Pat leaned over the parapet.
"Ach, but it's a long time since I had a dance."
Breuer stood up.
"Shall we?"
She looked at me beaming.
"I'll order something in the meantime," said I.
The tango lasted a long while.
Pat looked across now and then and smiled at me. . .I nodded back, but did not feel any too special.
She looked wonderful and danced magnificently.
Unfortunately Breuer danced equally well and the two looked most distinguished together. They danced as if they had often partnered one another before.
I ordered myself a large rum.
The two came back.
Breuer went to greet some people and for a moment Pat and I were alone.
"How long have you known the boy?" I asked.
"A long time.
Why?"
"Ach, I only wondered.
Did you often come here with him?"
She looked at me.
"I don't remember any more, Robby."
"One remembers that all right," said I obstinately, though I knew what she meant.
She shook her head and smiled.
I loved her very much at that moment.
She meant to show me that all that had been, was forgotten.
But something bored in me, something I felt to be ridiculous, myself, and yet something I could not shake off.
I put my glass down on the table.
"You can tell me.
It doesn't signify."
She looked at me again.
"Do you suppose we would be here otherwise?" she asked.
"No," said I ashamed.
The band started to play again.
Breuer came up.
"A Blues," said he to me. "Wonderful.
Wouldn't you like to dance it?"
"No," I replied.
"Pity."
"You ought to try once, Robby," said Pat.
"I'd sooner not."
"But why not?" asked Breuer.
"I don't care for it," I replied unamiably. "I never learnt.
Never had time.
But you dance, I can amuse myself here all right."
Pat hesitated.
"But Pat—" said I. "You enjoy it so."
"That's true—but are you enjoying yourself too?"
"What do you think?" I showed her the glass. "This is a kind of dancing too."
They went.
I beckoned a waiter and emptied my glass.
Then I lolled on the table and counted the salted almonds.