Aurorarama - Jean-Christophe Valtat [8]
“We have it that you are very well acquainted with the Duke Brentford Orsini, the current Gardener-General of the Greenhouses & Glass Gardens.”
“I am indeed. And proudly so.”
“This honours you both, certainly. But the little problem that we have on our hands is that we strongly suspect that this libel, which could be easily be construed as defamatory, is the work of none other than the duke himself. Do you honestly think—as you, I presume, know very well both the style and ideas of your friend—that he could possibly be the author we are looking for?”
“Well. It is obvious that the book is written precisely to disguise any recognizable style, and does so rather efficiently. As to Mr. Orsini himself, privy to his thoughts as I am, I have always known him for an obedient, law-abiding citizen.”
“May you be right, Mr. d’Allier, may you be right,” said Wynne, in a tone that was now perceptibly threatening.
“There are many kinds of laws,” interrupted DeBrutus, as if he sensed his colleague’s subtle shortening of temper and sought to maintain a standard of decency throughout the proceedings. “Some are written, some are of a more implicit nature. One can be a ‘law-abiding citizen’ and still, consciously or not, be at odds with the most sacred principles that make common life possible. Mister Wynne’s concern is that your friend does not make such a mistake, and for the time being, as your lawyer, my own concern is that Mr. Orsini does not make you his accomplice, when your own situation is not, if you’ll permit me, exactly the safest as regards the law.”
“Thank you, Mr. DeBrutus,” said Wynne, who had regained some composure. “I could not have expressed it myself more accurately. Let us hope that, in order to avoid any misunderstanding, I am now able to make a clear summary of the current situation.”
He leaned on the desk, staring straight into Gabriel’s eyes.
“Mr. d’Allier, I will not hide from you that were you to gather, by hearsay or sudden recollection, some information about the authorship of that book and let us know about it, we would greatly appreciate your effort, both as a service to the general public and as a token of your own goodwill in the circumstances that surround you. On the other hand, we would not regard as very favourable to your own affairs any attempt to inform your friend about our inquiries, for were our suspicions unfortunately to be confirmed, that could be interpreted as a kind of obstruction, which, as Mr. DeBrutus could confirm, qualifies as a breach of the law. We would deeply regret it if things were to come to that point, for both you and Mr. Orsini, who are two highly valued members of our community, but you will easily understand that it is on the interest of that community that we must all set our sights. I hope you will forgive me if you feel that I have a been a little too straightforward with these explanations.”
“Not at all,” said Gabriel, trying to control the trembling in his voice. “They are quite fascinating actually, and certainly confirm the high regard in which the population holds you. Now, if you will excuse me, there is no company, good as it is, from which one must not eventually be parted.”
“Let me see you to the door” said DeBrutus, and rose from his seat, while Wynne, standing up as well, bowed to Gabriel and bade him farewell.
It was a long walk before DeBrutus, who had vainly tried to strike up a conversation, followed a moody Gabriel through the marble reception hall and the gilded revolving door that opened on the Nicolo Zeno Embankment. Gabriel inhaled what remained of the daylight as if it were a bottle of Letheon.
“Shall I say au revoir, Mr. d’Allier?” asked the Angel of the Law with a smile that Gabriel saw himself punching to a pulp in some kinetoscope of his mind.
“I hope it’s adieu,” he answered, dashing down the stairs without, this time, taking the offered hand.
CHAPTER III
Unhappy Hunters
O dear native land! How well it is that you are covered with ice and snow … Your unfruitfulness makes us happy