MacGregor couldn’t restrain himself. Forget it, Henry, he burst out, somebody’s been taking you for a ride. The job I’m talking about pays twenty a week. Real money. Write your serial on the side. If it turns out O.K. nothing’s lost. Right? But honest, Henry, aren’t you old enough to know that you can’t count on such things? When are you going to grow up?
Mona now joined in. What’s this I hear about a job? Val doesn’t want a job. You’re talking nonsense, all of you.
Come on, let’s go, urged MacGregor. The place I’m taking you to is in Flatbush. I’ve got a car outside.
We piled in and drove to the restaurant. The proprietor seemed to know MacGregor well. Probably a client of his.
I was astounded to hear MacGregor say: Order anything you like. And how about a cocktail first?
Has he any good wine? I asked.
Who’s talking about wine? said MacGregor. I asked you if you’d like a cocktail first.
Sure I would. I’d like to see the wine card too.
Just like you. Always making it difficult for me. Sure, go ahead, order wine if you must. I never touch it. Makes my stomach sour.
They served us a good soup first and then came a luscious roast duckling. I told you it was a good place, didn’t I? crowed MacGregor. When did I ever let you down, tell me, you bastard … So a typist’s job isn’t good enough for you, is that it?
Val’s a writer, not a typist, said Mona sharply.
I know he’s a writer, said MacGregor, but a writer has to eat once in a while, doesn’t he?
Does he look as though he were starving? she retorted. What are you trying to do, bribe us with your good meal?
I wouldn’t talk that way to a good friend, said MacGregor, his dander rising. I merely wanted to make sure he was O.K. I’ve known Henry when he wasn’t sitting so comfortably.
Those days are past, said Mona. As long as I’m with him he’ll never starve.
Fine! snapped MacGregor. Nothing better I’d like to hear. But are you sure you’ll always be able to provide for him? Supposing something were to happen to you? Supposing you become an invalid?
You’re talking nonsense. I couldn’t possibly be an invalid.
Lots of people have thought that way, but it happened just the same.
Stop croaking, I begged. Listen, give us the truth. Why are you so eager for me to take that job?
He broke into a broad grin. Waiter! he shouted, some more wine! Then he chuckled. Can’t put anything over on you, can I, Henry? The truth, you say. The truth is I wanted you to take the job just to have you around. I miss you. Fact is, the job pays only fifteen a week; I was going to add the other five out of my own pocket. Just for the pleasure of having you near me, just to listen to you rave. You can’t imagine how dull these bastards are in the law business. I don’t know what they’re talking about half the time. As for work, there’s not much to do. You could write all the stories you like—or whatever the hell it is you’re doing. I mean it. You know, it’s over a year since I last saw you. At first I was sore. Then I figured, hell, he’s just got married, I know how it is … So you’re serious about this writing business, eh? Well, you must know your own mind. It’s a tough game, but maybe you can beat ‘em at it. I toy with the idea myself sometimes. Of course I never considered myself a genius. When I see the crap that’s peddled around I figure nobody’s looking for genius anyway. It’s as bad as the law game, believe it or not. Don’t think I’ve got a cinch of it! The old man had more sense than either of us. He became an iron molder. He’ll outlive all of us, that old buzzard.
I say, you guys, O’Mara broke in, can I get a word in edgewise? Henry, I’ve been trying to tell you something for the last hour or more. I met a chap today who’s nuts about your work. He coughed up a year’s subscription for the Mezzotints…
Mezzotints? What’s he talking about? MacGregor exclaimed.
We’ll tell you later … Go on. Ted!
It was a long story, as usual. Apparently, O’Mara hadn’t been able to fall asleep after our talk about the orphan asylum. He had got to thinking about the past, and then about everything under the sun. Despite the lack of sleep he arose early, filled with a desire to do something. Packing my scripts—the whole caboodle—in his brief case, he set out with the intention of tackling the first man he should bump into. To change his luck he had decided to go to Jersey City. The first place he stumbled into was a lumber yard. The boss had just arrived and was in a good mood. I fell on him like a ton of bricks, just swept him oil his feet, said O’Mara. I don’t know what I was saying, to tell you the truth. I knew only that I had to sell him. The lumber man turned out to be a good egg. He didn’t know what it was all about either, but he was disposed to help. Somehow O’Mara had managed to transpose the whole thing to a very personal level. He was selling the man his good friend Henry Miller, whom he believed in. The man wasn’t much for books and that sort of thing but the prospect of aiding a budding genius, oddly enough, appealed to him. He was writing out a check for the subscription, said O’Mara, when the idea came to me to make him do something more. I pocketed the checks first, of course, and then I dug out your manuscripts. I put the whole pile on his desk, right in front of him. He wanted to know immediately how long it had taken you to write such a slew of words. I told him six months. He nearly fell off the chair. Naturally, I kept talking fast so that he wouldn’t start reading the bloody things. After a while he leaned back in his swivel chair and pressed a button. His secretary appeared. ‘Get out the files on that publicity campaign we had last year,’ he ordered.
I know what’s coming, I couldn’t help remarking.
Wait a minute, Henry, let me finish. Now comes the good news.
I let him ramble on. As I anticipated, it was a job. Only I wouldn’t be obliged to go to the office every day; I could do the work at home.
Of course you’ll have to spend a little time with him occasionally, said O’Mara. He’s dying to meet you. And what’s more, he’s going to pay you handsomely. You can have seventy-five a week on account, to begin with. How’s that? You stand to make between five and ten thousand before you’re through with the job. It’s a cinch. I could do it myself, if I knew how to write. I brought some of the crap he wants you to look over. You can write that stuff with your left-hand.
It sounds fine, I said, but I just had another offer today. Better than that.
O’Mara wasn’t too pleased to hear this.
Seems to me, said MacGregor, that you guys are doing pretty well without my help.
It’s all foolishness, Mona put in.
Listen, said O’Mara, why don’t you let him earn some money honestly? It’s only for a few months. After that you can do as you please.
The word honestly rung in MacGregor’s ears. What’s he doing now? he asked. He turned to me. I thought you were writing. What is it, Hen, what are you up to now?
I gave him a brief resume of the situation, making it as delicate as I could for Mona’s sake.
For once I think O’Mara’s right, he said. You’ll never get anywhere this way.
I wish you people would mind your own business, blurted Mona.
Come, come, said MacGregor, don’t stand on your high horse with us. We’re old friends of Henry’s. We wouldn’t be giving him bad advice, would we now?
He doesn’t need advice, she replied. He knows what he’s doing.
O.K. sister, have it your way then! With this he turned abruptly to me again. What was that other proposition you started to tell about? You know—China, India, Africa…
Oh that, I said, and I began to smile.
What are you shying off for? Listen, maybe you’ll need me for a secretary. I’d give up the law in a minute if there was anything to grab hold of. I mean it, Henry.
Mona excused herself to make a telephone call. That meant she was too disgusted to hear a word about the proposition.
What’s griping her? said O’Mara. What was she weeping for when I came home?
It’s nothing, I said. Family troubles. Money, I guess.
She’s a queer girl, said MacGregor. Don’t mind my saying that, do you? I know she’s devoted to you and all that, but her ideas are all wet. She’ll be getting you into a jam if you don’t watch out.
O’Mara’s eyes were glistening. You don’t know the half of it, he chirped. That’s why I was so keen to do something this morning.
Listen, you guys, stop worrying about me. I know what I’m doing.
The hell you do! said MacGregor. You’ve been telling me that as long as I know
