Venusberg by Anthony Powell

Author:Anthony Powell [Powell, Anthony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473535473
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2015-03-11T23:00:00+00:00

20

DINNER that night at the Mavrins’ had not been entirely successful. The Professor was undoubtedly prolix in telling an anecdote which Lushington had heard more than once before and Ortrud was in a bad mood. By a mischance Lushington upset a glass of wine over her dress. It was a night when things were not going well. Professor Mavrin did his best, but clearly he was too used to Ortrud’s ways to be more than a little disturbed. They had left the dining-room. The Professor said:

‘It seemed to me that of all the ladies last night the Countess Arnhfeldt was the most beautiful.’

Ortrud said: ‘My dear Panteleimon, but how absurd! Chic, perhaps, but not beautiful. Her face is like that of a rat. She is well dressed like all Danes. That is a national characteristic. But she has no features.’

She stood there, waiting to be contradicted. Lushington said:

‘Not at all. I disagree. I think Professor Mavrin is quite right. She seemed to me to be looking lovely.’

‘I suppose you find her very attractive?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘What a ridiculous thing to say!’

‘My dear Ortrud, Mr. Lushington is our guest.’

‘But if he says such ridiculous things—’

‘It is not ridiculous at all. I entirely agree with the Professor. Surely you are not jealous of her?’

‘Jealous of Countess Arnhfeldt—’

‘No, of course I know you aren’t really. I was only joking. But to the Professor and myself she seemed clearly to be so beautiful.’

‘Certainly, my dear Ortrud, Mr. Lushington is right. You must be jealous. But how silly you are, because you yourself are far more beautiful even than Countess Arnhfeldt.’

‘You may think so. Mr. Lushington does not.’

‘But indeed I do. Why should you think that I do not?’

‘At least, my dear, Mr. Lushington has a right to his own opinions on such matters. You will grant me that?’

‘A perfect right to such bad taste.’

‘Bad taste! To think that you are a more beautiful woman than Countess Arnhfeldt?’

‘He does not think it. He only says it. I see by his face that he considers her the more beautiful. What a pity that we did not invite her here tonight.’

‘But, my dear Ortrud, you said especially when I suggested that we should invite Frau Koski, whom I knew to be disengaged tonight, that you would prefer to have no other guests. I cannot understand why you should now wish that we had invited Countess Arnhfeldt.’

‘I say so only because Mr. Lushington seems to find her so attractive.’

‘My wife, you are exaggerating in the most absurd manner. There is no reason to suppose that Mr. Lushington has any particular wish to see Countess Arnhfeldt at this moment, although I have no doubt that he admires her as much as we all do.’

‘As a matter of fact I should have enjoyed her presence very much indeed,’ Lushington said.

‘What did I tell you, Panteleimon?’

‘My dear Ortrud, moderate your tone.’

‘Sei doch endlich still! Be silent!’

The Professor rose. He said:

‘I shall go to my study and complete my work until you are in a better mood.

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