it and thrust the paper into his hands。
〃There。 Just spread the paper； and pretend to read it。 You can smile if you feel like it； but you don't have to。〃
A trifle self…consciously； he followed my simple directions。 After focusing the camera on him； and setting it for 〃dark；〃 I asked him to lower his arms slightly to make certain his face and beard would be in the picture。 The flag of the Miami Herald and Classified could both be read through the viewfinder。 I moved forward and touched his hand。
〃Now；〃 I admonished； 〃please don't move or look up at me。 I'll take the photo from back there。〃
This was the last moment to take my premeditated chance； and one chance was all I could expect to get。 I forced a loud cough to cover the slight click of my Dunhill； and ignited the paper at the bottom。 A moment later； six feet back； I was squinting through the viewfinder。 The timing was perfect。 The bounce flash bulb worked； and it was only a split second after I snapped the shutter when the flames burst through the paper on his side and he dropped it with an astonished yelp。 Berenice； who had been watching with bulging eyes and with her right hand clamped over her mouth； moved forward squealing； and began to stamp on the burning paper。 I helped her； and it only took us moments to crush out the flames on the terrazzo floor。
I had expected an angry reaction from Debierue； but he was merely puzzled。 〃Why；〃 he asked mildly； 〃did you light the paper？ I don't understand。〃 He looked about bewilderedly as the charred bits of newsprint； caught by the slight breeze ing through the jalousied door； fluttered over his clean floor。
I grinned and held up a forefinger。 〃Wait。 Give me ten seconds； and then you'll see the picture。〃
I was all thumbs with excitement； but I took my time； being careful as I jerked out the strip of prepared paper that started the developing process and； instead of guessing； I watched the sweep…second hand on my watch； allowing exactly twelve seconds for the developer to work。
As curious as a child； the old artist was brushing my shoulder with his as I opened the back of the camera to remove the print。 When I turned the photo face up on the bar； his jarring burst of jubilant laughter startled me。
〃Don't touch it！〃 I said sharply； sliding the print out of the reach of his clutching fingers。 〃I've got to coat it first。〃 I straightened the print on the edge of the counter and then gave it eight precise sweeps with the gooey print coater。 It was the best photo； absolutely the finest； that I had ever taken。
Perfectly centered； the old man wore his wise； beautiful； infectious smile。 He appeared to be reading the want ads in the Herald as if he didn't have a care in the world。 His face was purely serene； and the deeply etched lines in his face were sharp； clear…cut； and as black as India ink。 He had been pletely unaware of the blazing newspaper when I snapped the picture； but no one who saw the photo would ever guess that。 The entire lower half of the paper blazed furiously away。 No professional model could have posed knowingly with a flaming newspaper without a slight twinge of anxiety showing in his face。 But the old man； with his skinny legs exposed beneath the flames； with his bland innocent face and the wonderful smile glowing through his downy white beard； appeared as relaxed as a man who had spent a restful night in a Turkish bath。
Debierue watched me coat the print； but he kept reaching for it impatiently。 I guarded it with my arm so it could dry。
〃Let me see；〃 he said childishly。
〃If you touch it now；〃 I explained patiently； 〃it'll pick up your fingerprints and be ruined。〃
〃Very well； M。 Figueras；〃 he said good…naturedly。 〃I want this photo。 It's the most formidable surrèalitê I've ever seen！〃
His exuberance was as great as my own。 〃You'll have it； all right。〃 I said happily。 〃In fact； when I get back to New York； I'll send you fifty copies of the picture if you want them； and a copy to every friend on your mailing list。〃
3
When Debierue granted his permission for me to keep and publish the photograph； I hurried out to the car and got one of our magazine's standard release forms out of the glove partment。 The mimeographed form （large circulation magazines have them printed） is a simple agreement between subject and magazine to make publication legal； to protect one party from the other。 There is nothing underhanded about a signed photo release。 Debierue could read English； of course； but the involved legalese the form was couched in forced me to explain the damned thing at some length before he would sign it。 Debierue wasn't stupid or willful。 He believed naively that his oral okay was enough。
