The Ginger Man - J. P. Donleavy [70]
"I love you, Sebastian."
"Your nice little eyes, Mary."
"I want to go away with you."
"Need money for both of us."
"I have four pounds saved for my suit too."
"Better bring it"
"When am I going to see you again?"
"Not for awhile, Mary."
"Why not?"
"I've got to make plans."
"But why can't I see you?"
"My wife."
"She doesn't have to know."
"Must take precautions, Mary."
"But I want to stay with you."
"All right but we must be careful and not rush things. I can go to London first and then you can come. I'll need a little money."
"I'll give you some."
"I might need quite a bit"
"I can give you half."
"Won't need that much but we'll see."
"I want to go with you."
"I'll write to you. Care of the post office."
"All right You will?"
Trust me, Mary. Don't want your father to know. We want to avoid anything unpleasant"
"He's a bastard."
"Mustn't say that, Mary. He's a man who's a little confused. A lot confused like him. But never be bitter. Just remember, it's hard but it's fair. The way things are meant to be. And I don't want you to make a mistake, Mary. I'm going to give you a week or two to think it over and if, at the end i85 of that time, you still want to come, send me ten pounds. It might be difficult at first"
"I don't care, so long as you let me stay with you,"
"Mary, just see if there's another bottle of stout before I go. A little sup to see me right on the long journey. See if there isn't one or two I could be carrying. Makes me think better."
"You're very fond of stout."
"Fond, Mary, is not the word. It's in me blood and a few other things as well. I want you to write to me care of The Geary Post Office. But don't use my name. I want you to use Percivil Buttermere. The spelling's important. P-e-r-c-i-v-i-l B-u-t-t-e-r-m-e-r-e."
"This is fun."
"This, Mary, is a matter of playing who lives the longest."
"You're sweet. And will we have a room together and you'll do all of it? Will we?"
"We will."
"I don't care if we die."
"Don't say that. Give God ideas. We must discourage that attitude. Just put these bottles in some paper."
"Kiss me once more."
"And don't forget Percivil Buttermere. That's very important. And I'll tell you when to send the money. And not a word to anyone."
"I won't tell anyone. I don't have anyone to tell anyway."
"Got to go."
"Once more with your tongue."
There was yelling going on in Mary's house and no screams from her. I got out of the street fast. Passed by the cattle market. And men growling at the bullocks. Which is which. They were prodding moaning beef through the gates and they'll shoot them in the head or put them on the ship. This night's over. Means waiting for another.
A fresh, new morning. A few souls in the streets. He went into a public house where old men sat, hands around pints of cider, spitting narrowly in the sawdust. Conversation ceased as Dangerfield came in. Each took a turn to look around.
There was a man
Who made a boat
To sail away
And it sank.
17
My eyes are glued together. Feet blistered. What have I done?
At least I'm not in jail. Lay a bit to get the latitude and longitude. I'll never do this again. Seems I had something to do with cattle. And with drink. And with several parties. And pints of cider. Claws the brain apart. I don't like this when I don't even know what month it is. Who's been meddling with the dresser and pulling out the drawers?