Read Online After the Cabaret by Hilary Bailey - Free Book Online

– they had the gramophone playing now – and people were coming in and out. I felt very low, very depressed. Then Briggs came in. He said only, “I’m going upstairs. I’ve work to do.”
    â€˜There was a crash, and laughter and the doorbell rang again. There were feet on the stairs and cries of welcome. A very handsome young man put his head round the door, “Alexander!” he cried. “Where’s Loomie?”
    â€˜â€œI really don’t know, Casimir,” said Briggs.
    â€˜Then in came Charles Denham and sat down at the table with a sigh. Briggs said to him, “Charles, I’m heading upstairs. I’ve work to do,” but Charles replied, “Gerda’s staying in Gloucester with her aunt.”
    â€˜Gerda was his lover, but she was married to an American diplomat and would not leave her husband and children for him.
    â€˜â€œRotten for you,” said Briggs, but without much concern in his voice. He turned to leave the room.
    â€˜Charles halted him. “No,” he said. “Listen, Briggs, do you know a man called Jonty Till?”
    â€˜â€œNo, I don’t think so.”
    â€˜â€œI’ve got a suspicion he’s Gerda’s latest.”
    â€˜â€œThat’s no good, if it’s true.”
    â€˜â€œYou couldn’t find out for me, could you?”
    â€˜â€œMe? Why?” asked Briggs, astonished.
    â€˜â€œWell, you’re supposed to be a spy.”
    â€˜â€œMy dear Charles, first, I’m not a spy, and second, even if I were, what makes you think I’d spend the Government’s money hanging about outside Gerda’s house to see what she’s doing? I suppose you’d want me to wear a false beard.”
    â€˜â€œOh, God, I’m so unhappy. It’s the uncertainty. If only I
knew
. I’d rather have the truth, whatever it was.”
    â€˜â€œI shouldn’t think you would,” Briggs said. “If you knew for certain this Till character had supplanted you, you’d feel even more unhappy. Look, Charles, what with there being a war on I really
must
go away and look at my papers.” He added, “Have you asked her about Till?”
    â€˜â€œYes. She said there was nothing between them.”
    â€˜â€œI suppose she might anyway.”
    â€˜â€œQuite. I think I’ll go and see if there’s anything to drink.” Denham got up and swayed out of the room.
    â€˜Briggs said, “Oh, my God. Doesn’t he realise? I think it’s escaped him we’re fighting a war against Hitler and his fascists.”
    â€˜Sally, bright-eyed and red-cheeked, was in the doorway. “But how nice it would be if someone helped – the Soviet Union, for example,” she said. Because, of course, Stalin and Hitler had signed a pact which meant that Russia wouldn’t fight.
    â€˜â€œYou know the party line,” Briggs said sternly. “But what I’d like to know is how you persuaded Sir Peveril to let you have the attic.”
    â€˜â€œI didn’t persuade him at all, darling,’ Sally said. “I just rang up and asked him and he was an absolute sweetie and said yes, of course I must move in if I wanted to. He’s adarling, but honestly, Briggs, I do hope we’re all going to be great friends here and get along like a house on fire, with never a cross word between us.”
    â€˜â€œI hope so, too,” said Briggs, “but I’m not optimistic. Still, while we’re chatting, Sally, do tell me, what did you do with your baby? Leave it on a bench at King’s Cross?”
    â€˜â€œDon’t be so utterly foul, Briggs. The baby’s in the country with my family. My old nanny’s gone back to help.”
    â€˜â€œIf anyone asked me for my advice,” Briggs said deliberately, “I wouldn’t recommend them to hand over another child for her to bring up. Not after