Under The Net - Iris Murdoch [79]
been beginning to have about inconveniencing him by my antics. 'I appreciate your concern for me,' I said coolly. You overlook the fact that this premature revelation makes it pointless for me to spring on Sammy the proposal to exchange Mars for the typescript. By now Sammy could have had the thing photostated am hundred times over.' You are naive,' said Dave. 'Can you imagine that he would not have done it already? For one like Starfield a thousand typists toil day and night. Not for more than a minute would he let an important document exist in one copy.' 'I'm sure from the way he spoke that there was only one, in the afternoon anyway,' I said. 'You cannot know,' said Dave, 'and in any case what was certain was that the police could lay their hand on you blindfold. When will you learn not to travel in taxis?' I didn't think that I would really have been so easy to catch, but I let that pass. 'Well, then,' I said, 'as a result of your well- meaning move we shall have to modify our proposal. The proposal now is that we exchange Mars, not for the typescript, but for a document guaranteeing me a suitable compensation for its use.' 'You are raving,' said Dave, 'and it is clear that you have not thought the thing out at all.' He pushed his typewriter aside and cleared a space in front of him on the table. 'We must first analyse the situation,' he said. 'Let us consider it under two headings: one, what are your powers, and two, how will you use them. It is useless to consider two until you have first considered one, isn't it? You must be logical, Jake. All right?' 'All right,' I said. I felt as the victims of Socrates must have felt. It was impossible to hurry the man. 'Under one,' said Dave, 'I distinguish two questions: A, how urgently does this Starfield need this dog, and B, how far is this Starfield legally in the wrong about your translation. Now perhaps you can tell us what you know about A?' Dave looked at me, affecting to expect that I had special information about it. 'I've no idea,' I said. 'No idea!' cried Dave, simulating surprise. 'So in fact, for all you know, this Starfield may not need the dog for weeks or months? Or perhaps he is not yet sure whether he will use the dog at all?' 'I read in a Gallup poll,' said Finn, 'that the public are sick of animal pictures.' 'In any case,' said Dave, 'it is not clear that Starfield will be in a hurry. And meanwhile he can afford to let you keep the dog. Think of the money that will save him! How many pounds of meat a day did you say it needed, Finn?' 'One and a half pounds a day,' said Finn. 'Ten and a half pounds of meat a week,' said Dave, 'not counting extras.' We all turned and looked at the enormous carnivore. It was fast asleep. 'It ate two pounds today,' said Finn. 'But at least,' I said, 'he'll be troubled about the welfare of the brute. He'll want to get it back intact.' Dave regarded me with pity. 'What will you do to frighten him?' he asked. 'Cut off its tail? Even if it were not that you are one whose character is written on his face, your Sadie knows you well enough to know that you would not hurt an earthworm let alone a big dog.' This was a fact. I was by now beginning to feel myself that my first essay in chantage was turning out rather badly. 'It is of course possible,' said Dave, 'that they will want the animal urgently, but it is not certain. So much for A. Now perhaps you could make a statement on B. Did you personally own the translation rights of Breteuil's books?' 'No, of course not,' I said, 'I just made a separate agreement with the publisher for each book.' 'So!' said Dave, 'then so far as anyone's interests are threatened here it is the publisher's interests and not yours. But let us see what the threat is. What is it?' I ran my fingers through my hair. I felt that whatever I said now would sound simple-minded. 'Look, Dave,' I said, 'what has happened is that they have stolen my translation and are showing it to Mr Pringsheim to persuade him to make a film of the book.'
'Exactly,' said Dave, 'but so far they have not made any other use of the