out here？〃 he suggested finally。 Since he had just e from where it was actually playing； he seemed to have developed unusual sensitivity all at once。 But then maybe in there there hadn't been anybody he considered worth listening to。
Clo…Clo had no fault to find with this point。 〃Yes it is； it makes it hard to hear what one is saying；〃 she agreed。
〃Barman； is there some other place around here where we can get further away from the music； be a little more secluded？〃
〃There is a little private room； looking out on the rear terrace； if the seсor and lady would like to try that。 Straight back at the end of the corridor there。〃
〃Send in another bottle； and something to eat。〃 Then； as an afterthought； he came back a step； leaned toward the barman confidentially。 〃Anc in case anyone happens to be looking for me； I have gone out to get a breath of air for a minute。〃 He put something in his hand。 〃 That way。〃 He pointed in the opposite direction to the one。 they were about to take。
〃Hit me on the back again；〃 he pleaded in a strangled voice。 〃I can't help it； I laugh until my throat closes up…〃 The rest of it was lost in an exhausted cough。 He continued to shake； wiping the excess water from his eyes。
Clo…Clo jumped up from the table alarmedly； ran around behind him。 〃You should rest for five minutes。〃 Thump。 〃You'll kill yourself。〃 Thump。 〃Isn't there something sad we can talk about； just until you get over this？〃
He continued to shake。 〃We tried that；〃 he said weakly。 〃That was what we were supposed to be doing this time。 But even when you try to tell something sad； it es out funny。 Harder than that； there must be a piece of chicken lodged there。〃
〃Wait a minute； I'll pour a little cold champagne down the back of your neck。 The shock may dislodge it。 Like with hiccups。 Do you mind？〃
