for one sign that Dorothea gave a damn that they wereparting. Quite clearly she did not. On past experienceit would take his bruised ego a full twenty-four hours torecover from such indifference.

He got out of the cab on 3rd around 83rd Street, andwalked through to a bar on Lexington where he knew hecould put half a bottle of bourbon between himself andthe dreams he'd had.

It was well after one. The street was deserted, exceptfor him, and for the echo his footsteps had recentlyacquired. He turned the corner into Lexington, andwaited. A few beats later, Valentin rounded the samecorner. Harry took hold of him by his tie.

'Not a bad noose,' he said, hauling the man off hisheels.

Valentin made no attempt to free himself. 'Thank Godyou're alive,' he said.

'No thanks to you,' Harry said. 'What did you put inthe drink?'

'Nothing,' Valentin insisted. 'Why should I?'

'So how come I found myself on the floor? How comethe bad dreams?'

'Butterfield,' Valentin said. 'Whatever you dreamt, hebrought with him, believe me. I panicked as soon as Iheard him in the house, I admit it. I know I shouldhave warned you, but I knew if I didn't get out quicklyI wouldn't get out at all.'

'Are you telling me he would have killed you?'

'Not personally; but yes.' Harry looked incredulous.'We go way back, him and me.'

'He's welcome to you,' Harry said, letting go of thetie. 'I'm too damn tired to take any more of this shit.'He turned from Valentin and began to walk away.

'Wait -' said the other man, '- I know I wasn't toosweet with you back at the house, but you've got tounderstand, things are going to get bad. For both ofus.'

'I thought you said it was all over bar the shouting?'

'I thought it was. I thought we had it all sewn up. ThenButterfield arrived and I realised how naive I was being.