announce his return. Hannah’s light was visible from the driveway, and the chimes were one of the touches Simon had added to the mansion to brighten the dull declining years of a gallant lady. He found her upstairs at the card table with a ream of yellow sheets spread out before her and a collection of ball point pens lined up like weapons in a gun rack. “I’m writing my memoirs,” she announced. “Are you sure the world is ready for them?” Simon asked. “Definitely. I’ve made a list of all my best friends and am prepared to detail every bit of dirty gossip I ever heard about them. If it’s not dirty enough, I’ll improvise.” “In four letter words,” Simon suggested. “No. Four letter words are old hat. I intend to use three letter words. They’re much more suggestive. For instance: ‘He walked into the bedroom and closed the door behind him. He could see the beckoning outline of her nude body on the bed. He walked toward her and—’” “Three dots?” “Three spaces.
