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The pit boss shrugged。 〃He went early tonight。 The first time we got the house doc and he fixed Mr。 Valenti up with something and gave him some sort of lecture。 Then Nino told us that we shouldn't call the doc when that happened； just put him to bed and he'd be OK in the morning。 So that's what we do。 He's pretty lucky； he was a winner again tonight； almost three grand。〃
Johnny Fontane said； 〃Well； let's get the house doc up here tonight。 OK？ Page the casino floor if you have to。〃
It was almost fifteen minutes before Jules Segal came into the suite。 Johnny noted with irritation that this guy never looked like a doctor。 Tonight he was wearing a blue loose…knit polo shirt with white trim； some sort of white suede shoes and no socks。 He looked funny as hell carrying the traditional black doctor's bag。
Johnny said； 〃You oughta figure out a way to carry your stuff in a cut…down golf bag。〃
Jules grinned understandingly； 〃Yeah； this medical school carryall is a real drag。 Scares the hell out of people。 They should change the color anyway。〃
He went over to where Nino was lying in bed。 As he opened his bag he said to Johnny。 〃Thanks for that check you sent me as a consultant。 It was excessive。 I didn't do that much。〃
〃Like hell you didn't；〃 Johnny said。 〃Anyway； forget that； that was a long time ago。 What's with Nino？〃
Jules was making a quick examination of heartbeat； pulse and blood pressure。 He took a needle out of his bag and shoved it casually into Nino's arm and pressed the plunger。 Nino's sleeping face lost its waxy paleness； color came into the cheeks； as if the blood had started pumping faster。
〃Very simple diagnosis；〃 Jules said briskly。 〃I had a chance to examine him and run some tests when he first came here and fainted。 I had him moved to the hospital before he regained consciousness。 He's got diabetes； mild adult stabile； which is no problem if you take care of it with medication and diet and so forth。 He insists on ignoring it。 Also he is firmly determined to drink himself to death。 His liver is going and his brain will go。 Right now he's in a mild diabetic a。 My advice is to have him put away。〃
Johnny felt a sense of relief。 It couldn't be too serious； all Nino had to do was take care of himself。 〃You mean in one of those joints where they dry you out？〃 Johnny asked。
Jules went over to the bar in the far corner of the room and made himself a drink。 〃No；〃 he said。 〃I mean mitted。 You know； the crazy house。〃
〃Don't be funny；〃 Johnny said。
〃I'm not joking；〃 Jules said。 〃I'm not up on all the psychiatric jazz but I know something about it； part of my trade。 Your friend Nino can be put back into fairly good shape unless the liver damage has gone too far； which we can't know until an autopsy really。 But the real disease is in his head。 In essence he doesn't care if he dies； maybe he even wants to kill himself。 Until that is cured there's so hope for him。 That's why I say； have him mitted and then he can undergo the necessary psychiatric treatment。〃
There was a knock on the door and Johnny went to answer it。 It was Lucy Mancini。 She came into Johnny's arms and kissed him。 〃Oh； Johnny； it's so good to see you；〃 she said。
〃It's been a long time；〃 Johnny Fontane said。 He noticed that Lucy had changed。 She had gotten much slimmer； her clothes were a hell of a lot better and she wore them better。 Her hair style fitted her face in a sort of boyish cut。 She looked younger and better than he had ever seen her and the thought crossed his mind that she could keep him pany here is Vegas。 It would be a pleasure hanging out with a real broad。 But before he could turn on the charm he remembered she was the doc's girl。 So it was out。 He made his smile just friendly and said； 〃What are you doing ing to Nino's apartment at night； eh？〃
She punched him in the shoulder。 〃I heard Nino was sick and that Jules came up。 I just wanted to see if I could help。 Nino's OK； isn't he？〃
〃Sure；〃 Johnny said。 〃He'll be fine。〃
