The Golden Room

Mi

'Gentlemen who come here are gentlemen only when properly introduced,' Mi

element, the clerk on a holiday, or a person without a chequebook. We have time only for gentlemen.'

Mi

'It is going to be difficult for you at first, I know, no matter how much experience you've had previously. Don't rush anyone and don't consider rolling them. We will permit no monkeyshines, no knockout drops, no robberies, no crudity of any kind whatsoever. Our task will be to supply the clients. Your task will be to amuse them in a way that they've never been amused before. Give, but give interestingly and with mystery. Karen, I want you to be proud you are in the Ever-leigh Club. An hour from now, after I introduce you to your first client, you'll know you belong here.'

Throughout this recital, and especially Mi

Karen hardly listened as Mi

Mi

'Mi

'Can't it wait a few minutes?'

'No,' said Aida firmly. 'Do you know who just walked in with their luggage and are waiting downstairs? Cathleen and Bruce!'

'Who?' asked Mi

'Cathleen and Bruce Lester, our niece and nephew from Kentucky. Charlie's children.'

Mi

'They've come to move in with us for two weeks. Until Cathleen is married to Harold T. Armbruster's son, Alan.'

Mi

'I know they can't – but they're going to. We knew about it some time ago. That the Armbrusters had been down in Kentucky, and their son had met Cathleen and fallen in love with her, and that they were going to be married. Their father asked if we'd stand up for the kids -'

'I remember,' said Mi

Aida waved a letter in her hand. 'Their father sent this along with Cathleen. He wants his daughter and son to live with their wealthy socialite aunts in Chicago until the wedding. A hotel won't do. Even though their family in Kentucky is church mouse poor, they must give evidence of being well-off and respectable. All through the years we used to tell our brother we were rich socialites living in a huge mansion. Well, Charlie took us at our word, and now he's sent his children to stay in the mansion with their aunts. They're here now, Mi

Mi

'We're trapped with our lie,' said Mi

floor show will be provided for diners, but other services will be unavailable until further notice. The parlours themselves are closed for two weeks for remodelling. No men are to be permitted upstairs for the length of Cathleen and Bruce's stay.'

'But our girls?'

'They can remain as part of a restaurant floor show. Nothing more. Send two of them away on vacation and turn their bedrooms over to Cathleen and Bruce. Aida, you round up the girls at once and explain the situation. I want them to be sure there is not one word alluding to what they truly do here. They are dancers and singers entertaining supper guests – period. Do you have that straight? And get that sign on the front door.'

'Can I tell the girls they'll be paid?'

'We must pay them their usual income,' said Mi

Aida darted to the door and raced away.

About to follow her from the room, Mi

FIVE

When Mi

Approaching them, Mi

'Cathleen!' Mi

The girl smiled nervously.

Mi

Disengaging herself from Cathleen, Mi

'It's hospitable of you to have us in,' said Bruce.

'And what a joy for us. Now, you two, come along with me,' said Mi