At the hour when Romeo usually took a break to go practice with Arthur, he was at a point of tipsiness that found him too addled to want to hit anything, and not drunk enough to go to the Salle anyhow out of badly misplaced pride.

Hence, phone message. If you didn't know Romeo he sounded almost sober.

"Arthur, it's Romeo. I'm busy at the shop -- last day an' everything -- so I won't be in the Salle today. I'll be there next week. I think. My portal out is to come that afternoon. Don't - don't miss me too much."

And then there was some barely audible giggling as Romeo hung up.