Claisen Condensation to Ketone Can someone explain (and preferably draw) the intermediates of this reaction?



I understand that it is a Claisen Reaction, and likely a condensation due to the heat, but I am not sure why there isn't an ester in the final product.
Step 1 is a Claisen ester condensation with loss of ethoxide from the ester acting as the carbonyl part. The product is the $\beta$-ketoester (2).


Upon acidification and heating, the ester is cleaved, the resulting $\beta$-ketoacid decarboxylates to yield the symmetrical ketone.