The Nice and the Good (proofread) by Iris Murdoch

Author:Iris Murdoch
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781407019192
Publisher: Random House

Jessica.

Oh my God, said Ducane to himself. How very much he did not want those girls to see each other’s letters. It would be no good explaining Kate’s ecstatic temperament to Jessica, or explaining to Kate that Jessica was living in a world of fantasy. Kate’s letter read just like a note from a mistress. Jessica would be certain that he had lied, and he could not bear that. He could bear to part from Jessica but he could scarcely bear that she should think so ill of him. And Jessica’s letter was even more suggestive. Perhaps he could try to confess it all to Kate—but the tender romantic spell would be broken and Kate would justly feel herself deceived. Would she entirely believe him, in any case? Things could never be the same again between them. Yet Ducane also saw with awful clarity that there was nothing to be done. He could not do business with McGrath, it would be an intolerable situation as well as being quite wrong. The only hope was to frighten the man.

“Understand quite clearly, McGrath,” said Ducane, “that I am not going to give way to this evil proposal of yours. I am not going to pay you a single penny. And if you send those two letters to those two young women I shall go straight to the police and charge you with blackmail. You would not enjoy a long sojourn in prison, I think.”

“Oh come now, come now, Sir,” said McGrath, his flabby face simpering. “I don’t think you can mean that. Why if you were to do that, Sir, I’d simply have to let the newspapers have the story. And the two young ladies would be so upset!”

“You absolute villain,” said Ducane.

“Now don’t take on so. After all, Sir, it’s man to man now, it’s your advantage against mine. Why should you weigh in the scales more than I do?”

Ducane thought, all I can do is play for time. He won’t send the letters while he thinks it possible I may pay up. I’ll just have to explain the whole thing to Kate and Jess, to prepare them. But oh how can I? He said to McGrath, “You are in a strong position, I don’t deny it, McGrath. I congratulate you on your cleverness. I’ll think over your project. We might be able to come to some arrangement, provided your requirements were very modest. And I warn you if they ever ceased to be modest I would go straight to the police. But I need time to think the matter over. Come and see me again in two or three days’ time.”

“Thank you, Sir, thank you,” said McGrath. “I knew you’d be quiet and sensible like. May I hope, Sir, for a little bit on account, not committing you to anything like, but just to show we’re friends?”

“I rather doubt if we’re friends,” said Ducane, “but here’s two pounds.”

“Oh thank you, thank you. And do remember, Sir, if I may make

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