He took another shower. He shaved and annointed his hair with perfumed oil. He wore his newest, trickiest slacks and an open-necked sport shirt. He'd been told he had an attractive neck.
In the living room, in Ted's favorite chair near the fireplace, Henri sat, a drink in his hand.
Henri rose, a dark, dynamic figure. He said genially, "Well, Ted, old man, it's been some time."
"Not long enough for me to be an old man," Ted said. "How goes the newest campaign, Henri?"
Henri's smile was bland, his hand-clasp firm. "Slowly. No ill will, I hope, Ted?" Poise, assurance, the light touch.
"I'm not as modern as I should be, probably," Ted answered. "Been to Venus, lately?"
The drink wobbled in Henri's left hand. The poise, for a moment, was shattered. "Ven--Venice? In Italy, you mean?"
"In California. You're trembling, Henri. Your heart?"
"Heart--?" Blank, oafish stare, the poise scrambling to get back.
"At our age, we have to watch the ticker," Ted warned him. "What are you drinking?"
Henri stared at his nearly-empty glass. "Scotch--I--ah--"
"Sure thing. I'll have one with you." Ted went over to the liquor cabinet.
When he returned, with the pair of drinks, Ann was in the room. Ann said, "I could use one, myself."
Some of Henri's poise was back and all of his smile. "Mix her a strong one, Teddy boy. Build up her resistance."
Hamburger, Ann had called it, but it was like ambrosia. The talk flowed around Ted; food, fashion, furniture, flowers.
Henri was witty and articulate. Ann appreciative and responsive. Ted present.
All the things he'd read, and nothing to say. Mann he'd read, and Joyce. Shakespeare and Spinoza, Emerson, Shelley and....
And there was a lull momentarily in the conversation.
Ted said quickly, "I batted .314 at Houston. That's in the Texas League."
Ann stared at him, smiling. Henri stared at him, smirking. They went back to their discussion.
What weapons did he have? He sat there while the talk poured over him, turning into a wrathful midget, hating them both.
At two, he rose, from the table, "I ... have a golf date. Hate to leave you two alone."
"We'll try to get along, old boy," Henri said smilingly. "Keep your eye on the ball."
Ann said, "Easy at the nineteenth hole, honey." She lifted her lips for his kiss.