Коллекционер

           Heputmeoffstraightawaybecausehewasinquisitive.Still,IthoughtIbetterlookround,havingcomeallthatway.Theroomswerenotmuch,butitwaswellfittedoutwithallmodcons,electricity,telephoneandall.Someretirednavyadmiralorsomebodyhadhaditanddied,andthenthenextbuyerdiedunexpectedlyaswellandsoitwasonthemarket.

           IstillsayIdidn’tgodowntherewiththeintentionofseeingwhethertherewasanywheretohaveasecretguest.Ican’treallysaywhatintentionIhad.

           Ijustdon’tknow.Whatyoudoblursoverwhatyoudidbefore.

           Thechapwantedtoknowifitwasjustformyself.Isaiditwasforanaunt.Itoldthetruth,IsaidIwantedittobeasurpriseforher,whenshecamebackfromAustraliaandsoon.

           Howabouttheirfigure,hewantedtoknow.

           I’vejustcomeintoalotofmoney,Isaid,tosquashhim.Wewerejustcomingdownstairswhenhesaidthat,havingseeneverything,Ithought.Iwasevengoingontosayitwasn’twhatIwanted,notbigenough,tosquashhimmore,whenhesaid,well,that’sthelot,barthecellars.

           Youhadtogooutthroughthebackwheretherewasadoorbesidethebackdoor.Hetookthekeyfromunderaflowerpot.Ofcoursetheelectricitywasoff,buthehadatorch.Itwascoldoutofthesun,damp,nasty.Therewerestonestepsdown.Atthebottomheshonehistorchround.Someonehadwhitewashedthewalls,butitwasalongtimeago,andpieceshadcomeoffsothatthewallslookedmottled.

           Runsthewholelength,hesaid,andthere’sthistoo.HeshonethetorchandIsawadoorwayinthecornerofthewallfacingusaswecamedownthestairs.