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him—she had practiced the rites of seduction for so long that they had become second nature with her.
    "I left the latest issue of Stud on David's desk. It had his girl friend's picture in it—centerfold."
    With Howard, Gloria was herself, direct and abrupt. And he was glad of it.
    "I thought she was an ex-girl friend, thanks to you. Or to us, I should have said."
    "Howie, you know damned well he's still carrying a torch! Why else would he have gotten so mad at her, just because he found Archer in her bed? My God, you'd have thought she was his wife, the way he fussed."
    "So you didn't expect him to get quite that upset. You just thought he'd be annoyed enough to play 'what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.' Does it matter at this point?"
    Gloria sat up, her eyes gleaming.
    "Baby, of course it matters! You know how I am till I'm sure I have a new man all tame and on a leash. David isn't, and he won't be as long as he's still jealous of Eve. So we'll see how he reacts to the picture."
    "She certainly has a lovely body. A shame she didn't prove more cooperative, or I'd have enjoyed a sample of her charms myself."
    "Which way, baby—doing or watching ?" Gloria waved her hand impatiently to signal that he needn't answer. "It doesn't matter. In spite of her job, Eve Mason is too naive to hold a man like David. The way she kept begging him to listen to her, to understand, made me sick. How could David continue to want her?"
    "Maybe she has something you're not able to recognize, my dearest. Maybe she was flattering to his ego. Have you stopped to think that he might actually be in love with her?"
    "That's it—she flattered his ego. David's not in love with her; David's not the type. I think he's going to be hard as nails when he finally grows up. Like you, Howie. And like me. But as it is, I don't like competing with dear Eve's ghost."
    Watching her over his martini, Howard said dryly, "I can hardly see you having to compete with anyone, Gloria. Ghost or not. There are very few men who can resist you. Why bother with David? Wait until he grows up, as you put it, and then sample him."
    "I hate waiting for anything—you know that. And in a few weeks I'll be tired of David. He'll be all yours then."
    Howard raised his eyebrows.
    "Gloria, my love, you know I never play with the hired help. Besides, David is a damned good attorney. As you so perceptively remarked, he's going to end up with no illusions, like the rest of us, and then he'll make an even better lawyer. So when you're through with him, don't be too hard. Try to part friends with him; it'll make everything much easier."
    "Darling, your advice, as always, is excellent, and I'll take it." Gloria had finished her drink, and now she put the glass down on the table decisively. "However— there's now. Would you mind if I dragged David away from the office a little early and took him down to the house? I feel like a swim."
    "Go ahead. But sweetheart, if you plan on doing your lovemaking outdoors, be sure the servants aren't around, hmm? I'll try to come down myself, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it or not—I have to meet with Senator Tidwell in about a half hour."
    Gloria's smile was mischievous.
    "Don't forget the binoculars, darling, in case you do come down in time for the fun."
    After she had left, Hansen let a slight smile come to his lips. How well he and Gloria understood each other! He was lucky to have found a mistress who was as understanding as she was.
    Gloria stood in her own office looking out of the window, and now she was not smiling. She was thinking about David Zimmer, who had made the mistake of being hard to get. If he had shown himself aware of her initial, exploratory flirtation with him, she would probably have forgotten all about him by now. But he had pretended —and when she'd asked him down to Howard's big country house for a weekend house party, he had asked if he could bring his girl friend along. Stupid David! Or was it