In the long run, perhaps it would be better to take care of the damage himself. He could call Lenny and complain, of course, but he rather doubted that the young man would offer any compensation.

  All things considered, he told himself, starting up the car and driving it into the garage, I may have gotten off lightly. Lenny was obviously not a very responsible person. He might have wrecked the car altogether, and then where would I be?

  All in all, he was rather glad to be done with the whole business. The next time, he decided, he would be less friendly toward Lenny. After all these years, he certainly did not want to start courting a lot of trouble.

  * * * *

  If the brief adventure with Lenny accomplished nothing else, it at least seemed to have dissipated Roger’s lethargy. For the following two days, he devoted himself to his work with renewed vigor and greater concentration than he had been able to muster previously.

  As for the car, he decided that he did not, after all, have to sell it before the trip. He could just as easily leave it stored and take care of selling it when he returned. By then, maybe he would have thought of some logical way of explaining the damage to the insurance company.

  There was still a great deal to get accomplished, however. There was the packing to do, preparations to be concluded for the trip itself, and countless such details. In addition, there was the May Ball, the city’s biggest social event.

  For almost one hundred years now, the Caldwells had always presided over the ball. Roger himself had been the host for the past fifteen years, and he was scheduled to play that role again this year. It was among the few truly prestigious chores that the family still managed, and although in truth his finances no longer lent themselves to this sort of generosity, Roger was reluctant to abandon the habit.

  Probably next year, he thought, they would have to decline, and then of course everyone would know it was because they could not afford it, and they would be the object of jokes. But that was next year, and for this year, at least, he was still very much involved in the preparations.

  Two days passed before he saw Lenny again. When he did, it came as quite a surprise to him. At first, after the business with the car, he had wondered about Lenny, and worried slightly about the fact that he had been in the least indiscreet with someone who, it now seemed, was not a very trustworthy sort. Since then, however, he had managed to lose himself in his various tasks and had all but forgotten the dark, handsome youth.

  It was one of those quiet evenings, with dinner out of the way and a bit of time simply to relax before retiring. Roger had seated himself with a brandy, and he switched on the radio to listen to some music, when the doorbell rang.

  “Who could that be?” he wondered, tempted to ignore the summons. He was expecting no one, and was not really in the mood for any surprise visitor. When the bell rang a second time, however, he acquiesced and rose from his chair to make his way to the door.

  “Hello,” Lenny greeted him with his most dazzling smile, and in as natural a manner as though he was in the habit of stopping by here unannounced.

  “Why, it’s you,” Roger said. His first reaction, after his surprise, was one of annoyance, but then, immediately afterward, it occurred to him that maybe Lenny had come to apologize about the car, or even to make amends.

  “What is it?” he asked, not coldly, but without any great warmth either.

  “You don’t seem very happy to see me,” Lenny said. He did an exaggerated pout.

  “Well, to be quite honest, I’m not sure if I should be,” Roger said.

  “Aren’t you going to invite me in? I feel a little unwelcome standing out here in the dark.”

  Roger yielded, although not without misgivings. “I suppose so,” he said, stepping aside, “But I’ll expect some sort of explanation.”

  To his further surprise, Lenny reached down and picked up a suitcase, which he carried in with him.

  “What on earth is that?” Roger asked.

  Lenny glanced down at the case in his hand. “It’s a suitcase. What does it look like?”

  “I can see that, but what’s in it? What’s it for?”

  Lenny sighed, as though quite bored with the conversation. “My clothes are in it. What would you expect?”

  “Oh, I see. Then you’re leaving for somewhere—New York? I believe that’s where you told me you were going originally.”

  “I was, but I can’t very well go there, without any money. I lost my apartment.”

  “I see.” Roger did not really see at all. No doubt that lady friend had grown tired of paying the bills for her young lover. Perhaps Lenny had borrowed her car too and had been negligent with it, but he did not see what all this had to do with him.

  “Then you won’t mind putting me up for a day or two?” Lenny gave him another smile.

  Roger did understand then, with a shock. “Oh, no, I can’t,” he said quickly, “It’s quite out of the question.”

  “But you’ve got to let me stay. I don’t have anywhere to go, and no money.” Lenny’s tone now was pleading, quite unlike his usually aggressive manner.

  “Unfortunately, I’m not in the position to put up house guests,” Roger insisted. “At any rate, after the damage you did to my car, you could hardly expect a very warm welcome here.”

  “Yeah, I felt bad about that,” Lenny admitted, looking sheepish, “But I didn’t think you were the sort to hold a grudge against a friend. Anyway, it’s only for a day or two. I’ve got a job staring in a few days, and after that I can get out on my own again.”

  Roger was almost speechless, astonished by the young man’s audacity. He had never known anyone quite so presumptuous in his entire life. “Even so,” he said, “It’s still out of the question. In the first place, how would it look, my moving a strange young man into the house?”

  “You could tell everyone I’m your new house boy,” Lenny said. “Or a relative, even.”

  “And how am I to convince my mother, if she calls, that you are a relative? She would be sure to find out about your presence here, and you can well understand that she would be quite upset.”

