man named Lamonte. I don't know what he sees in Edna—to look at her you wouldn't think she can do anything right."  She winked.  "Miss Edna's got something softer than brains; and it's not in her head." 

 Only the first part of what she said really caught his attention. "You're speaking of Laurence Lamonte, the conductor?" He took a quick sip of bourbon and rolled the glass again between his palms, wondering where she was leading; almost seeing it. 

 "That's the man," Mabel replied with a firm nod of her head.  "With a little help from Edna—getting Lamonte in to hear you play—you'll have something decent in no time."  She sipped her bourbon slowly, regarding him.  "It won't be difficult." 

 "Why not?" 

 "Oh," she replied, moving closer with narrowed eyes.  "I know his secret—Dotty told me. Our Mr. Lamonte enjoys slipping off discretely on occasion to hear some... jazz..."  Putting both palms on the table, she whispered.  "The way I sometimes slip off to sing... Schubert." 

 Jurgen laughed and sat back in his chair.  "Schubert." He did not feel particularly surprised; she probably sang all of Schubert's lieder beautifully. She sat regarding him with a half-smile, and appeared to be finished with her speech. He thoughtfully tapped on his glass a few times, mulling over the proposal, gazing at his fingers. Finally, he looked up to meet her eyes.  "You know just what to say." 

 Mabel smiled and reached out to pat his hand.  "Be here tomorrow," she replied, "with your luggage, and I'll take you to meet my brother." She raised her glass, and met his in the middle of the table with the lightest of taps. 

 He sipped.  "I couldn't have asked for a nicer Christmas." 

 "I could say the same about you."  She sipped once, then slapped her glass down and stood up, adjusting her sequined gown around her hips, then leaned over confidently.  "I'll soon have you joining my secret musical soirées, too."  She pointed at the table.  "Now, don't forget your five dollars. Let's go make some Christmas music."  Jurgen slipped the bill into his shirt pocket, then followed her out the door and into the spotlights. 

       *      *      *      *      * 

 On Christmas Day at eleven, Jurgen checked out of the Charleston Residence Hotel. Packing took only a few minutes, as he had little in the way of 

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