Manhattan Monologues
Page 20
“Are you losing your faith in it? Harry used to tell me he believed in no absolute moral rules. That there was only taste, and that good taste was what kept him from crimes like murder and robbery.”
Eleanor appeared to be little impressed by Harry’s values. “I have the good taste, anyway, to reject Harry. And to prefer the old Rod Jessup to the new.”
“And what was the old Rod Jessup?”
“A proud, stiff, idealistic puritan right out of the pages of Hawthorne!”
“And an anachronism.”
“But such a pretty one. Leave me my memories; they’re all I’ve got.” She turned to the menu. “Let’s not be too serious, Rod. I think I’m going to content myself with a salad. If taste is all we have left, I trust it will be a good one.”
Rod followed her lead and picked up the card. But he was quite resolved not to bring up the subject of Arnold’s inopportune visits to his office. There would at least be that much left of the “old” Rod Jessup.