indeed, but it has some useful effects. It is particularly good for easing social relations. One may talk to all the world at a concert and see one’s neighbours in a congenial
setting, and that must be of benefit to society.”
One could say the same of the horse races, I reflected. “Then far from being a trivial occupation, madam,” I said, “music and its practitioners –” I bowed –
“are performing a great service to the world.”
She laughed. Heads turned; Le Sac played more loudly. I did not care; I found the lady’s company most agreeable.
“I must allow you the final word, sir,” she said, reaching for another book. “You argue excellently. Let me show you another volume. This was obtained recently by my cousin.
She thinks most highly of these concerti.”
It was a handwritten volume, but most unfortunately the first page, with the author’s name upon it, had been torn out. I hummed a few bars of the first tune and found myself agreeably
taken by it. The accompanying parts were simple but that is not a bad fault; perhaps the players for whom the composer wrote were not expert. Rather like the gentlemen in our own concert band.
“Indeed, I like these very much,” I said and then gave way as the lady’s cousin beckoned to her. Mrs Jerdoun went to Lady Anne and I leafed through the volume. Oddly, the
handwriting was not dissimilar to my own neatest hand.
Esther Jerdoun returned to me. “My cousin says that if you wish to borrow that volume, you are most welcome.”
I could hardly refuse; I bowed and Lady Anne inclined her head. Mrs Jerdoun beckoned to a servant and he took the book away to wrap it against the weather. As we waited at the back of the room I
said, somewhat hesitantly, “Was your husband French, madam?”
“I am not married. My mother’s second husband was French and I adopted his name as my own. He was an official of their government.”
Unmarried. Ridiculous to take such pleasure in the thought; there was a great gulf between us, both in station and fortune.
The servant returned with the book; I took it, kissed the lady’s hand, then took my leave of Lady Anne in the same manner. Claudius Heron nodded to me civilly. In the hall, the servant
returned my greatcoat; clasping the book in my arms, I stepped out into a heavy drizzle, breathing a sigh of relief for my escape.
But I knew it would not be for long. Le Sac was not a man to forgive slights. My safe, dull life was beginning to collapse about me. I had earned Nichols’s enmity (through no fault of my
own) and Le Sac’s (for no reason at all – or rather an imagined rivalry) and I had quarrelled with Demsey. I was somehow a pawn in a game Lady Anne was playing, though what that game
was, or what purpose it had, I could not tell. And I was in danger of losing my living, or would be, if Le Sac had his way.
And more than that, there was that other puzzle which I could not fathom. I hurried for the shelter of the gardens, passing that place where I had twice fallen, as quickly as I could. Nothing
happened. Had I imagined it after all?
More than my living, I began to fear for my sanity.
11
FULL PIECE
Halfway home the heavens opened and spat all the venom they possessed at me. A vicious wind seized my tricorne from my head and drove a deluge of rain on to my hair, plastering
it to my face. It lifted the tails of my coat and splattered my breeches and stockings with mud; passing carts splashed puddles over my shoes. I tucked the book under my coat and ran the last
streets. In the dryness of my own room, George was curled into a ball on the floor, snoring noisily into his blanket. I stripped off my wet clothing, hung it over the chair to dry, and slipped
silently into bed, falling asleep at once.
Rain was still falling when I woke in the morning, pattering against the window and obscuring my view of the sodden street below. I rose with some weariness. It was the day of the weekly concert
– the worst
setting, and that must be of benefit to society.”
One could say the same of the horse races, I reflected. “Then far from being a trivial occupation, madam,” I said, “music and its practitioners –” I bowed –
“are performing a great service to the world.”
She laughed. Heads turned; Le Sac played more loudly. I did not care; I found the lady’s company most agreeable.
“I must allow you the final word, sir,” she said, reaching for another book. “You argue excellently. Let me show you another volume. This was obtained recently by my cousin.
She thinks most highly of these concerti.”
It was a handwritten volume, but most unfortunately the first page, with the author’s name upon it, had been torn out. I hummed a few bars of the first tune and found myself agreeably
taken by it. The accompanying parts were simple but that is not a bad fault; perhaps the players for whom the composer wrote were not expert. Rather like the gentlemen in our own concert band.
“Indeed, I like these very much,” I said and then gave way as the lady’s cousin beckoned to her. Mrs Jerdoun went to Lady Anne and I leafed through the volume. Oddly, the
handwriting was not dissimilar to my own neatest hand.
Esther Jerdoun returned to me. “My cousin says that if you wish to borrow that volume, you are most welcome.”
I could hardly refuse; I bowed and Lady Anne inclined her head. Mrs Jerdoun beckoned to a servant and he took the book away to wrap it against the weather. As we waited at the back of the room I
said, somewhat hesitantly, “Was your husband French, madam?”
“I am not married. My mother’s second husband was French and I adopted his name as my own. He was an official of their government.”
Unmarried. Ridiculous to take such pleasure in the thought; there was a great gulf between us, both in station and fortune.
The servant returned with the book; I took it, kissed the lady’s hand, then took my leave of Lady Anne in the same manner. Claudius Heron nodded to me civilly. In the hall, the servant
returned my greatcoat; clasping the book in my arms, I stepped out into a heavy drizzle, breathing a sigh of relief for my escape.
But I knew it would not be for long. Le Sac was not a man to forgive slights. My safe, dull life was beginning to collapse about me. I had earned Nichols’s enmity (through no fault of my
own) and Le Sac’s (for no reason at all – or rather an imagined rivalry) and I had quarrelled with Demsey. I was somehow a pawn in a game Lady Anne was playing, though what that game
was, or what purpose it had, I could not tell. And I was in danger of losing my living, or would be, if Le Sac had his way.
And more than that, there was that other puzzle which I could not fathom. I hurried for the shelter of the gardens, passing that place where I had twice fallen, as quickly as I could. Nothing
happened. Had I imagined it after all?
More than my living, I began to fear for my sanity.
11
FULL PIECE
Halfway home the heavens opened and spat all the venom they possessed at me. A vicious wind seized my tricorne from my head and drove a deluge of rain on to my hair, plastering
it to my face. It lifted the tails of my coat and splattered my breeches and stockings with mud; passing carts splashed puddles over my shoes. I tucked the book under my coat and ran the last
streets. In the dryness of my own room, George was curled into a ball on the floor, snoring noisily into his blanket. I stripped off my wet clothing, hung it over the chair to dry, and slipped
silently into bed, falling asleep at once.
Rain was still falling when I woke in the morning, pattering against the window and obscuring my view of the sodden street below. I rose with some weariness. It was the day of the weekly concert
– the worst
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