Jules Segal had sprawled out on the couch。 〃Like hell he is；〃 Jules said。 〃I suggest we all sit here and wait for Nino to e to。 And then we all talk him into mitting himself。 Lucy； he likes you； maybe you can help。 Johnny； if you're a real friend of his you'll go along。 Otherwise old Nino's liver will shortly be exhibit A in some university medical lab。〃
Johnny was offended by the doctor's flippant attitude。 Who the hell did he think he was？ He started to say so but Nino's voice came from the bed； 〃Hey； old buddy； how； about a drink。
Nino was sitting up in bed。 He grinned at Lucy and said； 〃Hey； baby； e to old Nino。〃 He held his arms wide…open。 Lucy sat on the edge of the bed and gave him a hug。 Oddly enough Nino didn't look bad at all now； almost normal。
Nino snapped his fingers。 〃e on； Johnny； gimme a drink。 The night's young yet。 Where the hell's my blackjack table？〃
Jules took a long slug from his own glass and said to Nino； 〃You can't have a think。 Your doctor forbids it。〃
Nino scowled。 〃Screw my actor。〃 Then a play…acting look of contrition came on his face。 〃Hey； Julie； that's you。 You're my doctor； right？ I don't mean you； old buddy。 Johnny； get me a drink or I get up out of bed sad get it myself。〃
Johnny shrugged and moved toward the bar。 Jules said indifferently； 〃I'm saying he shouldn't have it。〃
Johnny knew why Jules irritated him。 The doctor's voice was always cool； the words never stressed so matter how dire； the voice always low and controlled。 If he gave a warning the warning was in the words alone； the voice itself was neutral； as if uncaring。 It was this that made Johnny sore enough to bring Nino his water glass of whiskey。 Before he handed it over he said to Jules； 〃This won't kill him； right？〃
〃No； it won't kill him；〃 Jules said calmly。 Lucy gave him an anxious glance； started to say something； then kept still。 Meanwhile Nino had taken the whiskey and poured it down his throat。
Johnny was smiling down at Nino； they had shown the punk doctor。 Suddenly Nino gasped； his face seemed to turn blue； he couldn't catch his breath and was choking for air。 His body leaped upward like a fish； his face was gorged with blood； his eyes bulging。 Jules appeared on the other side of the bed facing Johnny and Lucy。 He took Nino by the neck and held him still and plunged the needle into the shoulder near where it joined the neck。 Nino went limp in his hands； the heaves of his body subsided； and after a moment he slumped down back onto his pillow。 His eyes closed in sleep。
Johnny； Lucy and Jules went back into the living room part of the suite and sat around the huge solid coffee table。 Lucy picked up one of the aquamarine phones and ordered coffee and some food to be sent up。 Johnny had gone over to the bar and mixed himself a drink。
〃Did you know he would have that reaction from the whiskey？〃 Johnny asked。
Jules shrugged。 〃I was pretty sure he would。〃
Johnny said sharply； 〃Then why didn't you warn me？〃
〃I warned you；〃 Jules said。
〃You didn't warn me right；〃 Johnny said with cold anger。 〃You are really one hell of a doctor。 You don't give a shit。 You tell me to get Nino in a crazy house； you don't bother to use a nice word like sanitorium。 You really like to stick it to people； right？〃
Lucy was staring down in her lap。 Jules kept smiling at Fontane。 〃Nothing was going to stop you from giving Nino that drink。 You had to show you didn't have to accept my warnings； my orders。 Remember when you offered me a job as your personal physician after that throat business？ I turned you down because I knew we could never get along。 A doctor thinks he's God； he's the high priest in modern society； that's one of his rewards。 But you would never treat me that way。 I'd be a flunky God to you。 Like those doctors you guys have in Hollywood。 Where do you get those people from anyway？ Christ； don't they know anything or don't they just care？ They must know what's happening to Nino but they just give him all kinds of drugs to keep him going。 They wear those silk suits and they kiss your ass because you're a power movie man and so you t