The Kindly Ones - Anthony Powell [42]
Moreland reddened at the mention of Isobel’s sisters. Thought of them must still have called Priscilla uneasily to his mind. The subject of sisters-in-law was obviously one to be avoided. However, Matilda showed some inclination to continue to talk of them. She had rescued her husband from Priscilla, whom she could consider to have suffered a defeat. She may have wanted to emphasise that.
‘How are Norah and Eleanor?’ she asked.
‘Eleanor is trying to make up her mind again whether she will become a Catholic convert,’ said Isobel. ‘Heather Hopkins became an RC the other day. Hugo says that puts Eleanor in a dilemma. She wants to annoy Norah, but doesn’t want to please Hopkins.’
‘I practically never go to Stourwater,’ Moreland said, determined to change the subject from one that could possibly lead back to Priscilla. ‘Matty pops over there once in a way to see some high life. I recognise that Donners has his points – has in the past even been very obliging to me personally. The fact remains that when I did the incidental music for that film of his, I saw enough of him to last a lifetime.’
If Matilda had wanted to make clear her sentiments about Stourwater, Moreland had now been equally explicit about his own. The question of the proximity of Sir Magnus perhaps irked him more than he would admit to himself, certainly more than I expected. On inquiry, it appeared that even Matilda’s visits to Stourwater were rare. I thought Moreland was just in a bad mood, exaggerating his own dislike for ‘going out’. He was not by any means without a taste for occasional forays into rich life. This taste could hardly have been removed entirely by transferring himself to the country. Even in London, he had suffered periods of acute boredom. As the week-end took shape, it became clear that these fits of ennui were by no means a thing of the past. He would sit for hours without speaking, nursing a large tabby cat called Farinelli.
‘Do you think this sell-out is going to prevent a war?’ he said, when we were reading the papers on Sunday morning.
‘No.’
‘You think we ought to have fought this time?’
‘I don’t know. The one thing everybody agrees about is that we aren’t ready for it. There’s no point in going to war if we are not going to win it. Losing’s not going to help anybody.’
‘What are you going to do when it comes?’
‘My name is on one of those various army reserves.’
‘How did you manage that?’
‘Offered myself, and was accepted, before all this last business started.’
‘I can only do ladylike things such as playing the piano,’ said Moreland gloomily. ‘I suppose I shall go on doing that if there’s a show-down. One wonders what the hell will happen. How are we getting to this place tonight?’
‘Donners rang up and said one of his guests is picking us up in a car,’ said Matilda.
‘When did he ring up?’
‘When you were all at the pub this morning.’
‘Why not tell us?’
‘I forgot,’ said Matilda. ‘I told Donners when we were asked he must arrange something. Finding transport is the least the rich can do, if they hope to enjoy one’s company. You must shave, sweetie, before we start.’
‘All right, all right,’ said Moreland, ‘I won’t let you all down by my tramp-like appearance. Do we know the name of our chauffeur?’
‘Somebody called Peter Templer,’ said Matilda. ‘Anybody ever heard of him?’
‘Certainly I’ve heard of Peter Templer,’ I said. ‘He’s one of my oldest friends. I haven’t seen him for years.’
‘Who is he? What’s he like?’
‘A stockbroker. Fast sports car, loud checks, blondes, golf, all that sort of thing. We were at school together.’
‘Wasn’t he the brother of that girl you used to know?’ said Isobel.
She spoke as if finally confirming a fact of which she had always been a little uncertain, at the same time smiling as if she hardly thought the pretence worth keeping up.
‘He was.’
‘Which girl?’ asked Moreland, without interest.
‘A woman called Jean Duport, whom I haven’t seen for years.’
‘Never heard of her,’ said Moreland.