It Takes a Thief

by Niels Hammer

  “Yes, I heard some of it, but here’s coffee and tea, Armagnac and Bénédictine.”

  “Splendid! And Jennifer, we’ve just had a discussion with Oliver. We agreed to disagree.”

  “Yes, of course, I knew you would. Women can beget and bear children. That’s worth more than all your words words words, of which none exists in the real language beyond words.”

  “That’s a rather partial and biased perspective though of course it’s also true.”

  “Of course it’s true. I’m a truth-sayer, a Sibyl.”

  “Who, instead of ethylene, has been using ethanol to-day?”

  “Il faut balayer devant sa porte avant de balayer devant celle du voisin, as you say.”

  “I just don’t think I’ll be able to catch up with you to-night.”

  “But no doubt you’ll do your very best as usual?”

  And yet he became absorbed in the fragrance of the Armagnac amidst the voices that oppressed the air in the room. Catching Caitlin’s eyes he watched how she gently disengaged herself from applauding Mortimer’s cynical jokes to join him in front of the French doors. Walking out into the cool clear Summer night they were inundated by the scent of Honeysuckles.

  “I love that smell.”

  Thrusting her nose up into a flower she inhaled deeply.

  “I told Mary that I would telephone Suzy to-morrow and tell her about the wristlet, but that there were no other news, regrettably.”

  “I’m glad you did. Now we can soon forget all about it; and it was not such an ordeal as I had expected; but does Seymour or Fjodor know anything about how George Salisbury died?”

  “No, nothing whatsoever, as I told you!”

  “I was not really sure, but they were very charming and considerate, because of you. I told them a little about electrical engineering and they had the grace to look as if they were interested for the sake of Jennifer and Charlotte. You’re lucky, being able to rely on them to such an extent.”

  “Yes, but they would also be able to rely on me in similar circumstances. However, you should not take it so seriously, though of course I know it’s hard not to, but for Seymour it’s a slight extension of his professional secrecy, and for Fjodor it’s the air he breathes, and what’s more, it’s also something which he really cherishes. It confirms him in his view of life, and of his appreciation of life’s turns and twists and subtle ironies. At heart he is romantic, Wagner is his favourite composer. I like some of his music, but I am still critical; and by the way, Mary and I had an inconclusive discussion with Oliver about modern music. We really disagree. Mary and I have practically the same experience, she when she sings and I when I paint.”

  “Yes, and I noticed Jennifer was a little cross with you. Maybe she does not like me?”

  “To see you is to love you. That was what both Seymour and Fjodor said.”

  She was not immune to their combined opinion.

  “But women beware women?”

  “She knows you rather well, I suppose?”

  As she was standing in front of him he watched the aureole of her auburn curly tresses which looked dark against the Sky – and which he first had seen when he was driving behind her on the wicked road to Yarmouth.

  “Only so far as she knows herself.”

  Taking hold of his hand she showed him how satisfied she was with his answer – but then he heard Fjodor’s slithery steps approach across the lawn.

  “Ah there you are, both of you. Mortimer is infatuated with Alice, believe it or not, but she’s not all that infatuated with him, I’m pleased to say.”

  “She’s certainly seductive, and hard to resist even if Charlotte should watch him like a Harpy.”

  “He’s too timid to try even, and then he’s not passionate enough either, and being quite satisfied with the kind of life he has he does not want to rock the houseboat too much.”

  “Is he that afraid of Charlotte?”

  “Afraid of what she knows about the shady deals for which he and his department are responsible and afraid of having to share everything with her in case of a divorce. I came to congratulate you both again and invite you to dinner next Friday, but to the theatre first. You’ll sleep in the guest room upstairs. I hope you’re not engaged, it was not easy to get good tickets.”

  Fjodor was instinctively looking at Caitlin for a confirmation – and she kept the heavy mantle of social interactions draped around her strong and shapely shoulders.

  “Oh no, we’ll be delighted, and I haven’t been to the theatre for ages. But don’t tell me what it is, let it be a surprise.”

  “All right, I’ll keep it secret – ”

  Like so many other things.

  “But is there anything which you really don’t like, I know all about Ralph’s dislikes?”

  “Boiled haddock, salmon and Yorkshire pudding. I had too much of it as a child.”

  “I don’t like haddock and pudding either and when is it you’re getting married?”

