“I learned that phrase from you, and now you have re-learned it back from me.”
“That’s the way it goes,” the Colonel said. “What you win in Boston you lose in Chicago.”
“I don’t understand that at all.”
“Too hard to explain,” the Colonel said. Then, “No. Of course it isn’t. Making things clear is my main trade. The hell with being too hard to explain. It is like professional football, calcio, What you win in Milano you lose in Torino.”
“I don’t care about football.”
“Neither do I,” the Colonel said. “Especially not about the Army and Navy game and when the very high brass speaks in terms of American football so they can understand, themselves, what they are talking of.”
“I think we will have a good time tonight. Even under the circumstances, whatever they are.”
“Should we take this new bottle in the gondola?”
“Yes,” the girl said. “But with deep glasses. I’ll tell the Gran Maestro. Let’s get our coats and go.”
“Good. I’ll take some of this medicine and sign for the G.M. and we’ll go.”
“I wish it was me taking the medicine instead of you.”
“I’m glad as hell it isn’t,” the Colonel said. “Should we pick our gondola or have them bring one to the landing?”
“Let’s gamble and have them bring one to the landing. What do we have to lose?”
“Nothing, I guess. Probably nothing.”