  Lenny gave him a shrewd look. His manner changed again, with mercurial swiftness, from a shy, pleading young man to someone cool and determined. “Well, why don’t we ask her about it?” he said.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I said, why don’t we ask her about it. I’m sure if I talked to your Mama, I could make her understand. Why don’t we give her a call right now?” He smiled and looked over Roger’s shoulder, to the telephone.

  “I will not,” Roger said firmly. He moved to block the way to the phone.

  “If you don’t, I will.” This was delivered with the same smile, but it was no longer a pleasant smile.

  Roger felt a tremor of fear as he realized that he was being threatened—but what was he to do? If he called his visitor’s bluff, would he carry out his threat? Did he even know how to find mother? Of course, that probably wouldn’t be too difficult. They were Caldwells, after all.

  “Perhaps you had better have a drink,” he said weakly, indicating the parlor, “And we can talk this all over.”

  “I could use a drink,” Lenny agreed, setting the case down in the hall. “But there isn’t much to talk over. I don’t have any place else to go, you see, so I have no choice but to stay here. It would be much more pleasant if you were friendly about it. After all, if we’re going to be living under the same roof, we should try to get along.”

  “This is—this is all so sudden, I don’t know what to say.” Roger poured a brandy for his guest, and refilled his own glass.

  “I don’t know why you should suddenly act like you don’t like me,” Lenny said, taking the drink from him. “I like you. I told you that. I think you’re great. All I want is to be friends, okay?”

  “And if I decline your offer of friendship, insist that you leave, you’ll cause trouble for me, is what you’re saying.”

  “You make it sound so unpleasant. I don’t want to be unpleasant, not with you.”

  Roger saw that he had no real alternative. He was quite certain now that Lenny would indeed follow through on his implied threat. Really, even that was not necessary. He could hardly force Lenny to leave if the young man refused, and to call the police would likewise cause a scandal. Either way, Mother would learn of all this, and the shock might be more than she could bear. For the moment, it seemed that he had no choice but to allow this hard and calculating young man to stay here in the house.

  “You say it’s only for a day or so?” He did not want to give in too easily.

  Lenny’s face brightened. “Sure, that’s all. Like I said, I’ve got a job starting in a couple of days, and then I’ll be out of here.”

  “I suppose it can’t hurt anything,” Roger said with a sigh. “But you will have to leave by the end of the week. There’s too much risk that someone will find out you’re here.”

  “Great.” Lenny downed the brandy in one gulp. “Where do I bed down?”

  Roger had to think for a moment. “Most of the rooms have been closed up for ages. I think the East room would be the most suitable. I’ll show you.”

  He led the way up the wide staircase, his mind crowded full of worries. Two days—but Lenny’s commitments to time were not, as he had learned before, very dependable. If he stayed much longer than that, his presence in the house was sure to become known, but what could he do? For the moment, he was at Lenny’s mercy. Later, perhaps, he could think of some solution, but just now it seemed wisest and safest to yield.

  “This is it,” he said, opening the door. The furniture had been covered already. He lifted the cover from a Queen Anne chair. “The furniture will have to be uncovered, of course, but I think you will be comfortable here.”

  “Nice.” Lenny looked around approvingly as Roger uncovered the rest of the furniture. “Bathroom?”

  Roger wordlessly indicated a door leading from the bedroom. Lenny opened it and looked over the bathroom briefly. When he returned, Roger had finished with the furniture. He stood with the bundle of sheets in his arms, feeling suddenly like a housemaid in his own home.

  “I’ll see you in the morning, then,” he said. There seemed little that he could say or do at this point.

  “Sure,” Lenny replied, without even looking in his direction.

  Having been clearly dismissed, Roger left and walked slowly down the hall to his own bedroom. He had a sense of being caught up in the pull of a vast tide, drawn helplessly into a vortex that would suck him down to some unknown but terrible end.

  Lenny—he had seemed so nice at their first meeting, even on his second visit, with its sexual episode. How had they arrived at this situation? He was virtually a servant in his own home, slave to Lenny’s wishes and commands, when by all rights exactly the opposite should have been true.

  His mind went back to his childhood, to a day when he had been taken to the zoo. He had been thrilled and awed, as any child is, by the variety of strange creatures, but he had been particularly fascinated and frightened by the reptile exhibits.

  He remembered staring in grim wonder at what he had been informed was a coral snake, a tiny and harmless looking creature. It was colored in bands of red and black and yellow, gemlike colors that might have been the design of some master artist, but their stunning beauty only disguised their deadly nature, a fatal sting done up in Christmas wrappings.

  Dressed for bed in blue silk pajamas, Roger stood at the window and stared out at the darkness, trying to decide upon some course of action. The light from Lenny’s window fell across the lawn below. Roger had a vision of his “guest” as he must be by this time, ready for bed also. He thought of their sexual experience. Did Lenny expect to have that desire catered to also? Frightening though the young man might be, Roger could not deny the thrill it had been to hold that firm young cock, to have it in his mouth. Even its memory served to rouse him now, making his groin tingle.

