the men who were hired to run it. But most of all, he was forced to admit, he didnât like the fact that it was Susan Brightâs companion who had brought them there.
As it happened, Libby Mather was further indebted to Mr. GarcÃa-Cifuentes for an introduction to the roulette croupier, and was standing quite close to Rodolfo at the edge of the table, anxiously awaiting the arrival of her chips. âYou are so slow, it makes me furious,â Libby complained as Jack approached. âI could have made five hundred dollars in the last ninety seconds. How much are these worth? How much money did I give you?â
âThese are five-dollar chips, and you gave me two hundred dollars,â said Jack. âWhy on earth do you carry around so much money, Libby?â
âIn case Iâm asked to elope,â returned Libby archly, âI want to make sure I have decent shoes for the wedding.â She lurched forward and placed ten of her chips, which were red, on black.
Though he had not gone to the cage in the corner, Rodolfo had chips as well, and Jack wondered for a moment where he might have gotten them. Was he such an habitué of this Mr. Vanceâs establishment that he carried them about in his pocket at all times? Rodolfo was working with ten-dollar chips and was betting on even, as well as directly on the number twenty-seven.
Jack stood behind Libby and was watching as the croupier spun the wheel in one direction and snapped the small white ball into its trough, sending it around in the opposite direction. âItâs very bad luck to have someone standing over your shoulder at a roulette wheel,â Libby said severely.
âI just thought Iâd watch and see how it works,â Jack returned mildly.
âIâll buy you a book,â said Libby. âI donât have time to teach you. Now go away. Rodolfo,â she went on in a whisper, âask the croupier how the tableâs been going tonight. Has it been running black or red?â
Jack backed off, and headed for the bar that ran down one long side of the room. Susan was seated on a stool at one end, looking a little self-conscious, as women sitting at bars alone often did in 1953.
âRum Collins,â Jack told the barman. With the memory of how he and Susan had parted four years before, it was with some apprehension that Jack turned to her and remarked, with as much inconsequence as he could muster, âWeâve both been abandoned, it appears.â
âI havenât been abandoned,â said Susan. âI just have no interest in gambling. Of course, I had no idea that Libby was soâ¦â
âYes?â Jack prompted. For the first time Jack could smell the perfume Susan was wearing. It startled him. Lilacs.
ââ¦enthusiastic,â said Susan. âAbout roulette.â
âI didnât know either,â returned Jack. âHas Rodolfo brought you to this place before?â He looked about with an air of unsettled mistrust. What was that perfume called?
âIâve never been here,â said Susan. There was an evasiveness about her answer that piqued Jackâs interest.
âAt the restaurant,â he said, âyou did look surprised when Rodolfo mentioned it.â Duchess of York. White lilacs. Heâd bought Susan Duchess of York perfume their last Christmas together. She was still wearing itâbut for another man. Very annoying.
Susan paused only a moment before answering. âRodolfo hasnât been in New York long. Iâm always surprised how well he can find his way around. It takes most people years.â
âYouâve been showing him about?â asked Jack with a pleasant smile.
âRodolfo is a friend of the family,â replied Susan shortly. Then, with a smile as pleasant as Jackâs had been, she remarked, âYou know I was a little surprised to see you at the restaurant with Libby.â
âReally?â said