Catherine Certitude by Patrick Modiano

Author:Patrick Modiano [Modiano, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Andersen Press Ltd
Published: 2021-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

The woman spoke:

“Late as usual, Odile.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Sergent.”

Odile had explained that Miss Sergent was her nanny.

One evening, before taking the Metro with her, Odile handed me an envelope. Inside was a card with sky-blue printing.

Odile had written Papa’s and my name on the invitation herself, and I was surprised that Papa didn’t realise at the time that she had done it without her parents’ knowledge.

“We have to answer right away and accept the invitation,” said Papa. “Friday is tomorrow.”

He asked Mister Casterade for advice, who told him:

“I’ll dictate a letter.”

Papa sat down at his typewriter. Puffing out his chest, Mister Casterade began:

Dear Friends:

It is with great pleasure that... my daughter and I... accept your... very kind invitation... We will therefore... see you at Saussaye Boulevard... tomorrow.

Sincerely yours,

Georges Certitude and daughter.

“ ‘And daughter’?” asked Papa, looking surprised.

“ ‘And daughter’,” said Mister Casterade in a tone that brooked no contradiction. “It’s a classic turn of phrase.”

Papa telephoned Mister Chevreau and asked him to come to the shop. It was a matter of some urgency, he said.

Chevreau came over right away.

“Could you take this letter to Neuilly right now, to Saussaye Boulevard?” Papa asked.

“Right away?” said Chevreau.

“And tomorrow, I’d like you to fetch me and my daughter in your pickup truck and take us to the same address.”

“This is a bit sudden, Certitude.”

“Listen, Chevreau,” said Papa. “I’ll give you the first four rows of those Constellation seats for free. Can’t you do me this favour?”

“Well, all right,” said Chevreau, impressed.

Papa was both nervous and very eager to go to the cocktail party that Odile’s parents were giving.

“Very fine people, the Ancorenas,” Papa kept saying, in an odd, worldly tone of voice I had never heard before.

After breakfast, we sat on the bench in Saint Vincent de Paul Square while he made plans for the future.

“You know, Catherine, honey, it doesn’t take much for life to become more pleasant... Not much at all... Just a matter of moving in the right circles... I’m really anxious to meet the Ancorenas.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.