Summary

Tom thinks about his deceased friend Billy Drury, and how he, with his fastidious note-taking and knowledge of Tom, probably knew the truth of the case. June knew the truth too. As Tom is walking to his house, he is hailed by his neighbor, the one with the gun who hunts seabirds. Tom goes over to his house, a very pretty little victorian structure. The man introduces himself as Ronnie McGillicuddy, a cellist and hunter. Tom and Mr. McGillicuddy have some whiskey, which Tom does not drink because of his ulcers, and chat. They talk, and discuss missing their wives, as Mr. McGillicuddy is divorced. Though Tom was initially anxious for this interaction, the two actually get on very well.

Mr. McGillicuddy plays Tom a song named Kol Nidrei on his cello, it is a Hebrew-Aramaic word which Tom knows from his...