Appointment in Samarra - John O'Hara [47]
You can t be so sure about that. English gets that way sometimes. He can always drive when he s stinko, but a big thing like parking the car no, sir. That s asking too much.
Well, they got a good table, said Frannie. Look at that old Frenchman, What s His Name, moving that Taqua crowd around to make room for English.
To make room for Hofman, you mean, said Lute. Oh, of course. I didn’t think of that. I like that Whitney Hofman. He s so democratic.
Well, I guess if I had fourteen million bucks I imagine I d be democratic, too. He can afford it, said Lute. What are you talking about, Lute? said Frannie. They re the ones that you never see democratic, those with the money.
No, you’re wrong there. The ones with the dough, the big dough, they re always democratic, said Lute. Oh, you have everything upside down, said Frannie. The ones that have a lot of money, they re the ones you always think of as being the high-hat ones.
Not me, Frannie. I always think of the ones that really have more money than I d know what to do with, I think of them as the democratic ones. If you don t have money you’re not democratic. You don t have to be democratic. You just act natural and nobody ever thinks of it as democratic or anything else. It s like a story I heard about Jim Corbett.
Jim Corbett? Is he the one that s staying at the Y.M.C.A.? The electric engineer?
Hell, no. His name is Corbin. No, Jim Corbett was the fighter, heavyweight champion. They used to call him Gentleman Jim.
Oh, Gentleman Jim. Oh, I heard of him. I always thought he was some kind of a crook. I heard of him all right. What s the story?
Well, when he was here two years ago
Was he here? In Gibbsville? I never knew that, said Frannie. Yes, he was here for a banquet. Anyhow, one of the reporters got to talking to him about his title of Gentleman Jim, and he told the story about how he was in the subway in New York or something and somebody started pushing him around no, that s the one about Benny Leonard. Wait a minute. Oh, yes. This is it. Somebody was asking him why he was always so polite to everybody. He is the politest man in the world, I guess, and he said, Well, when you ve been heavyweight champion of the world, gentlemen, you can afford to be polite.
What did he mean by that? said Frannie. What! said Lute. Let it go, Frannie. It isn’t that important.
Well, I just don t see what that has to do with Whitney Hofman being democratic. I think he s very democratic.
I think you better have a shot, said Lute. Am I dumb or something? she said. You act as though I said something dumb or nay-eeve.
Not at all. You want ginger ale with yours, or straight? said Lute. I ll have a straight one I guess, then you can give me another in a highball.
That s talking, said Lute. Oh. Don t look right away, but I think we re going to have a little company. You can look now.
You mean English? He s coming over. Introduce me to him, will you?
Sure. If he ever makes it, said Lute. Julian English had stood up and looked around the room and had recognized Lute Fliegler. Immediately he told Caroline and Kitty and Whit and Carter that he had to talk to Lute. Matter of business that couldn’t wait. He excused himself and began to make his way, assisting himself by taking hold of the backs of chairs and people s shoulders, to the table where Lute and Frannie were seated. He extended his hand to Lute. Luther, I came all the way over here to wish you a happy birthday. All the way over here. Happy birthday, Luther.
Thanks, boss. Will you sit down and have a drink with us? This is Mrs. Snyder. Mrs. Snyder, this is Mr. English.
I m pleased to meet you, said Frannie, and began to get up. Not leaving? said Julian. Oh, no, said Frannie. I ll stay.
Very good. Very, very good. Very good. Luther, I came over here to talk to you on a matter of business no, sit down, Mrs. Snyder. Please sit down. You can hear what I have to say. Luther, have you any Scotch?
No, I only have rye, I m sorry to say.
What of it? said Julian. Who is that man over there, Luther?
Where?
The one that s staring at us. I think he s dead. Did you ever hear the story about the dead man in the subway, Luther?