  “The seventh of July. You and Alice will come down to stay.”

  “That’s in the distant future, so I may not come with Alice though, but of course, I may.”

  “She’s certainly very charming and full of fun.”

  “Oh, she is, she is, and good – company, very good, but Wagner bores her a little. I cannot really make her hear all the music as I hear it, I’ve tried but I have not given up yet.”

  “Then what does she like?”

  “Gershwin, Cole Porter, Lloyd Webber and Puccini, when she’s in the right mood.”

  “It could have been much worse.”

  “She’s musical enough, nevertheless she finds Parsifal, for example, a bit too pompous.”

  “Purple though is also one of the necessary basic colours.”

  “And you’re not all that fond of such music either.”

  “It depends on my mood – ”

  “Anyway, we’re going to the theatre, and we’ll be looking forward to see you, but what are your immediate plans for the future, I wonder, having come so far – ”

  He encouraged Caitlin to answer by his silence.

  “Well, before sunrise, we’ll be out sailing on the Broad to hear the morning chorus, and during the next three weeks we will rise early to explore the rivers and of course prepare for the wedding. My mother will come down from Scotland, and Ralph would like a honeymoon in the jungle of Malaysia, Taman Negara. And I will look forward to see butterflies, leopards and elephants. Ralph insists that the jungle is the most exciting place on – ”

  “But what will you do for excitement here?”

  “The Broads and each other.”

  His smile of relief came slowly but when it spread it encompassed them both.

  “That was what I prayed for. Congratulations both with this and with that.”

  “We’re changing the pattern to explore another realm.”

  “Each decade has its own charm, its own dangers and its own life, but having explored them all it’s necessary to go on exploring the content of the next decade. It’s boring if one gets stuck in the same decade of one’s life; one begins to repeat oneself, and that stunts growth.”

  “I think so too, and that’s why, really; but another reason is to stop while the sky still is clear.”

  “Indeed, but it’s one of the most difficult things in life to do, to take care not to stress one’s luck and leave the table when the going is good.”

  “Heed the advice of an incorrigible gambler.”

  “No, is it not simply to avoid hybris?”

  She understood Fjodor much better than he did in this respect.

  “Anyway, a marriage implies mutual responsibilities, so we will take care of one another now.”

  “And that’s exactly why I don’t marry.”

  His smile was like that of an imp �
� mischievous and earthy – but with the touch of a Satyr. He could not be defined – he could not stay still. He was too full of zest to settle down – to conform to limited measures imposed by external considerations. He had his own dharmaḥ – pledged to be fulfilled and he was intent on doing that – come what may. He was true to himself and that was all that mattered in this vale of rain and sunshine.

  “But one day you might. You have not found the right woman yet.”

  “I doubt if she exists, the right one?”

  “Oh, she does, she does. But it might be hard to find her.”

  “Then it’s a problem of logistics, and you have both been uncommonly lucky.”

  “And acute. In finding me though with your help Ralph was very acute.”

  “And you no less acute for responding as you did.”

  She took hold of his hand to reconfirm the joys of their shared experiences.

  “So maybe I should search systematically instead of being content with serendipity?”

  “Nonsense, you’re always lucky, but should we not just slip away and walk home?”

  “But what about helping Jessie – ”

  “Alice and I will help her. Don’t worry about that. We’re staying here for the night.”

  “You? You never cease to amaze me.”

  “I hopefully never will. Let me take your glass. Come around at six, I have a new Sherry – ”

  “All right, give our regards to Seymour and Jessie and tell them that I’ll telephone to-morrow.”

  He took her by the hand and they began walking down the garden path.

  “Are we not going back the same way as we came?”

  “There’s a gate here so we can just follow the border of the field and go in by the back door.”

  “Like you did that night I surprised you in your bed and you surprised me by lying in the bed?”

  “Yes, but this is easier, coming from the opposite direction, we do not have to climb up over the stone fence and watch out for Colonel Sommerville’s ferocious beast.”

  As his eyes grew more accustomed to the dark the stars began to brighten.

  “There’s no moon to-night, it’s dark like that night now four weeks ago.”

  “Almost a full lunation.”

  Pressing his hand her teeth reflected faintly the light from the Sky as she smiled remembering –

  “Just synchronicity, and now we can sleep for a couple of hours before getting up to greet the dawn.”