Temporary Kings - Anthony Powell [111]
Uncertainty prevails whether or not, at this stage, Glober immediately grasped that the other applicants for help were the Widmerpools. On the whole, it seems likely he did not. In the dark, there was no reason why he should recognize them. At the same time, Glober, out of sheer love of living dangerously, may have accepted this as a challenge. Moreland was ignorant of Glober’s former affiliations with Pamela, of whom he knew little or nothing at that time. Stevens, too, had not kept up with Pamela’s ever varying situation, by then of no particular interest to him, provided his own married life was not embarrassed by it. In Venice, he had no doubt thought of the Widmerpools as guests of Jacky Bragadin, rather than connecting either of them with Glober; Pamela’s own references to Glober giving no reason to convey the comparative seriousness of her relationship with him.
‘I’d just love to give you all a ride in my new automobile. Come with us.’
Only after Glober had made that statement, so it appears, did Widmerpool join the group. Pamela still remained a little apart.
‘This is very kind,’ said Widmerpool. ‘We have not seen each other since Venice.’
That indicated he and Glober had exchanged no word at the party. Glober bowed.
‘You’re welcome.’
Glober then introduced Mrs Erdleigh, Jimmy Stripling, Moreland, and Audrey Maclintick. If Widmerpool was to make a convenience of his car, Glober was determined to have some amusement too. Audrey Maclintick, of course, wanted to get Moreland into the Stevens car – and home – but for once does not seem to have succeeded in making her voice heard. Moreland, telling the story, emphasized the formality of Glober’s introductions. That was the moment when Pamela joined the group. She came towards them hesitantly, as if she wanted to be introduced too. Her arrival impressed Moreland, not on account of any foreseeable disharmony that might include Glober, but because of the look given her by Mrs Erdleigh, more precisely rays of mystic disapproval trajected with force noticeable even in the dark. That perception was characteristic of Moreland. Mrs Erdleigh had made a deep impression on him.
‘The Sorceress seemed to know Lady Widmerpool already. At least she gave her extraordinary smile – one I would rather not have played on myself.’
Pamela had smiled in return. She took no other notice of Mrs Erdleigh, nor the rest of them. The person to whom she addressed herself was Polly Duport. Pamela did not come close, but it was plain to whom she was speaking.
‘I hear you’re going to be the star in Louis’s new film.’
Pamela said that very gently, barely audibly. Her tone almost suggested she was shy of mentioning the matter at all, though beyond words delighted at hearing such a rumour. All she wanted was to have the good news confirmed. Both Moreland and Stevens agreed there was not the smallest hint of unfriendliness in Pamela’s voice. At the same time, Stevens, knowing Pamela to the extent of having lived with her for at least a few weeks, had no doubt something ominous was brewing. Moreland, it seemed, had not bothered to categorize Pamela at all; so far as he was concerned, another ‘lady of fashion’, full of every sort of nonsense about music, to be avoided at all costs. He admitted to having been struck by her looks, when he came to examine her.
Polly Duport, whether she knew much or little about Pamela, can have had few illusions as to friendliness. She could hardly have failed to hear of Glober’s comparatively recent intention to cast Pamela for the lead she herself – anyway for the moment – was intended by him to play. Beyond that knowledge, of a purely business sort, the extent of her awareness of Pamela’s character, even nature of relationship with Glober, could well be over-estimated. The segregated life of the Theatre, separated by its nature from so much going on round about, might easily have prevented her from hearing more than essential; so to speak, her own cue in taking