Razor's Edge, The by W. Somerset Maugham

Author:W. Somerset Maugham [Maugham, W. Somerset]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Classics, Fiction, Modern Classics, Novel
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 1943-08-15T03:00:00+00:00

5

We had arranged to meet at the apartment and have a cocktail before starting. I arrived before Larry. I was taking them to a very smart restaurant and expected to find Isabel arrayed for the occasion; with all the women dressed up to the nines I was confident she would not wish to be outshone. But she had on a plain woollen frock.

‘Gray’s got one of his headaches,’ she said. ‘He’s in agony. I can’t possibly leave him. I told the cook she could go out when she’d given the children their supper and I must make something for him myself and try to get him to take it. You and Larry had better go alone.’

‘Is Gray in bed?’

‘No, he won’t ever go to bed when he has his headaches. God knows, it’s the only place for him, but he won’t. He’s in the library.’

This was a little panelled room, brown and gold, that Elliott had found in an old château. The books were protected from anyone who wanted to read them by gilt latticework, and locked up, but this was perhaps as well, as they consisted for the most part of illustrated pornographic works of the eighteenth century. In their contemporary morocco, however, they made a very pretty effect. Isabel led me in. Gray was sitting humped up in a big leather chair, with picture papers scattered on the floor beside him. His eyes were closed and his usually red face had a grey pallor. It was evident that he was in great pain. He tried to get up, but I stopped him.

‘Have you given him any aspirin?’ I asked Isabel.

‘That never does any good. I have an American prescription, but that doesn’t help either.’

‘Oh, don’t bother, darling,’ said Gray. ‘I shall be all right tomorrow.’ He tried to smile. ‘I’m sorry to make such a nuisance of myself,’ he said to me. ‘You all go out to the Bois.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ said Isabel. ‘D’you think I should enjoy myself when I knew you were suffering the tortures of the damned?’

‘Poor slut, I think she loves me,’ said Gray, his eyes closed.

Then his face was suddenly contorted and you could almost see the lancinating pain that pierced his head. The door was softly opened and Larry stepped in. Isabel told him what was the matter.

‘Oh, I am sorry,’ he said, giving Gray a look of commiseration. ‘Isn’t there anything one can do to relieve him?’

‘Nothing,’ said Gray, his eyes still closed. ‘The only thing you can any of you do for me is to leave me alone; go off and have a good time by yourselves.’

I thought myself that was the only sensible course to take, but I didn’t suppose Isabel could square it with her conscience.

‘Will you let me see if I can help you?’ asked Larry.

‘No one can help me,’ said Gray wearily. ‘It’s just killing me and sometimes I wish to God it would.’

‘I was wrong in saying that perhaps I could help you. What I meant was that perhaps I could help you to help yourself.

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