TheManWhoLovedaDoubleBass

    Allartists,theysay,arealittlemad.Thismadnessis,toacertai,aself-createdmythdesigokeepthegeneralityawayfromthephenomenallyclose-knitcreativeunity.Yet,intheworldoftheartists,thesciouslyetricarealwaysrespectfulandadmiringofthosewhohavethecetobegenuinelyalittlemad.

    ThatwashowJohnnyJameson,thebassplayer,cametobetreated--withrespedadmiration;fortherecouldbenodoubtthatJamesonwasasmadasahatter.

    Andthemusislookedafterhim.Hewashoutwork,orabed,orapacketofcigarettes,orabeerifhewantedoherewasalwayssomeoakingcareofthethingshecouldaroundtodoinghimself.Itmustalsobeadmittedthathewasaveryfinebassplayer.

    Inthis,infact,laytheseedofhistrouble.Forhisbass,hisgreat,gleaming,voluptuousbass,wasmother,father,wife,childandmistresstohimandheloveditandsteadfastpassion.

    Jamesonwasasmall,quietmanwithrapidlyreghairandahugepairofheavyspectacleshidingmild,short-sightedeyes.Hehardlywentanywherewithouthisbass,whichhecarriedeffortlessly,slungonhisback,asRedIndianwomencarrytheirbabies.Butitwasabigbabyforonesofrail-lookingashetocarry.

    TheycalledthebassLola.Lolawasthemostbeautifulbassinthewholeworld.Hershapewasthatofafull-breasted,full-hippedwoman,recalliainprimitiveeffigiesoftheModdesssogloriously,essentiallyfemininewasshe,strippedofirrelevanciesofheadandlimbs.

    Jamesohourspolishingherredwood,alreadyawarm,chestnutcolour,toaneverdeeper,everricherglow.Ontour,hesatplacidlyinthebuswhiletheothermusisdrank,arguedandgambledaround