Sexus by Henry Miller

Author:Henry Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Published: 1965-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

11

“She tried to poison herself!”

Those were the words that greeted me on opening the door of Dr. Onirifick’s establishment. It was Curley who made the announcement, smothering his words under the rattle of the doorknob.

A glance over his shoulder told me that she was asleep. Kronski had taken care of her. He had requested that nothing be said to Dr. Onirifick about it.

“I smelled the chloroform as soon as I came in,” Curley explained. “She was seated in the chair, huddled up, as if she had had a stroke.”

“I thought maybe it was an abortion . . .” he added, looking a little sheepish.

“Why did she do it, did she say?”

Curley hemmed and hawed.

“Come on, don’t be silly. What was it—jealousy?”

He wasn’t sure. All he knew was what she blabbed on coming to. She had repeated over and over that she couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Stand what?” I asked.

“Your seeing your wife, I suppose. She said she had picked the receiver up to telephone you. She felt that something was wrong.”

“How did she put it exactly, do you remember?”

“Yes, she talked a lot of nonsense about being betrayed. She said it wasn’t the child you went to see but your wife. She said you were weak, that when she was not with you you were capable of doing anything . . .”

I looked at him in astonishment. “She really said that? You’re not putting it on, are you?”

Curley pretended not to hear. He went on to speak of Kronski, how well he had behaved.

“I didn’t think he could lie so cleverly,” said Curley.

“Lie? How do you mean?”

“The way he talked about you. You should have heard it. God, it was almost as if he were making love to her. He said such wonderful things about you that she began to weep and sob like a child.

“Imagine,” he continued, “telling her that you were the most loyal, faithful fellow in the world! Saying that you had changed completely since you knew her—that no woman could tempt you!”

Here Curley couldn’t restrain a sickly grin.

“Well, it’s true,” I said, almost angrily. “Kronski was telling the truth.”

“That you love her so much you . . .”

“And what makes you think I don’t?”

“Because I know you. You’ll never change.”

I sat down near the bed and looked at her. Curley moved about restlessly. I could feel the anger in him smoldering. I knew what was at the bottom of it.

“She’s quite all right now, I suppose?” I inquired after a time.

“How do I know, she’s not my wife.” The words flashed back like the gleam of a knife.

“What’s the matter with you, Curley? Are you jealous of Kronski? Or are you jealous of me? You can hold her hand and pet her when she wakes up. You know me . . .”

“Damned right I do!” came Curley’s sullen reply. “You should have been here holding her hand yourself. You’re never there when anyone wants you. I suppose you were holding Maude’s hand—now that she doesn’t want you any more.

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