Chapter 2 Summary

Walter's second visit with Phyllis starts with Phyllis saying that she has given the maid the day off and has made some tea. The tea leads to a series of small-talk subjects that quickly segues into discussion of the auto insurance policy, and then comes to an abrupt halt with Phyllis's plea to Walter that he allow her to take out an accident policy secretly on her husband. Walter's first thought is to stub out his cigarette and get out of there. What he actually does is to put his arm around Phyllis and kiss her, after which they play a flirting game with Phyllis's blouse, until Walter has to leave. Phyllis tells him that she will let him know when he can come over again.

That night, Walter sits by his fire in his Los Feliz bungalow, turning over his temptation this...