“Who is that?”
“Scotch whisky and water.”
“I suppose if he must tease me he must,” she said to the Colonel. “But you won’t tease me, will you?”
“Take him over to that corner table and talk to him. I’m tired of you both.”
“I’m not tired of you,” the Colonel told him. “But I think it is a good idea. Should we have a drink sitting down, Renata?”
“I’d love to if Andrea isn’t angry.”
“I’m never angry.”
“Would you have a drink with us, Andrea?”
“No,” said Andrea. “Get along to your table. I’m sick of seeing it unoccupied.”
“Good-bye, Caro. Thanks for the drink we didn’t have.”
“Ciao, Ricardo,” Andrea said and that was all.
He turned his fine, long, tall back on them and looked into the mirror that is placed behind bars so a man can tell when he is drinking too much, and decided that he did not like what he saw there. “Ettore,” he said. “Please put this nonsense on my bill.”
He walked out after waiting carefully for his coat, swinging into it, and tipping the man who brought it exactly what he should be tipped plus twenty per cent.
At the corner table, Renata said, “Do you think we hurt his feelings?”
“No. He loves you and he likes me.”
“Andrea is so nice. And you’re so nice.”
“Waiter,” the Colonel
