Year of the Jackpot 4

She said uncertainly, "I had better go."
"Go if you mustbut I had hoped to talk with you."
"Well" She sat down on the edge of his couch and
looked around. The room was small but as neat as his neck-
tie, clean as his collar. The fireplace was swept; the floor was
bare and polished. Books crowded bookshelves in every pos-
sible space. One corner was filled by an elderly flat-top
desk; the papers on it were neatly in order. Near it, on its
own stand, was a small electric calculator. To her right,
French windows gave out on a tiny porch over the garage.
Beyond it she could see the sprawling city; a few neon signs
were already blinking.
She sat back a little. "This is a nice roomPotiphar. It
looks like you."
"I take that as a compliment. Thank you." She did not
answer; he went on, "Would you like a drink?"
"Oh, would II" She shivered. "I guess I've got the jitters."
He got up. "Not surprising. What'll it be?"
She took Scotch and water, no ice; he was a Bourbon-
and-gingcr-ale man. She had soaked up half her highball in
silence, then put it down, squared her shoulders and said,
"Potiphar?"
"Yes, Meade?"
"Lookif you brought me here to make a pass, I wish
you'd go ahead and make it. It won't do you a bit of good,
but it makes me nervous to wait for it."
He said nothing and did not change his expression. She
went on uneasily, "Not that I'd blame you for tryingunder
the circumstances. And I am grateful. But . . . wellit's just
that I don't-"
He came over and took both her hands. "My dear, I
haven't the slightest thought of making a pass at you. Nor
need you feel grateful. I butted in because I was interested
in your case."
"My case? Are you a doctor? A psychiatrist?"
He shook his head. "I'm a mathematician. A statistician,
to be precise."
"Hub? I don't get it."
"Don't worry about it. But I would like to ask some ques-
tions. May I?"
"Uh, sure, sure! I owe you that muchand then some."
"You owe me nothing. Want your drink sweetened?"
She gulped it and handed him her glass, then followed
him out into the kitchen. He did an exact job of measuring
and gave it back. "Now tell me why you took your clothes
off?"