The Golden Room

'How?'

'I can inform Minna I want you to accompany me to my office, and I can change your condition.'

'Do you mean surgically?'

'No. There's only one proper way to break a hymen. It would be enjoyable for both of us – and you'd be experienced. I could -'

'If you're saying what I think you're saying,' Karen interrupted heatedly, 'the answer is no! I wouldn't let you near me. You're supposed to be a doctor, not a -'

'I am a doctor, and thinking only of your own good.'

'You're a lecher.' She came to her feet and pulled on her silk robe. 'I'll accept you as a doctor, but not as anything else. I'll take my chances on – on my lack of experience.'

'Whatever you wish, Karen. I certainly have no intention of costing you your job. But I'm afraid you may lose it yourself. Anyway, I want you to know that I am not a lecher or something worse, only a professional you can count upon as a friend.'

Karen remained silent, when there was a rapping on the door.

'Come in!' Dr Holmes called out.

Minna Everleigh entered, glanced at Karen, and then held her gaze on Dr Holmes.

'Did you complete your examination?' Minna inquired.

'You are right on time,' said Holmes, picking up his bag. 'I gave Karen a thorough examination. She's in perfect condition. Healthy and sound. You need have no concern on her behalf.'

Minna relaxed her shoulders. 'That's a relief. Thanks a lot, Doctor.'

'It was a pleasure,' said Dr Holmes. He winked at Karen. 'I enjoyed being with you. I'm pleased you are well.'

'Thank you,' Karen mumbled weakly.

They both watched a cheerful Dr Holmes depart.

Once the bedroom door had closed, Minna gestured Karen to a chair and sat down across from her.

'You have about an hour before your first customer arrives,' said Minna. 'Before that happens, I want to discuss your deportment here. The key to everything in this house is to remember you are a desirable young lady, not just some floozy off the street. If you want to remain an Everleigh girl, you must, when with a visitor, always be polite, be patient, and forget what you are here for.'

Minna took out a cigarette and lit it.

'Gentlemen who come here are gentlemen only when properly introduced,' Minna resumed. 'We shall see that each girl is correctly presented to each guest. In the Everleigh Club, there is no lining up for selection, as is the practice in other brothels. There shall be no cry from Aida or myself, "Into the parlour, girls," when guests arrive. I'll personally accompany each man up to your boudoir and formally introduce you. After that, you'll be on your own. On other occasions, when there is more leisure, I'll request that you dress in your most becoming finery and come downstairs first to amuse our guests in a parlour or at supper. Above all, the one thing I ask is that you be attentive to your callers' needs. Remember one thing. The Everleigh Club has not time for the rough

element, the clerk on a holiday, or a person without a chequebook. We have time only for gentlemen.'

Minna's cigarette had gone out and she lit it again.

'It is going to be difficult for you at first, I know, no matter how much experience you've had previously. Don't rush anyone and don't consider rolling them. We will permit no monkeyshines, no knockout drops, no robberies, no crudity of any kind whatsoever. Our task will be to supply the clients. Your task will be to amuse them in a way that they've never been amused before. Give, but give interestingly and with mystery. Karen, I want you to be proud you are in the Ever-leigh Club. An hour from now, after I introduce you to your first client, you'll know you belong here.'

Throughout this recital, and especially Minna's last reminder that shortly she would be alone with a strange man, Karen had been quivering with fright. Soon, she would be cornered by a customer and expected to perform as a prostitute. There was plenty of verbal evidence, from Minna, that the Everleigh Club was still a brothel, but Karen did not possess the substantial evidence that would enable the mayor to shut the place down. The real evidence would come when a paying guest would strip off his clothes and get into bed with her. The thought was horrifying.

Karen hardly listened as Minna continued to speak. 'In addition to what I've told you, there are a few minor things you should know about your conduct in the Club. One of these is that -'

Minna was interrupted by a sharp rapping on the door. The door opened and Aida came in, carrying a note, her countenance ashen.

'Minna, I've got to speak to you at once,' Aida began. 'It's urgent.'

'Can't it wait a few minutes?'

'No,' said Aida firmly. 'Do you know who just walked in with their luggage and are waiting downstairs? Cathleen and Bruce!'

'Who?' asked Minna, bewildered.

'Cathleen and Bruce Lester, our niece and nephew from Kentucky. Charlie's children.'

Minna was more bewildered than ever. 'What are they doing here?'

'They've come to move in with us for two weeks. Until Cathleen is married to Harold T. Armbruster's son, Alan.'

Minna was aghast. 'But they can't stay here -'

'I know they can't – but they're going to. We knew about it some time ago. That the Armbrusters had been down in Kentucky, and their son had met Cathleen and fallen in love with her, and that they were going to be married. Their father asked if we'd stand up for the kids -'

'I remember,' said Minna. 'I wrote Charlie a quick note saying, "Send them along." But I only meant we'd stand up for Cathleen at the wedding. God, I didn't mean for them to stay with us here.'

Aida waved a letter in her hand. 'Their father sent this along with Cathleen. He wants his daughter and son to live with their wealthy socialite aunts in Chicago until the wedding. A hotel won't do. Even though their family in Kentucky is church mouse poor, they must give evidence of being well-off and respectable. All through the years we used to tell our brother we were rich socialites living in a huge mansion. Well, Charlie took us at our word, and now he's sent his children to stay in the mansion with their aunts. They're here now, Minna, and they can't be sent away. We have to live with this pretext for two weeks, until the wedding is over and Cathleen and Bruce are out of our hair. What should we do?'

Minna stood between Aida and Karen, lost in thought.

'We're trapped with our lie,' said Minna. 'We've got to play being their wealthy, respectable aunts, and we have to give them the hospitality of our mansion. Let me think -' She thought further. Then she addressed Aida. 'First things first. Have Edmund immediately post a sign on the front door announcing that our restaurant is open for business. A

floor show will be provided for diners, but other services will be unavailable until further notice. The parlours themselves are closed for two weeks for remodelling. No men are to be permitted upstairs for the length of Cathleen and Bruce's stay.'

'But our girls?'

'They can remain as part of a restaurant floor show. Nothing more. Send two of them away on vacation and turn their bedrooms over to Cathleen and Bruce. Aida, you round up the girls at once and explain the situation. I want them to be sure there is not one word alluding to what they truly do here. They are dancers and singers entertaining supper guests – period. Do you have that straight? And get that sign on the front door.'

'Can I tell the girls they'll be paid?'

'We must pay them their usual income,' said Minna, 'no matter what the financial loss to ourselves. The main thing is to keep Cathleen and Bruce believing we are actually respected socialites and this is our fancy home. We'll tell them that we conduct a fashionable high-class restaurant to keep ourselves busy. Now off you go, at once. Gather the girls and tell them the truth and what we expect of them. I'll go down and greet Cathleen and Bruce.'