Appointment in Samarra - John O'Hara [41]
Cheerio, said Julian. The old priest Julian wondered exactly how old he was drank his highball almost bottoms up. Good whiskey, he said. That came from Ed Charney, too, said Julian. He has his uses, said the priest. Thank you, and good-by. I ll send you that Bushmill s tomorrow or next day. Bye. He left, a little stoop-shouldered but strong-looking and well-tailored. The talk had given Julian a lift, and the air had sobered him up. The tails hanging over his buttocks, the sleeves of his coat, the legs of his trousers were still cold, covered with cold, from his stand on the verandah, but he felt fine. He hurried out to dance with Caroline and others. The orchestra was playing Three Little Words. He spotted Caroline, dancing with-it would be-Frank Gorman. Julian cut in, being no more polite about it than he had to. Have we met? said Caroline. Ouimet. The name of a golfer. Francis Ouimet, said Julian. How did you ever remember the name?
Where have you been? I looked around for you after I came down from the johnny, but were you anywhere to be seen? Did you greet me at the foot of the stairs? Did you come dashing forth to claim the first dance? Did you? No. You did not. Then an hour passes. And so on.
I was having a very nice chat with Father Creedon.
Father Creedon? You were not. Not for long. He s been sitting with Mrs. Gorman and her party most of the evening. You were getting drunk and you just happened to give him one drink so you could truthfully say you d been with him. I know you, English.
You’re wrong as hell. He was with me for a long time. And I learned something.
What?
He thinks Harry Reilly is a horse s ass, said Julian. She did not reply. What s the matter with that? I think so too. I see eye to eye with Rome on that.
How did he happen to say that? What did you say that made him say that?
I didn’t say anything to make him say that. All I said was ... I don t remember how it started. Oh, yes. He asked me how I felt and I said fine, and then I said no, anything but fine. I was standing outside on the verandah, and he came out for a breath of air, and so we got to talking and I said I supposed he d heard about my altercation with Harry and I told him I d been around to apologize, and I said Harry had refused to see me, and then Creedon said he thought Harry was a horse s ass.
That doesn’t sound much like him.
That s what I thought, but he explained it beforehand. He said he wasn’t talking as a priest, but just as man to man. After all, darling, there s no law that says he has to dearly love all the people who go to his church, is there?
No. Well, I m just sorry you talked to him about it. Even if he doesn’t go right back and tell
Oh, for God s sake. You were never so wrong in your whole life. Father Creedon s a swell guy.
Yes, but he s a Catholic, and they stick together.
Oh, nuts. You’re trying to build this up into a world catastrophe.
Oh, yeah? And what are you doing? You’re trying to pass it off as though it were the least important thing in the world, just a little exchange of pleasantries. Well, you’re wrong, Julian.
Aw-haw. Now we re getting to the Julian stage. I get it.
Will you listen? This thing isn’t going to blow over and be forgotten, and I wish you d stop thinking it is. I ve tried to tell you what you should have known yourself, that Harry Reilly is a bad enemy.
How do you know? How do you know so much about Harry Reilly s characteristics or avenging moods or what-have-you? If you don t mind my saying so, you give me a pain in the ass.
Okay, said Caroline. Oh, I m sorry. Believe me? I m sorry. Please forgive me. He held her closer. Have we still got a date for midnight?
I don t know.
You don t know? Just because I said that?
Oh, I think you’re unfair. I think it s a dirty trick, and you always do it. You make me very