From London Far by Michael Innes

Author:Michael Innes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: From London Far
ISBN: 9780755120956
Publisher: House of Stratus
Published: 2012-05-18T04:00:00+00:00

IX

Were I from Dunsinane away and clear, Profit again should hardly draw me here… But still (thought Meredith) curiosity might. For Don Perez Sierra y Campo (which turned out to be the name of his new acquaintance) was an altogether more interesting person than either Properjohn or the now imminently expected Bubear. For one thing, not even the English of the Misses Macleod of Moila was purer than that dispensed by Don Perez over his dinner table. And for another, he proceeded to expound in this limpid medium a veritable philosophy of theft. More confidently than Autolycus justifying himself as a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles did this polished gentleman defend his endeavours to carry away the greater part of the treasures of Europe.

‘We regret the Mykonos Marbles,’ he said, ‘and are the more rejoiced to hear that you may find means to regain them from the man Marsden. Properjohn mentioned a girl whose – ah – friendship you have succeeded in cultivating; and who is, it seems, at the castle. I confess that the matter is obscure to me, but no doubt you will provide enlightenment as your leisure serves.’

‘Marsden’s girl’, said Meredith, ‘is likely to be useful in more ways than one–’

‘Ah,’ said Don Perez urbanely.

‘–and I don’t really care to leave her there. Particularly as Bubear, who appears unreliable, almost certainly misdirected us to the castle for some dishonest purpose of his own.’

‘It is not improbable,’ said Don Perez. ‘Everywhere, indeed, we may discern symptoms of widespread moral disintegration. I should have no confidence in the integrity of the man Bubear.’

‘In fact, after dinner, it will be as well that I should go across and fetch her away.’ Meredith dropped this proposal very casually indeed. ‘May I congratulate you on your claret?’

Don Perez bowed. ‘Mouton Rotchield, Herr Vogelsang, of a year which I confess indifferently good. Wine at least will here and there incarnadine to the last the ashen pages of the European decadence! And when this continent is no more than a fading history shall we not recall its vanished epochs primarily in terms of wine and flowers? Mouton Rotchield and the beautiful – if absurdly named! – roses of modern horticulture will seem one with the violets of Catullus and the vine-leaves of Anacreon. Let them give you a little more of this very tolerable Chateaubriand which they have managed to scrape up for us.’ Don Perez paused. ‘As for your suggestion of fetching the girl tonight, I counsel – nay, I judge – against it. That the Marbles should be retrieved is excellent. But we must not forget that there are plenty good fish in the sea! For example, you can doubtless suggest where several equally fine archaic sculptures can be rescued?’

‘Assuredly I can.’ Meredith spoke with sober confidence. Was this elegant scoundrel, he wondered, with all his Mouton Rotchield and his fiddle-faddle of Anacreon and Catullus, really a person of substantial antiquarian culture? He decided to make a cast towards finding out. ‘Assuredly I can,’ he repeated.

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