Read Online Mr. Gwyn by Alessandro Baricco - Free Book Online Page A

particular. Shall I keep going?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI’d like you to pose nude, because I think it’s an inevitable condition for the success of the portrait.”
    This he had prepared in front of the mirror. The woman in the rain scarf had honed the words for him.
    The girl still had the cup in her hand. Every so often she brought it to her lips but without ever making the decision to drink from it.
    Jasper Gwyn took a key out of his pocket and placed it on the table.
    â€œWhat I’d like is for you to take this key and use it to enter the studio, every day at four in the afternoon. It doesn’t matter what I do, you should forget about me. Imagine that you’re alone, in there, the whole time. I ask you only to leave precisely at eight in the evening, and lock the door behind you. When we’ve finished, you’ll give me back the key. Drink your coffee, or it will get cold.”
    The girl looked at the cup she was holding as if she were seeing it for the first time. She put it down on the saucer without drinking.
    â€œGo on,” she said. Something had stiffened in her, somewhere.
    â€œI talked to Tom about it. He agreed to give you a leave for those thirty, thirty-five days, at the end of which you’ll go back to work at the agency. I know it would be a huge commitment for you, so I propose the sum of five thousand pounds to compensate you forthe inconveniences it may cause and for your kindness in putting yourself at my disposal. One last thing, which is important. If you agree, you mustn’t talk about it with anyone: it’s work that I intend to carry out in the quietest possible way, and I have no interest in having the newspapers or anyone else finding out anything about it. You and Tom and I would be the only ones to know, and for me it’s extremely important that it should remain between us. There, I think I’ve told you everything. I remembered them being better, these pastries.”
    The girl smiled and turned toward the window. She watched the people passing for a moment, every so often following one with her gaze. Then she stared again at Jasper Gwyn.
    â€œIf I do, will I be able to bring books with me?” she asked.
    Jasper Gwyn was surprised by his own answer.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œMusic?”
    â€œNo. I think you should simply be with yourself, that’s all. For an entirely unreasonable time.”
    The girl nodded, she seemed to understand.
    â€œI suppose,” she said, “that the nudity part is pointless to discuss.”
    â€œBelieve me, it will be more embarrassing for me than for you.”
    The girl smiled.
    â€œNo, it’s not that…”
    She lowered her head. She smoothed some wrinkles in her skirt.
    â€œThe last time someone asked to look at me it didn’t go very well.”
    She made a gesture with her hand, as if she were chasing something away.
    â€œBut I’ve read your books,” she said. “You I trust.”
    Jasper Gwyn smiled at her.
    â€œWould you like to think about it for a few days?”
    â€œNo.”
    She leaned forward and took the key that Jasper Gwyn had placed on the table.
    â€œLet’s try,” she said.
    They sat in silence, with their thoughts, like a couple who have been in love for a long time and no longer need to speak.
    That night Jasper Gwyn did something ridiculous, he stood naked in front of the mirror and looked at himself for a long time. He did it because he was sure that Rebecca was doing the same thing, at her house, at that same moment.
    The next day they went together to visit the studio. Jasper Gwyn explained to her about the key and everything. He explained to her that he would work with the windows darkened by the wooden shutters and the lights turned on. He insisted that she not turn them off when she went out. He told her he had promised an old man never to do it. She didn’t ask him anything, but pointed out that there were no