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296 "An insect … a worm … a drunken bum."

"Let's go back and get your clothes." She attempted to arrest the descent of the car by touching the emergency button, but he caught her arm.

"You'll be arrested," she warned.

"What of it?"

"You ought to be spanked."

The car stopped at the lobby floor. The girl threw the coat over him.

"I'm chilly," he complained.

"Silly," she said. "You can't go home without even a G-string on."

"You're right," he said. "I'd catch cold."

Someone on an upper level touched a button. The car began to rise.

"I'm tired," said Ken, "I'm dead tired." He sank to his knees and leaned against the side of the elevator. "I'm so tired." When the car arrived at the penthouse floor, he was asleep.

Ken awoke in his room at the Yorkshire. The telephone was noisily ringing and he dreamed of fire alarms and ships at sea and tolling church bells before he could open his eyes.

"This is Connie," she said.

"Who's Connie?"

"Your guardian angel. Are you still indecent?"

"No more than usual. Who are you?"

"The girl who saved you from jail and pneumonia last night."

"Never heard of you. Where are you?"

"Downstairs."