Under The Net - Iris Murdoch [3]
the signal was gone, the gleam in Magdalen's eye disappeared and she said, 'Give me some coffee.' I gave her some. 'Now look, Jakie,' she said, 'you understand how it is. I want you to move your stuff out as soon as poss, today if you can. I've put all your things in your room.' She had too. Various objects of mine which usually decorated the sitting-room were missing. Already I felt I didn't live there any more. 'I don't understand how it is,' I said, 'and I shall be interested to hear.' Yes, you must take everything,' said Magdalen. 'I'll pay for the taxi if you like.' Now she was as cool as a lettuce. 'Have a heart, Madge,' I said. I was beginning to worry about myself again, and felt a lot better. 'Can't I go on living upstairs? I'm not in the way.' But I knew this was a bad idea. 'Oh, Jake!' said Madge. 'You are an imbecile!' This was the kindest remark she had made yet. We both relaxed. All this time Finn had been leaning against the door, looking abstractedly into the middle distance. Whether he was listening or not it was hard to tell. 'Send him away,' said Magdalen. 'He gives me the creeps.' 'Where can I send him to?' I asked. 'Where can we either of us go? You know I've got no money.' This was not strictly true, but I always pretend as a matter of policy to be penniless, one never knows when it may not turn out to be useful for this to be taken for granted. 'You're adults,' said Magdalen. 'At least, you're supposed to be. You can decide that for yourselves.' I met Finn's dreamy gaze. 'What shall we do?' I asked him. Finn sometimes has ideas, and after all he had had more time to reflect than I had. 'Go to Dave's,' he said. I could see nothing against that, so I said 'Good!' and shouted after him, 'Take the cases!' for he had shot off like an arrow. I sometimes think he doesn't care for Magdalen. He came back and took one of them and vanished. Magdalen and I looked at each other like boxers at the beginning of the second round. 'Look here, Madge,' I said, 'you can't turn me out just like that.' 'You arrived just like that,' said Madge. It was true. I sighed. 'Come here,' I told her, and held out my hand. She gave me hers, but it remained as stiff and unresponsive as a toasting-fork, and after a moment or two I released it. 'Don't make a scene, Jakie,' said Madge. I couldn't have made even a little one at that moment. I felt weak, and lay down on the divan. 'Eh, eh!' I said gently. So you're putting me out, and all for a man that lives on other people's vices.' 'We all live on other people's vices,' said Madge with an air of up-to-date cynicism which didn't suit her. 'I do, you do, and you live on worse ones than he does.' This was a reference to the sort of books I sometimes translated. 'Who is this character, anyway?' I asked her. Madge scanned me, watching for the effect. 'His name,' she said, 'is Starfield. You may have heard of him.' A triumphant look blazed without shame in her eye. I hardened my face to make it expressionless. So it was Starfield, Samuel Starfield, Sacred Sammy, the diamond bookmaker. To describe him as a bookie had been a bit picturesque on Finn's part, although he still had his offices near Piccadilly and his name in lights. Starfield now did a bit of everything in those regions where his tastes and his money could take him: women's clothes, night clubs, the film business, the restaurant business. 'I see,' I said. I wasn't going to put on a show for Madge. 'Where did you meet him? I ask this question in a purely sociological spirit.' 'I don't know what that means,' said Madge. 'If you must know, I met him on a number eleven bus.' This was clearly a lie. I shook my head over it. 'You're enlisting for life as a mannequin,' I said. 'You'll have to spend all your time being a symbol of conspicuous wealth.' And it occurred to me as I said it that it mightn't be such a bad life at that. 'Jake, will you get out!' said Magdalen. 'Anyhow,' I said, 'you aren't going to live here with Sacred Sam, are you?' 'We shall need this flat,' said Magdalen, 'and I want you out of it now.' I thought her answer