  I should be entitled to some reward, shouldn’t I, he thought with a faint smile? Moving from the window, he donned his robe and slipped quietly from his room, returning down the hall to Lenny’s closed door, where he knocked softly.

  The door opened after a pause. Lenny stood in the opening stark naked. Roger realized with some surprise that, although he had engaged in sex with his visitor, he had not seen him in the nude before. It was a splendid sight. Lenny’s shoulders were broad and his chest full and powerful, brushed with the faintest wisps of fine dark hair. At his slim waist, another wisp of hair trailed its way downward over a rippling abdomen, to blossom suddenly in full luxuriance about the splendid flesh that Roger remembered so clearly.

  There was little doubt that Lenny was fully aware of his male beauty. He smiled as he stood framed in the doorway, arms braced against the wood, the sculptured columns of his legs bent slightly in a naturally graceful pose.

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  Roger felt suddenly shy in the face of such physical perfection. He blushed and managed to stammer, “I wondered if there was anything else you wanted...?” How stupid, he thought, just like a chambermaid in some Victorian erotica. Will there be anything more, sir?

  Lenny’s smile deepened with cruel amusement. He shook his head lazily. ‘Not a thing, thanks,” he replied firmly. One hand went to his crotch, scratching with feigned nonchalance that only added to Roger’s desire, and his frustration. His eyes were drawn to the area almost against his will. Lenny’s hand moved slowly, pointedly.

  “Not a thing,” Lenny repeated, running his thumb over the deep red crest. He moved back slightly, swinging the door closed. Roger was left alone and feeling foolish in the hall as the door shut in his face.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “Are you all right, Mr. Caldwell?”

  It was several seconds before Roger was even aware of the voice, or the question it had asked. When he grasped the meaning of the words, he jerked upright in his chair, suddenly alert again.

  “Oh, yes,” he assured the speaker, embarrassed to discover that the others were all staring at him. “I’m afraid my mind was elsewhere for the moment.”

  ‘I see.” Mrs. Adams gave him the benefit of a smile that was tactfully disapproving, and glanced again at her notes. “I asked if there were any further questions regarding the preparations.”

  “No, none at all,” Roger said, “I’m fully convinced it will be the loveliest May Ball we’ve ever done. Thanks, mostly, to your efforts.”

  “Thank you, that’s very kind.” The compliment did not seem, however, to compensate for his previous rudeness in failing to give the lady his undivided attention. She turned to the others in the room, a handful of the city’s finest society. “Anyone else?”

  There was a general shaking of heads and a murmur of negative replies. “Well, then, I suppose that concludes our business for today,” Mrs. Adams said. “May I remind you, ladies and Mr. Caldwell, that we have only two weeks before the ball itself. I trust that everyone will see to their little assignments.”

  Roger was almost surprised to realize that the meeting was over. It had seemed such a brief one. He glanced at his watch, to discover that he had actually been here an hour and a half. So absorbed had he been in his own thoughts that he had been all but unaware of the committee meeting.

  “Mr. Caldwell.” Chairwoman Adams’ voice stopped him just before he reached the door. Roger paused and turned to wait for her.

  “I don’t mean to pry,” she said as she joined him, still struggling to stuff her papers into a small briefcase that had plainly been designed more for style than for utilitarian value. “But I must confess, I’ve been a little worried about you. Are you sure you’re feeling well?”

  “Why, yes, of course,” Roger said. “A little tired, perhaps, with all that I’ve been trying to get accomplished. The ball, of course, and closing up the house, and preparing for my trip. It’s been more work than I would have imagined.”

  They walked together through the lobby of the hotel where the meeting had taken place.

  “If you’re quite sure....” Mrs. Adams sounded actually disappointed. “You understand, of course, that if you don’t feel up to hosting the ball, we can certainly make other arrangements. I know how disappointed everyone would be to have anyone but you filling the role, but one must think of one’s health. I’m most certain that my son would take your place if it’s necessary.”

  “No, that won’t be necessary,” he assured her, “You needn’t worry. I’ll be there as usual.”

  “I see.” Mrs. Adams could not quite hide her disappointment. “Fine, then. I’ll see you next week.” They had reached the front door. She gave him another of her unpleasant smiles and walked away from him.

  Roger nodded to the doorman to have his car brought around. He had no doubt that Mrs. Adams would be only too happy to have her son take his place. After all, they were virtually the city’s leading family by now, leaders of the new aristocracy that over the recent years had been carefully replacing those of his class.

  “Next year,” he thought stubbornly as he tipped the doorman and climbed into the Packard, frowning at the sight of the dented fender. Next year, Mrs. Adams, the Caldwells will step aside and leave you entirely free to advance your own position.

  The sight of the fender, however, had brought his thoughts back to their original channel, the problem that faced him at home. It had been a full week now since that evening when he had opened the door to find Lenny there with his suitcase to hand. A full week, and his guest was still very much in attendance, nor was there any indication that he intended to depart soon.

  Roger had heard nothing more about the “job” that had allegedly been looming on the horizon, nor did Lenny seem to be making any effort to obtain that one or any other job.