Myra-Breckinridge-Gore-Vidal

psychiatry" (Randolph looked momentarily unhappy; he hasonly an M. A. in psychology) "to know that he will never tellanyone what was done to him." "Perhaps not." Randolph'spipe went off again. One bright cinder burned a hole in thecarpet. "But aren't you afraid he may want compensationfor what you did, particularly if he is as healthy and 'normal'as you think?" "What sort of compensation?" "He mighttake physical revenge on you. Do to you what you did tohim." "Rape? Not very likely. He's much too terrified. No,I've heard the last of him, except in connection with Mary-Ann... Randolph listened carefully as I told him how Iplanned with every appearance of love and affection, topossess Mary-Ann in order that the cycle be completed."What cycle?" "The justification of Myron's life." I wasprompt. I have intellectualized everything, as I always do, tothe despair of Randolph, who is, despite all his modishpretensions and quibbling subterfuges, entirely emotional,in many ways a dead ringer for Jean Hersholt. "By actingout what was done to him, I exalt him--the idea of him,anyway--and also avenge him... "Avenge him? In what way?The Myron I knew was hardly a victim. Rather the contrary.""No, he was victim. I know that now. But no matter what hereally was..." "A marvelous man... "How you enjoy throwingthat in my face!" I was stung and deeply hurt, as I alwaysam, by reminders that Randolph worshipped Myron andcannot, at heart, bear me. "Now, now you must not project.When I praise Myron, I praise him. I don't denigrate you.""You are the one projecting now. But, in any case, once Ihave completed my seduction, I shall be free of all guilt