Finally Connie's chatter faded away, and she reached across the table to squeeze my hand. "Archy," she said, "what's wrong with you tonight?"
"Nothing."
"Don't shuck me, sonny boy," she said angrily. "I know you too well. Is it because I've been dating other men, including your close friends?"
"Of course not. Positively not. We agreed that we can see whomever we please."
"Then what is it?"
I never ever talk to anyone but my father and Sgt. Al Rogoff about details of my investigations. I mean I head the Department of Discreet Inquiries at McNally Son, and how discreet can they be if I blab? No, I am a closemouthed lad and fully intend to remain so.
But at that moment I had to tell someone. I think it was because I needed to share the awful burden. I could understand why Mrs. Folsby had to tell me. It was just too much for one person to bear alone.
"Connie," I said, "I know you love to gossip and so do I. I want to tell you something. I need to tell you, but I want your cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die promise that you won't repeat it to anyone."
"Archy," she said, suddenly solemn, "do you trust me? I mean really trust me?"
"Of course I do."
"Then I swear to you that whatever you tell me will go no farther."
I nodded. "I believe you," I said, and I meant it. "Well, you've heard about Marcia Hawkin's death, haven't you?"
"Of course. Now the police say she was murdered."
"That's correct. But today I heard something else and it's been tearing me apart."
I told her Silas Hawkin had been intimate with his daughter, probably for many years, beginning when she was quite young.
Connie stared at me, her lustrous eyes widening. Suddenly she began weeping. Silently, but the tears flowed.
"Oh God," I said helplessly. "I shouldn't have told you."
She shook her head and held her napkin up to her face. Her shoulders continued to shudder and I knew she was sobbing soundlessly. I could do nothing but wait and curse myself for shattering her.
Finally she calmed, dabbed at her swollen eyes, blinked. Her mouth still quivered and I feared the lacrimation might begin again.
"The poor child," she said in an anguished voice. "The poor, poor child."
"Yes," I said. "Can we move to the bar now and have a brandy? I think we both could use a buckup."
We sat close together at the bar, held hands, and sipped our Remy Martins without speaking. I admit that telling Connie of the Hawkins' incestuous relationship afforded me a small measure of relief. Do you believe that sorrow is lessened by sharing? It must be so because old wisdom declares that misery loves company.
What is amazing is that the pain seems to diminish slightly as it is transferred to another. I had no doubt that eventually, when Marcia's murder was solved, her secret would become known to the public. Then the distress, shared by millions, would dwindle away to become just another of the daily outrages we read about and eventually forget because to remember them all would be too painful to suffer.
After a while we agreed it was time to leave. Connie didn't suggest I accompany her home, nor did I. Before we separated, we stood alongside her car locked in a tight embrace. There was nothing passionate about it. It was the trembling hug of two mourners surviving in a world that sometimes seems too cruel to be endured.
15
I awoke on Saturday and discovered my morosity had evaporated with the morning sun. What a relief that was! I don't mean to suggest I had totally forgotten Marcia Hawkin-I am not the froth-head my father seems to believe-but now I was able to accept her tragedy without reviling the human race or cursing fate.
The new day helped, of course. The sky was lucent, a sweet sea breeze billowed our curtains, the birds and my mother were twittering and, all in all, it seemed a lucky gift to be animate. I celebrated by eating eight blueberry pancakes-count 'em: eight!-at breakfast.
Then father departed for his customary Saturday morning foursome at his club, mother and Ursi went grocery shopping in our old Ford station wagon, and Jamie Olson disappeared somewhere on the grounds, muttering about the depredations of a rogue opossum he was determined to slay. And so I had the McNally manse to myself.
I went into my father's study and sat in his chair behind his desk. Anyone spotting me there might have thought I was contemplating a regicide so I could inherit the throne. Actually, all I wanted to do was use His Majesty's telephone directory. I phoned Lolly Spindrift's newspaper, knowing he worked Saturdays to meet his deadline for the Sunday edition.
"Lol?" I said. "Archy McNally here."
"Can't talk," he said shortly. "Busy."
"Too bad," I said. "And I have something so choice."
"Never too busy to chat," he said merrily. "What have you got for me, darling?"
"What are you working on?" I temporized. "Marcia Hawkin's death?"
"Of course. It's the murder de jour. All of Palm Beach is nattering about it. And now I'll give you a freebie, only because it will be in my column tomorrow morning. Did you know the unfortunate victim had twice attempted suicide?"
"No, I didn't know," I said slowly, "but I can't say I'm surprised. Where did you hear that?"
"Oh please," he said. "You know I protect my sources. Now what do you have for me?"
"I went first last time," I reminded him. "It's your turn."
He sighed. "What a scoundrel you are. Very well, what do you want?"
"About Theodosia Johnson, your Madam X… She's been in Palm Beach about a year. But only recently has she become the one-and-only of Chauncey Smythe-Hersforth. Do you know if she dated other men before meeting Chauncey?"
His laugh was a bellow. "Oh, laddie, laddie," he said, "do you think she sat home knitting antimacassars? Of course she saw other men. A horde. A multitude. Very popular, our Theodosia. I have the names of all her swains in my file and, frankly, sweets, I'm amazed that you're not included."
"I am, too."
"Perhaps it was because her taste seemed to run to older men of wealth. That would remove you from her list of eligibles, would it not?"
"Effectively," I said.
"And now that I've paid my dues," he went on, "what delicacy do you have for me? Tit for tat, you know-although my personal preference is somewhat different."
"I don't know how you can use this, Lol," I said, "but I'm sure you'll find a way. It concerns Hector Johnson, father of the beauteous Theo. He was racked up for securities fraud in Michigan. Spent some time in the local clink, paid a fine, made restitution, and was banned from the securities business for life."
"Love it!" Lolly shrieked. "Just love it! Yes, I expect I shall find an occasion to use that gem one of these days. Ta-ta, luv, and keep in touch."
I sat at father's desk a few moments longer, reflecting on what Spindrift had told me of Theo's social activities prior to her meeting Chauncey. It was easy to believe. A young woman of her multifarious charms would attract scads of beaux: single, married, divorced, or lonely in widowerhood. I was certain she had many opportunities to form a lasting relationship. But she had chosen Chauncey Wilson Smythe-Hersforth. Her selection of that noodle, I thought, was significant.
I had intended to call a few pals and see if anyone was interested in a few sets of tennis or, in lieu of that, driving out to Wellington to watch polo practice while gargling something exotic like a Singapore Sling or a Moscow Mule. But instead I phoned Theodosia Johnson. If my choice was between tennis, polo, or her, it was strictly no contest.