Because of this discussion； the dinners were ready before we knew it。 I forgot to look at my watch； and it was Berenice who heard and recognized the faint buzzing in the kitchen as the oven timer；
It was almost pleasant on the screened porch。 A light breeze came up； and although the wind was hot； it was relatively fortable in the darkening twilight as we sat at the candlelit card table to eat the miserable off…brand TV dinners。
The dinners had been purchased by the Negro maid who came every Wednesday to take care of the old man's laundry and to do his difficult cleaning。 She also brought his other weekly food supplies。 By buying these cheap TV dinners； she was probably knocking down on the food money。 I didn't suggest this to him； but I discussed brand names； the brand…name fallacy； and wrote out a short list of worthwhile frozen food buys he could depend upon。 He had a delusion that frozen foods were better； somehow； than fresh。 Berenice started halfheartedly to tell him otherwise； but when she saw me shake my head she changed the subject to domestic wines。 Debierue distrusted California wines； but I added the brands of some Napa Valley wines to the frozen food list； and he said he would try them。 Other than tap water； all he drank； because French wines were too dear； was frozen orange juice。
The Gold Coast for some twenty miles inland； from Jupiter downstate to Key Largo； is tropical…not subtropical； as so many people erroneously believe。 The tropical weather is caused by the warmth of the Gulf Stream； less than six miles off the coast。 There is little difference between the weather in Miami and that of Saigon。 Debierue's house； on a hammock； with a black swamp and the Everglades for a backyard； was depressingly humid。 After eating the dry turkey dinner； my mouth felt as if it were dehydrated； and I couldn't drink enough fluid to unparch my throat。 I poured another glass of orange juice （my fourth） and sensed； as I did so； a certain anxiety or impatience developing in the old man。 As an experienced dinner guest； I have picked up an instinct about wearing out weles。
The sky had darkened from bruise blue to gentian violet； and it was only a few minutes after six thirty。 It was much too early for him to go to bed； but even Berenice； who was not particularly observant； became aware of the old painter's restlessness。 She winked across the table； tapped her wrist significantly； and gave me a brief； ical shrug。 I nodded； and slid my chair back from the table。
〃It's been delightful； M。 Debierue； the dinner by candlelight；〃 I lied socially； 〃but I have another appointment in Palm Beach tonight； and we have to drive back。〃
〃Of course；〃 he replied； standing； 〃but please keep your seat a few moments more。 Already； you see； it is past the time for me to get ready。 I must go to the movies tonight。 I must go to the movies every night；〃 he added； by way of fuller explanation； 〃and I must now change my clothes。〃
〃The movies？〃 I asked stupidly。
His face brightened and he rubbed his hands together briskly。 〃Oh； yes； perhaps you did not see it…the Dixie Drive…in Movie Theater 。。' He pointed in the general direction of the drive…in。 〃Tonight there are three long features； two films with the Bowery Boys and the film about a werewolf。 And before these； the regular films； there are always two and sometimes three cartoons。 The first long film tonight is The Bowery Boys Meet Frankenstein； a very special treat； no？ And if you will kindly drive me…〃
〃Certainly；〃 I said eagerly； 〃I'll be happy to take you in the car。〃
〃My ignorance；〃 Debierue chuckled reminiscently； 〃it was the amusing thing。 When I was first here and taking a walk one evening； I saw the automobiles driving inside the Dixie Drive…in Theater。 I did not then know the American custom； and I thought that one must have the automobile to enter the movie。 Never before had I seen the drive…in movies； and I said to myself； Why not see if the permission to go from the manager can be arranged？〃 So I talked then to the manager； M。 Albert Price。 He arranged for me to go； and gave me the Senior Citizen Golden Years' membership card。〃 Debierue fumbled his wallet out of his hip pocket； extracted the card； which entitled him to a 15 percent discount on movie tickets； and proudly showed it to us。 It was made out to Eugene V。 Debs。
〃That's very nice；〃 Berenice said； smiling。
〃M。 Price is a very nice man；〃 Debierue said； carefully replacing the card in his thin； c