I'd say that you,

he pointed at

Joe, then at me, are at and he mentioned a low level. He said he would put Jill at a

higher level.

Some sound or subtle movement on Jill's part made me glance at her. Her face was shiny with tears. She did not move at all on making any sound, but when I looked up, both Joe and Salinger were staring silently at Jill. Joe stood up. He stooped over Jill saying something

that got no answer, then said to the room that we would have to go now.

Yes, I got to my feet. We really have to go. Joe and I fetched our coats in Jill's while she and Salinger stood silently. As we headed for the door, Salinger came alive and spoke up. No, no, he said, please don't go. Please stay and have another drink. Don't go now. He was shaking his head. Really, we must go. I said, I'm sorry. And I was. I certainly was. I did not understand exactly why Jill had broken down, but it was impossible to think that we could stay. We stood awkwardly on the sidewalk waiting for a cab. One came quickly and Salinger asked us again that we changed our minds. Come back in. Please have another drink. The three of us got into the cab.