Stuart Woods_Stone Barrington 21

school, we can run down to City Hall and pick up a license, then we can speak the vows at our leisure.”
    “Listen, Stone, we have to be very careful, very private about this. I don’t want to see stories in the newspapers about us. That might make things difficult for Peter, if he has to start explaining his new name to people.”
    “We’ll do it as secretly as possible, and let people find out as it comes up.”
    “You’ll want Dino for best man, won’t you?”
    “Yes. Whom do you want for maid of honor?”
    “I don’t know; I’ll have to think about it. I don’t have a lot of girlfriends.”
    “No rush.”
    She stretched out in his arms again. “Arrington Carter-Barrington,” she said. “With a hyphen. Will you be Stone Carter-Barrington?”
    “Ah, no.”
    “Oh, all right.” She kissed him for a long time, then nature took its course.

19
    S tone went down to the office for a few minutes before leaving for Knickerbocker Hall, and Joan buzzed him. “Seth
    Keener on one,” she said.
    Stone picked it up. “Good morning, Seth.”
    “Morning, Stone. A couple of things: it seems the New York State legislature is going to pass a no-fault divorce law sometime soon. We have to decide whether to wait for that or go ahead with the present petition.”
    “The present petition has been filed; let’s stick with it. It might even get resolved more quickly, because of the impending no-fault law; some cases might be withdrawn to wait for no-fault.”
    “All right. The other thing: I’m hearing rumors that 60 Minutes is about to do an investigative piece on the island of Monoto.”
    This was the Pacific enclave of the wealthy where Stephanie Fisher and her brother had run after looting the family firm. “What does that have to do with the divorce?”
    “I’m not sure. It depends on how big an effect the program has.”
    “I don’t think it matters what effect the show has. The petition is filed. If you know anybody who can rush it, that’s fine with me and, I’m sure, with my client.”
    “Okay, I’ll get on it.”
    “Does Stephanie know about 60 Minutes ?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “If I were you, I’d wait for her to bring it up. No point in getting her upset now.”
    “You have a point.” Keener hung up.
    Peter and Arrington appeared in his office, Peter dressed in a sweater and an open shirt.
    “Where’s your necktie?” Stone asked.
    “The headmaster told me not to wear one.”
    Stone shrugged. “Okay. Peter, for purposes of this interview, your mother and I have decided to style ourselves as Mr. and Mrs.”
    “Whew,” Peter said. “That’s a relief.”
    “In fact,” Arrington said, “Stone and I have decided to make that styling permanent, and quite soon.”
    Peter smiled broadly. “Then I won’t be a bastard?”
    “Peter!” his mother said.
    Stone laughed. “I don’t think you’d better bring that up again, and especially not at the school.”
     
     
    They got out of a cab at Knickerbocker Hall, which occupied a large building in the East Nineties.
    “It looks very well kept up,” Arrington said.
    “They must have a big endowment,” Stone replied. “I imagine we’ll be hearing a lot about that.”
    “You mean, we’ll have to make a contribution to get Peter in?”
    “Oh, I think they’ll be more subtle than that,” Stone said.
    They climbed the front steps and made their way to the administrative offices. Someone took their coats, then Arthur Golden, the headmaster, met them in the reception area and introduced himself. “Peter and I have already met, of course. This is a good time for our tour, since everyone is in class. In forty-five minutes, the bell will ring, and all hell will break loose.”
    He led them down the main hallway, and they peeked into two or three classrooms. “The classes are quite small,” Arrington said.
    “We’re proud of that,” Golden said. “Never more than twenty, and more often, fifteen or so.” He showed them the science labs, which were impressive, then he opened a large door that led to the next building.
    They saw a life art class, featuring a not-quite-nude model, and a sculpture gallery. Then they went through a door and emerged into the balcony of an auditorium from which all the seats had been removed. A set had been constructed, and a student director was speaking with a small group of actors.
    Golden pressed a finger to his lips.
    Peter hung over the rail of the balcony to get a better view, and they all