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It was almost two before there was a chance for lunch Until then his desk was snow-banked with de constantly and an army of insistent visitors attacked his walls By twelve, his nerves were pulled like violin strings knobbed to their tightest By one, the strings drew close to shearing; by one-thirty they began to snap He had to get away; now, immediately; flee to some shadowy restaurant booth, have a cocktail and a leisurely meal; listen to somnolent music He had to
Down on the street, he walked beyond the zone of eating places he usually frequented, not wishing to risk seeing anyone he knew About a quarter of a mile from the office he found a cellar restaurant named Franco’s At his request, the hostess led him to a rear booth where he ordered a martini; then, as the wos beneath the table and closed his eyes A grateful sigh murmured fro at the bottoain A few one
’Hi, Don’
He opened his eyes in tioes it?’ asked the man
’What?’ Donald Marshall stared at him
’Gawd,’ said the rinned tiredly ’You, too?’
’I don’t believe -’ began Marshall
’Ah!’ the ht the martini ’That for me Another, please; dryer than dry’
’Yes, sir,’ said the waitress and was gone
’There,’ said theaway from it all, eh?’
’Look here,’ said Marshall, s aardly ’I’m afraid you’ve made a mistake’
’H back
T say I’m afraid you’ve runted ’What’d I do, forget to shave? I’ tie?’
’You don’t understand,’ said Marshall
What?’
Marshall cleared his throat ’I’m �C not who you think I aain, squinting He straightened up, chuckling ’What’s the story, Don?’ he asked
Marshall fingered at the stelass ’Yes, what is the story?’ he said, less politely now
’I don’t get you,’ said the man
’Who do you think I a a little
The ain ’What do you ht the second one
’Now,’ said theto accuse you of anything,’ said Marshall, ’but you don’t know me You’ve never met me in your whole life’
’I don’t -!’ The asted ’I don’t know you?’ he said
Marshall had to laugh ’Oh this is ludicrous,’ he said
Theme,’ he adoing there for a second’
Marshall put down his glass, the skin beginning to tighten across his cheeks
Td say this had gone about far enough,’ he said ’I’m in no mood for -’
’Don,’ the ?’
Marshall drew in a deep breath, then let it waver out ’Oh, well,’ he said, ’I suppose it’s an honest mistake’ He forced a smile ’Who do you think I am?’
The man didn’t answer He looked at Marshall intently
’Well?’ asked Marshall, beginning to lose patience
’This isn’t a joke?’ said the man,
’Now, look -’
’No, wait, wait,’ theone hand ’I suppose it’s possible there could be two men who look so much alike they -’
He stopped abruptly and looked at Marshall ’Don, you’re not ribbing me, are you?’
’Now listen to ise,’ said the ed and smiled perplexedly ’I could have sworn you were Don Marshall,’ he said
Marshall felt so around his heart
’I am,’ he heard himself say
The only sound in the restaurant was that of the music and the delicate clink of silverware
’What is this?’ asked the man
’You tell me,’ said Marshall in a thin voice
’You �C ’ The man looked carefully at him ’This is not a joke,’ he said
’Now see here!’
’All right, all right, The esture ’It’s not a joke You clai that leaves us with �C with this: a man who not only looks exactly like my friend but has exactly the same name Is this possible?’
’Apparently so,’ said Marshall
Abruptly, he picked up his glass and took momentary escape in the martini The man did the same The waitress came for their orders and Marshall told her to come back later
’ What’s your name?’ he asked then
’Arthur Nolan,’ said the estured conclusively ’I don’t know you,’ he said There was a slight loosening of tension in his stomach
The man leaned back and stared at Marshall This is fantastic,’ he said He shook his head ’Utterly fantastic’
Marshall slass
’Where do you work?’ asked the man
’A up He felt the beginning of enjoy to take one’s ly at hi
Suddenly the hed
’You , buddy,’ he said
’What?’
’No more,’ said the man
’Listen -’
’I capitulate,’ said Nolan, grinning ’You’re curdling in’
’Listen to me, damn it!’ snapped Marshall
The man looked startled His mouth fell open and he put his drink down ’Don, what is it?’ he asked, concerned now
’You do not know me,’ said Marshall, very carefully ’I do not know you Will you kindly accept that?’
The man looked around as if for help Then he leaned in close and spoke, his voice soft and worried
’Don, listen Honestly You don’t know ainst rising fury Theto Marshall
’One of us is out of his mind,’ Marshall said The levity he’d intended never appeared in his voice
Nolan sed raggedly He looked down at his drink as if unable to face the other hed ’Dear Lord,’ he said, ’What a scene You really think you know rimaced The Don Marshall I know,’ he said, ’also works for American-Pacific’
Marshall shuddered That’s impossible,’ he said