Free The Deer Park by Norman Mailer

him well enough to know he was very much on guard.
    “Charley, my personal life is in bad shape.”
    “Your wife?”
    Munshin stared into space, his hard small eyes the only sign of bone beneath his fat. “Well, things are always the same between her and me.”
    “What is it then, Collie?”
    “I’ve decided to give the brush to my girl friend.”
    Eitel began to laugh. “It’s about time.”
    “Now, don’t laugh, Charley. This is important to me.”
    I was surprised at the way Munshin talked so frankly. He hadn’t known me fifteen minutes, and yet he was as ready to talk as if he were alone with Eitel. I was still to learn that Munshin, like many people from the capital, could talk openly about his personal life while remaining a dream of espionage in his business operations.
    “You’re not really giving her up?” Eitel said lightly. “What’s the matter, has Teppis laid down the law?”
    “Charley!” Munshin said, “this is a personal tragedy for me.”
    “I suppose you’re in love with the girl.”
    “No, now I wouldn’t say that. It’s hard to explain.”
    “Oh, I’m sure of that, Collie.”
    “I’m very worried about her future,” Munshin said, his fingers prodding his belly again.
    “From what I’ve heard about her, she’ll get along.”
    “What did you hear?” Munshin asked.
    “Just that while she’s known you, she’s had her extracurricular activities.”
    Munshin’s round face became tolerant and sad. “We live in a community of scandal,” he said.
    “Spare me, Collie,” Eitel murmured.
    Munshin was on his feet. “You don’t understand this girl,” he said in a booming voice. I was left behind by the sudden transition. “She’s a child. She’s a beautiful, warm, simple child.”
    “And you’re a beautiful, warm, simple father.”
    “I’ve defended you, Charley,” Munshin said. “I’ve defended you against stories which even you wouldn’t want to hear about yourself. But I’m beginning to think I was wrong. I’m beginning to think you’re nothing but rottenness and corruption.”
    “Honest corruption. I don’t play the saint.”
    “I’m not claiming I’m a saint,” Munshin bellowed again. “But I have feelings.” He turned in my direction. “What do you see when you look at a fellow like myself?” he asked. “You see a fat man who likes to play the clown. Does that mean I have no human sentiments?”
    He was far from a clown at the moment. His mild high-pitched voice had swollen in volume and dropped deeper in tone. Standing over us, he gave me the feeling that he was a man of some physical power. “All right, Charley,” he said, “I know what you think of me, but I’ll tell you something. I may be a businessman, and you may be an artist, and I’ve great respect for your talent, great respect, but you’re a cold man and I have emotions, and that’s why you can’t understand me.”
    Through this tirade, Eitel had been drawing on his cigarette.Nonchalantly, he put it out. “Why did you invite me over, Collie?”
    “For friendship. Can’t you understand that? I wanted to hear your troubles, and I wanted to tell you mine.”
    Eitel leaned forward, his broad body hunched on itself. “I have no troubles,” he said with a smile. “Let me hear yours.”
    Munshin relaxed. “There are pluses as well as minuses to this affair. It’s easy to sneer at the girl,” he said. “I’ve sneered at her myself. When I first set her up, I thought, ‘Just another night-club dancer. A hot Italian babe with that hot Latin blood.’ Well, it’s a story, Charley. She may not be so brilliant, and she’s obviously from a poor background.” He looked at me. “I’ve always been full of prejudices about women,” Munshin said humbly. “You know, I’ve wanted girls with some class and distinction to them, and I’ll admit it, it’s what I still hold against Elena. She doesn’t match up to the people I know. But that doesn’t keep her from being very