Myra-Breckinridge-Gore-Vidal

oom that looked onto the sea. Silhouetted against the lastlight of the day, two figures were dancing, intertwined.According to plan, I switched on the light. Rusty and Letitialeapt apart; they wore bathing suits (marvelouslyreminiscent of Garfield and Crawford in Humoresque)."What the hell!' exclaimed Letitia, simulating anger."Darling, I couldn't be sorrier!" I simulated alarm. Both Rustyand Mary-Ann were genuinely shocked; but where she washurt, he was truculent. It was Mary-Ann who made the firstmove. "Where," she asked him in a quavering voice, "haveyou been?" But Letitia did not allow him to answer. "Comeon, children, let's all have a nice drink!" She crossed to thesanctuary of the bar at the end of the room opposite theplate-glass window, black now from the light within. Rustysimply stared at Mary-Ann. Not once did he look at me. "...Then," said Letitia comfortably, "we can sit down anddiscuss this like adults." (Greer and Joan in When LadiesMeet). "Who wants what?" But no one answered her. ThenMary-Ann repeated, "Where have you been all this time?"To which Rusty responded in a clear hard voice, "What areyou doing with her?" And he gave me a look of perfecthate. "Myra's my friend." Mary-Ann's voice was faint. Letitiagargled some Scotch and then said hoarsely, "Rusty'sbeen staying here while I get him launched over at Fox withthis new series. You sure you don't want a drink, honey? Oryou, Myra?" "Are you living with this woman?" Mary-Annwas still unable to comprehend the situation. "Now, dear,don't get upset." Letitia was soothing. "Rusty and I do havea great deal in common but neither one of us would want to