Under The Net - Iris Murdoch [80]
translation. If the thing were published they could buy a copy in the shops.' 'But it's not published,' I said, 'and they pinched my typescript.' 'The felony,' said Dave, 'is another question. At any rate it seems that so far there has been no infringement of copyright. This American, who has no French, glances at your translation; that is all. If they decide to make a film they will negotiate the details with whoever owns the film rights, presumably the author.' 'Well, at any rate,' I said desperately, 'there was a theft.' 'That's not so clear,' said Dave, 'morally, yes--but could this be shown? Your friend Madge hands this thing to Starfield. Starfield will say that he bad no idea that you would mind. Your Madge in the witness box will say the same, together with any details of how well she knew you which the defending counsel can draw out of her.' I was imagining this. 'All right!' I said. 'Yes, yes, yes, all right.' 'Shall I sum up?' said Dave. 'Go ahead!' I told him bitterly. 'It is unlikely that they need the dog, anyway in the next few days,' said Dave. 'After these days, after this American has seen the book, they will return you politely the typescript and ask for the dog. If you refuse to give him up they go then to the police. What charge could you possibly bring against them? This American will know and care not whose translation he saw. If you press the matter you are lost in a labyrinth. All that is clear is that you stole the dog.' 'But,' I said, 'if they are not afraid to have their actions questioned, why is it that they haven't gone to the police already? Assuming that you're right in thinking that we'd know it by now if they had.' 'Can you not work that out?' said Dave with scorn. 'They are just being kind to you. Startleld might well have the police on you. But your friend Sadie will laugh and say that you are perfectly sweet and so you are let off.' This conjecture enraged me the more because I saw at once that it was very likely to be correct. 'You've succeeded in showing that I'm a fool,' I said. 'Let's leave it at that. I'm going out for a walk.' 'But no, Jake,' said Dave. 'We have not yet discussed the second heading.' 'I imagined,' I said, 'that since it turns out that I have no bargaining power the question of what I am to do with it would not arise.' 'It is not certain that you have no bargaining power,' said Dave, 'though I think it very likely that you have none. But you have the dog. And what do you propose to do with him? Send him back to Starfield?' 'Never!' I cried, 'so long as there's any alternative!' 'Well, then,' said Dave, let us discuss number two.' He sat there, relaxed and reflective, as if he were giving a seminar, except that there was a very sharp gleam of enjoyment in his eye. 'You can still try to bargain,' said Dave. He was now changing over from making the worst of the affair to making the best of it. 'It is conceivable that they might indeed need the dog at once, or they might be worried about its welfare and make you an offer so as to get it quickly. And to make you an offer might be their best course if they are at all uneasy about the felony question. Whether they are uneasy may depend upon an unknown factor, which is the behaviour and state of mind of your Madge.' I think I felt more pessimistic at this point than Dave did. 'It's hopeless!' I said. 'All I wanted was to prevent them from using the typescript. Since that's impossible, I'd better start thinking about what I'm going to say in court!' 'Nonsense!' said Dave. 'Try to bargain, if only to save your face. You might appeal here to the sporting spirit of this Starfield.' This made me wince. I had no further wish to be beholden to Sammy's sportsmanship. 'I had rather deal with Sadie,' I said. 'Well, write to her,' said Dave; 'we will compose the letter together. But first we must decide in what persona you are writing, whether as an injured party or as a simple blackmailer. And remember,' he added, 'with whom we have to deal. It is my view that if these people at any moment want back their animal they will not trouble