The Merciless Ladies by Winston Graham

Author:Winston Graham [Graham, Winston]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

II

Mr Hart was standing up.

‘Please tell us again, Mr Stafford; how long is it since you painted your first portrait of Mrs Marnsett?’

‘About five and a half years.’

‘During this intervening period, did your relationship with Mrs Marnsett remain one of consistent, unbroken friendship?’

‘No, I wouldn’t say that.’

‘It fluctuated on both sides?’

‘Yes.’

‘You too have many friends?’

‘Certainly.’

‘A rising young artist, I imagine, has even in the early stages many acquaintances among the moneyed and pseudo-artistic classes who like to constitute themselves mentors and friends of the brilliant new star, get in as it were on the ground floor of friendship and take to themselves a little of the reflected glory of his success, some of the kudos of being able to boast that he was one of their discoveries?’

‘Yes. That’s so.’

‘Did you feel under any special obligation to Mrs Marnsett in the matter of her earlier – hm – sponsorship?’

‘I felt a measure of friendship – a due measure.’

‘Do you consider that you owe your present success to her?’

‘Good Heavens, no!’

‘Did you feel any animosity towards Mrs Marnsett at the time when you began to paint her second portrait?’

‘None whatever.’

‘Did you, rightly or wrongly, feel any animosity towards her after your picture had been rejected by the Academy?’

‘It’s unusual to have a painting rejected by the Academy after it has once been accepted. I couldn’t help but feel annoyed.’

‘Towards Mrs Marnsett specially?’

‘No, not towards her specially.’

‘I put it to you: did you feel sufficient annoyance towards her at any time to wish to cast any imputation on her moral character?’

‘Of course not. I wouldn’t be so petty.’

‘Thank you, Mr Stafford.’

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