The Heart of the Matter - Graham Greene [85]
‘Major Scobie, when I lent you money, I swear, it was for friendship, just friendship. I never wanted to ask anything of you, anything at all, not even the four per cent. I wouldn’t even have asked for your friendship ... I was your friend .. ‘ this is very confusing, words are very complicated, Major Scobie.’
‘You’ve kept the bargain, Yusef. I don’t complain about Tallit’s cousin.’ He read on: belong to your wife. Nothing you say to me is a promise. Please, please remember that. If you never want to see me again, don’t write, don’t speak. And, dear, if you just want to see me sometimes, see me sometimes. I’ll tell any lies you like.
‘Do finish what you are reading, Major Scobie. Because what I have to speak about is very, very important.’
My dear, my dear, leave me If you want to or have me as your hore if you want to. He thought: she’s only heard the word, never seen it spelt: they cut it out of the school Shakesspeare [sic!]. Good night. Don’t worry, my darling. He said savagely, ‘All right, Yusef. What is it that’s so important?’
‘Major Scobie, I have got after all to ask you a favour. It has nothing to do with the money I lent you. If you can do this for me it will be friendship, just friendship.’
‘It’s late, Yusef, tell me what it is.’
‘The Esperança will be in the day after tomorrow. I want a small packet taken on board for me and left with the captain.’
‘What’s in the packet?’
‘Major Scobie, don’t ask. I am your friend. I would rather have this be a secret. It will harm no one at all.’
‘Of course, Yusef, I can’t do it. You know that.’
‘I assure you, Major Scobie, on my word -’ he leant forward in the chair and laid his hand on the black fur of his chest - ‘on my word as a friend the package contains nothing, nothing for the Germans. No industrial diamonds, Major Scobie.’
‘Gem stones?’
‘Nothing for the Germans. Nothing that will hurt your country.’
‘Yusef, you can’t really believe that I’d agree?’
The light drill trousers squeezed to the edge of the chair: for one moment Scobie thought that Yusef was going on his knees to him. He said, ‘Major Scobie, I implore you ... It is important for you as well as for me.’ His voice broke with genuine emotion, ‘I want to be a friend.’
Scobie said, Td better warn you before you say any more, Yusef, that the Commissioner does know about our arrangement.’
‘I daresay, I daresay, but this is so much worse, Major Scobie, on my word of honour, this will do no harm to anyone. Just do this one act of friendship, and I’ll never ask another. Do it of your own free will. Major Scobie. There is no bribe. I offer no bribe.’
His eye went back to the letter: My darling, this is serius. Serius - his eye this time read it as servus - a slave: a servant of the servants of God. It was like an unwise command which he had none the less to obey. He felt as though he were turning his back on peace for ever. With his eyes open, knowing the consequences, he entered the territory of lies without a passport for return.
‘What were you saying, Yusef? I didn’t catch...’
‘Just once more I ask you...’
‘No, Yusef.’
‘Major Scobie,’ Yusef said, sitting bolt upright in his chair, speaking with a sudden odd formality, as though a stranger had joined them and they were no longer alone, ‘you remember Pemberton?’
‘Of course.’
‘His boy came into my employ.’
‘Pemberton’s boy?’ Nothing you say to me is a promise.
‘Pemberton’s boy is Mrs Rolt’s boy.’
Scobie’s eyes remained on the letter, but he no longer read what he saw.
‘Her boy brought me a letter. You see I asked him to keep his eyes - bare - is that the right word?’
‘You have a very good knowledge of English, Yusef. Who read it to you?’
‘That does not matter.’
The formal voice suddenly stopped and the old Yusef implored again, ‘Oh, Major Scobie, what made you write such a letter? It was asking for trouble.’
‘One can’t be wise all the time, Yusef. One would die of disgust.’
‘You see it has put you in my hands.’
‘I wouldn’t mind that so much. But to put three people in your hands...’
‘If only you would have done an act of friendship...