The Magus - John Fowles [196]
real curtain, Nicholas. It is acted, and then it continues to act." He analysed my expression, no mercy, enjoying the moment. He added, a deliberate broach, "Lily is coming in a few moments. She wishes to say goodbye." "Kind of her." "She is coming with me to America." "With her sister?" "No. Alone. As my secretary." His eyes watched me remorselessly. He had spoken without the slightest suggestiveness, but in that situation the very words were suggestive. There was a pause. I drew deep on my cigarette. "I shall see you next spring then." "Perhaps." "I have a two-year contract at the school." "Ah." "And be the butt again." "No more than that?" "When one's emotions get involved..." "I warned you." "And also ensured that the temptation remained." "Death is the only state without temptation." Again I would have liked to pull out my wallet, to face him with my own recent encounter with death. But I was not in the mood to admit to him that I had lied previously about meeting Alison. I stubbed out my cigarette. "Will she be here next year?" "You will not see her." "But will she be here?" Our eyes were locked, unconceding, like battling stags' horns. "You will not want to see her." "Why won't I want to see her?" "Because you will understand by then how much she has deceived you." "I don't mind being deceived. Especially by a girl as pretty as Julie." His eyes hesitated, black with suspicion, a lightning assessment; it was like playing chess with a five-second move limit. He said, "That is not her name." "You told me it was." "I was deceiving you." "_And_ her bank manager?" He quizzed, uncertain of my meaning. I took out my wallet, found the letter from Barclay's and pushed it across the table to him. He read it slowly, twice, as if it was difficult to understand, then put it back on the table. For a moment he had a downcast, bewildered look; Lear deceived by Cordelia. Then with a little shrug, a grimace, a wide smile, he conceded defeat. "I understand. It is I who am the butt today." "She begged me not to tell you." "You are in love." "I know she told you." He looked down. "Yes, yes, she told me." "She wrote me a letter." His eyes were hurt; almost reproachful. "I know you haven't been in Geneva, but that's all. I'm happy to go on being the butt." He made a gesture of dismissal. "This is all I have tried to avoid in my theatre. Now it _is_ theatre--make-believe and artifice." He waved the infamous idea of the conventional theatre away; tapped his head. "I have tried to be too clever." "I'm sorry." He stood up, stared down at me. "Well. You are fortunate. That she should really love you. I did not expect it." "No?" I smiled back at his slow smile. "Let us say--I did not intend it." "I think, Mr. Conchis, now that at last I have you at my mercy, I'd like to know what you did intend." He bit his lips, almost boyishly, his eyes suddenly brimming with good humour. I had an unexpected feeling of affection for him. Julie was right: one could not believe he was evil. "You must ask her." "She doesn't know." "She does know. I have told her the truth. But I warn you it is very strange." The eyes crinkled. "Very strange indeed." Then before I could say anymore, he looked at his watch, seemed surprised, and went to the corner of the colonnade. "Catherine!" He pronounced it the French way. He turned back to me. "Maria--of course--is not a simple Greek peasant. This was to be another little surprise for you. But now..." He shrugged, as if all was wasted, all a damp fizzle. We heard her footsteps and turned. Maria was still an elderly woman, still had a lined face; but she wore a well-cut black suit, a gilt-and-garnet brooch. Stockings. Shoes with short heels. A touch of lipstick. The sort of middle-class matron of fifty one might see in any fashionable Athenian street. All her old manner was gone. She stood with a faint smile on her face--the big surprise, the quick-change entrance. But Conchis sacrificed the effect. "Nicholas, this is Madame Catherine Athanasoulis, who has made a speciality of peasant roles. She has helped us many times before."