Page 32 (1/2)

“You didn’t need him,” Billy said “A reat actress…”

She shook her head “I was never a great actress I watch Sue”

“You onderful,” Billy said

“I sucked,” Schiffer said with a self-deprecating laugh “Do you knohat Philip Oakland said to reat actress because I wasn’t vulnerable”

“There’s your answer,” Billy said “Philip was jealous”

“Can a man who’s won a Pulitzer Prize and an Oscar be jealous?”

“Of course,” Billy said “Jealousy, envy, ego—those are the things success is made of I see it all the time in these new people who coed” Billy took a sip of his wine “It’s too bad about Philip Oakland, though, because he really was talented”

“That makes me sad,” Schiffer said

“My dear,” Billy said, “don’t waste your ti about Philip In five years, he’ll be fifty, and he’ll be one of those old et worse and worse and more and more silly While you, on the other hand, will probably have three Eht”

“But I love Philip”

Billy shrugged “We all love Philip But what can you do? You can’t change human nature”

Later, on her way ho Philip’s bell again But re what Billy had said about Philip, she decided it probably was pointless Who was she kidding? Billy was right Philip would never change Coratulated herself on for once doing the sensible thing

6

“Why are you going to a funeral for a woman you don’t even know?” Paul Rice asked

That sa at La Grenouille Paul adored the famous French restaurant, not for the food but simply because it was ridiculously expensive (sixty-six dollars for Dover sole) and close to the hotel, pro him to refer to it as “the canteen”