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〃Don't worry；〃 his mother said confidently。 〃I'll take care of everything。〃
He could feel a great weight lifting from his shoulders。 Once again； his mother had spoken the magic words。 But when he stood in the street in front of the house and saw Rina's car in the driveway； he was afraid to go in。 There would only be another scene and he wasn't up to it。 He had no more strength。
He looked at his wrist watch。 It was almost eleven o'clock。 She would be leaving soon because she had a luncheon date at the studio。 He walked back down the hill to the cocktail lounge just off the corner of Sunset。 He would have a drink while he waited。 He would be able to see her car as it came down the hill。
The cocktail lounge was dark as he entered； the chairs still up on the tables。 The bar was open； however； and there was already a customer seated with a glass of beer in front of him。 Claude climbed up on a stool near the window； from which he could watch the street。
He shivered slightly。 It had begun to drizzle as he came down the hill and was turning into one of those nasty； chilly afternoons peculiarly indigenous to sunny California。 He shivered again。 He hoped he wasn't catching cold。 〃Whisky and warm water；〃 he said to the bartender； remembering the drink his mother always gave him at the first sign of a cold。
The bartender looked at him peculiarly。 〃Warm water？〃
Claude nodded。 〃Yes； please。〃 He looked up and noticed that the lone customer was also staring at him … a young man in a yellow lumber jacket。 〃And a slice of lemon； if you have it；〃 he called after the bartender。
Claude picked up the small steaming mug。 He sipped at it and felt its warmth creep down toward his stomach。 He turned and looked out the window。 It was really raining now。 He picked up the mug again and to his surprise； it was empty。 He decided to have another。 There was time。 He knew exactly what Rina was doing right now。 He gestured to the bartender。
Right at this moment； she was seated in front of her dressing table； putting on her make…up； until it was precisely the way she wanted it。 Then she would fuss with her hair； teasing it until it hung carelessly； but with every strand in its allotted place。
She had a fetish about not getting anywhere on time。 She was always at least an hour late； most of the time even later。 It used to drive him crazy having to wait for her； but it never seemed to disturb anyone else。 They just took it for granted。
Claude looked down at the mug。 It was empty again。 He ordered another drink。 He was beginning to feel better。 Rina would be surprised when she came home and found his things gone。 No more would she call him half a man。 She'd find out just how much of a man he was when the lawyer served her with divorce papers。 She'd know then that she couldn't push him around。
And she'd never look at him again the way she had the first night they were married … with pity and yet contempt； and worst of all； the knowledge in her eyes that she saw into him deeply； laying bare the very secrets of his soul； secrets that he kept even from himself。
He had e into the darkened bedroom； holding in his hand a tray on which stood an iced bottle of champagne and two glasses。 〃I have e bearing wine for my beloved。〃
They began to make love。 Gently and beautifully； the way he had always known it would be； for he was a virgin。 And there was fort in the womanly curve of her body on the bed； lying there so passive and undemanding。 He had even begun to pose a poem to her beauty when he felt her searching hand against his flesh。
For the tiniest fraction of a moment； he froze； startled by her alien fingers。 Then he relaxed； for her touch was so light and gentle that he was scarcely aware of it。 He felt a tremor shake her body； then another； and a sudden burst of heat seemed to rise from her。
Then a cry came from deep within her and she pulled him down toward her； her hands ripping off the bottom part of his pajamas。 No longer was she suppliant and gentle； no longer did she care what he felt or needed； she was caught up in a frenzy of her own。 Her fingers hurt him as she tried to guide him； to force him into her。
Suddenly； a wild terror began to run through him。 A fear of the demanding sexuality of her body； which had lain dormant； waiting only for this moment to feed upon his manhood and devour him。 In a near panic； he tore himself free and stood trembling near the bed。
He tried to pull the torn pajamas around him and heard the sound of her breathing bee quieter。 There was a rustle of the sheets and he looked down at her。
She had turned over on her side and was staring up at him； the sheet carelessly draped over her hips。 Her breasts were heavy； the nipples still swollen with passion。 Her eyes seemed to flame their way into him。 〃Are you the kind of man some people say you are？〃
He felt the fire burning its way into his cheeks。 He had not been unaware of the snide remarks made behind his back； but ordinary people did not understand his absorption in his work。 〃No！〃 he said quickly。
〃Then what kind of man are you？〃
He fell to his knees beside the bed and looked at her。 〃Please；〃 he cried。 〃Please； you've got to understand。 I married you because I love you but I'm not like the others。 My mother says I'm more nervous and high strung。〃
She didn't answer and he saw the horrible bination of pity； contempt and knowledge e fleetingly into her eyes。 〃Don't look at me like that；〃 he begged。 〃It will be better the next time。 I won't be so nervous。 I love you。 I love you。〃
He felt her hand touch his head gently； then slowly stroke his temples。 Gradually； his tears subsided and he seized her hands； kissing them gratefully。 〃It will be better； darling；〃 he promised。
But it was never any better。 There was something about the plete femaleness of her body； her terrifying sexuality； that frightened him into plete impotency。
〃What did you say？〃 The words took him from the past into the present。 He looked up。 The other customer； the young man in the yellow jacket； was speaking to him。 〃I thought you said something to me。 I'm sorry。〃
Claude felt foolish。 There was no doubt that he had spoken。 Very often he did while lost in thought。 He began to feel embarrassed。 〃I did；〃 he said； quickly trying to cover his embarrassment。 〃I said it turned into a rather nasty day； didn't it？〃
The young man's eyes went past him to the window； then back。 〃Yes；〃 he said politely。 〃It sure did。〃
Claude looked at him。 He seemed like a nice enough young man。 Handsome； too； in a rough sort of way。 Probably an actor； down on his luck； who'd stopped in to nurse a beer until the rain stopped。 He picked up his mug。 It was empty again。 〃Let me buy you a drink；〃 he said。
The boy nodded。 〃I'd like another beer。 Thanks。〃
〃Bartender； a beer for the young gentleman；〃 Claude called。 He tapped his mug。 〃And I'll have another of these。〃
It wasn't until three drinks later； when he saw Rina's car turn downtown onto Sunset； that he got the idea。 After all； there were quite a few things he wanted to take with him and he couldn't carry all of them alone。
After he rang the bell the second time he remembered it was Thursday and all the servants were off。 He took out his key。 They went right up the staircase to his room。 He opened the closet and took out a valise。 〃You empty those drawers；〃 he said to the boy。 〃I'll get another suitcase。〃
He left the room for a moment and when he returned； his panion was holding a picture of Rina that had been standing on the bureau。 〃Who's this？〃
〃My wife；〃 Claude answered tersely。 Then he giggled。 〃Will she be surprised when she gets home and finds I'm gone。〃
〃You Rina Marlowe's husband？〃
Claude nodded。 〃But not for long now； thank God！〃
The boy looked at him strangely。 〃What do you want to walk out on a dish like that for？〃 he asked。
Claude snatched the picture angrily from his hand and threw it against the wall。 The glass shattered and fell into tiny bits on the carpet。 He turned and walked into the bathroom。 He took off his jacket and loosened his tie。 He turned on the taps to wash his hands but the sound of the water rushing into the basin reminded him suddenly of the time he had walked int