always takes a while to soak in and that people keep coming in for weeks thinking the show still on."
"Four? I thought only two?" said Semy, struggling with the button of his dress shirt collar.
"Two more were clinched today. Dr. Baumstein, a nice fellow, who is paying in three installments. White, a Minneapolis flour man, bought the wheatfields. He told Vedder he's going to reproduce it full color in the big magazine ads of his mills. Mrs. Stonington, who only buys American painting, finally decided on Ma's kitchen table though she wanted Lucy's loaf of bread one."
"Say, that's pretty good. Maybe Vedder can get her to let us see her things. You know what, I bet you and Lucy get together again."
"You sure are stepping out these days. Where tonight?" Clem asked, avoiding comment on the wish uppermost in his thoughts. Ever since learning about Lucy's purchase he had been wondering whether it signified what he hoped. And now, with the pretty fair reviews, except for that smart aleck Genlis, Lucy might be impressed with him all over again.
"I have to take in an opening. J.L. thinks this play may do for Dorothy Destine. I have to dress because I'm taking Sophie Biggens—J.L. and his brother Sol have a big poker date."
His smugness made Clem grin. "Sophie! I must hand it to you. You're a fast worker."
"I wouldn't do that to J.L." Semy smirked.
"The hell you wouldn't."
"She's no chicken. Anyway, I did you a good turn. She has to get J.L. a birthday present. She was going to have Tiffany's make a swell frame for a photo of his mother—he's nuts about her—and I told Sophie she ought to let you make a painting from the photo instead. I gave you a big buildup. Showed her the reviews."
"For Christ's sake! I don't copy photographs."
"I know—but I made her think you'd do her a big favor if you accepted. I said I might get you to do it for five hundred bucks."
"Only five hundred! It would take me a month, maybe more. I don't slop them out like Alveg Dahl and he gets twenty-five hundred at least. And don't forget I have to give Vedder one-third."
"Why tell him about it? They'd hang it in an important place, and all the movie big shots would see it. The photo is quite nice. It was taken when she was young and it's sort of Corot-ish. So far, Sophie says, they've only bought old masters."
He went for his tie. When he returned Clem had reconsidered.
