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"Only after this was finished and I had almost reached home in the Mercedes did I rerocery store I told Allen he'd have to go back and take little Brittany to the grocery store and stock up the trailer

"Of course he had a wisecrack or two, but in general he was agreeable and said he would go back in the pickup and take little Brittany wherever she wanted to go and buy the from soup to nuts

"And so the second task of Manhood was done Now for the third

"I went hoed into my best Armani suit, pale violet shirt and lucky Versace tie, and with a passionate heart and a delirious head I went out to seeonly at a florist on St Charles Avenue to buy her a big bouquet of daisies and other spring flowers It seemed very fresh and soft and beautiful to me, this bouquet, and I wanted to put it tenderly into her arms I dreamed of her soft kisses as the wo towards the Mayfair house on First and Chestnut I counted the moments until two o'clock arrived "

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"IF EVER ANYBODY WAS more in love than me that day I should like to speak to that person and hear it proved fro with happiness I parked half a block away, so as not to be espied by an evil opposing Mayfair, and then, bouquet in hand (I had pushed back the florist paper tothe fence beneath a great shrub of crape myrtles that were already wildly and beautifully in bloom

"In fact, the entire Garden District see and the streets so utterly deserted that I did not have to be subjected to ordinary individuals eren't in love

"As for Goblin, when he appeared beside me I told him firmly that I had to complete this mission alone, and he was to leave ain

" 'I love you, I've told you that Now give me my time with Mona,' I said crossly

"Tokisses on my cheek and whispered 'Au revoir' to ered, a shienerosity that was as palpable as the breeze

"Of course I had hoped that Mona would be waiting for me with backpack, suitcase and passport in hand

"But soon as I reached the wrought-iron gate a tall, elegant individual ca h he had a most compassionate look on his vibrant face

"He was svelte, if not downright swanky, with prematurely white curly hair and quick inquisitive eyes His clothes were positively dashing They looked old-fashioned in cut, like so from a drama about the nineteenth century, but what part of that century I didn't know

" 'Come in, Tarquin,' he said with a French accent He turned the brass knob, whereas Mona had used a key 'I've been waiting for you You're most welcome Coarden, if you will ¡¯