MATTHEW has had far, far too much to drink. The wise thing, as soon as Jack finishes his lobster, would be to say his good-nights, get into a cab with Belinda, and head for home, but he’s a drink or two beyond reason, and he seems to be having such fun, they all seem to be having such fun, they all seem so clever and talented, that Matthew doesn’t want the group to break up. He wants them to come back to his place. At a couple of points in the evening he has almost spilled the beans about being B. W. Beath, and he knows, somewhere in the back of his mind, that if he persuades the whole gang to come to his place for a last drink, he’s sure to tell them, and then he’ll stand out even within this superior group.
“Listen,” he says a little too loudly, “as soon as Jack finishes that lobster, let’s go back to my place for a cognac. I just bought a great CD of old Coleman Hawkins stuff. ‘Body and Soul’? Perfect for cognac sipping. And I want you to see my place, and my view.”
Objections are raised by Effie and Richard: it’s late, the kids are with a baby-sitter, and so on, but Jack is eager, and together he and Matthew persuade Effie to call the sitter, find out if the girl can stay overnight, and come along for one drink.
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