family. Barely a day passed that ].B. did not have
to listen to some request for money.

But the compulsion of the youth’s body made it
| impossible to refuse. Even at work he could think
only of what lay ahead that night, of the hours they
would spend together in bed, living a passion he

B never knew existed.

f  Franco flattered him. He teased him like a baby.

On Sundays he brought him breakfast in bed. He
was his slave, a faithful puppy who never strayed
far away.

As the time grew for the picture to finish and the
company to break up, J.B. fretted about what would
#l come after. Impulsively he asked Franco if he would
B like to go to America. He expected a jump of joy.
B Instead Franco said evenly, ‘Thank you, caro, 1
knew you were going to ask me. Almost from that
first wonderful night.” He threw himself against J.B.
and kissed him, ‘let’s go to bed—now—and make

B plans.’

i J].B. was filled with doubts. He began to worry
B about how he could ever lead a double life. It was
so foreign to him. He had always been a faithful

@ husband. He loved his wife. There had never been

g any doubt about that. But Franco was something
different. This was love and more—a passion he