from previous--

charles  again heard  sounds  of  shuffling feet  in the  corridor, lagain some  time  later  tick  tick  of  pointed heels   , he  before   pulling  the  blanket  over  his  face  had  another  ppep , the  three of  the  new  arrivals were    ushering   john who  seemed  dead  or  perhaps  charles  thought  must  be  drunk  to  some  place,   next  morning  the  three of  them were  in the  restaurant  greeting  charles   informally  like  a friend  but  john was  no  where  around