Коллекционер

           WhenIaskedhimaboutsheets,hesaid,Ibuythemnew,tellmewhenyouwantsomemore.

           Down-the-placeistheonlychance.

           Minny,I’mnotwritingtoyou,I’mtalkingtomyself.

           WhenIcameout,wearingtheleasthorridoftheshirtshe’dboughtforme,hestoodup(he’sbeensittingallthetimebythedoor).Ifeltlikethegirl-at-the-ball-coming-down-the-grand-staircase.Iknockedhimover,Isupposeitwasseeingmein"his"shirt.Andwithmyhairdown.

           Orperhapsitwasjustshockatseeingmewithoutthegag.AnywayIsmiledandIwheedledandheletmebewithoutthegagandheletmelookround.Hekeptveryclosetome.IknewthatifImadetheslightestfalsestephewouldleapatme.

           Upstairs,bedrooms,lovelyroomsinthemselves,butallfusty,unlived-in.Astrangedeadairabouteverything.Downstairswhathe(hewould)called"thelounge"isabeautifulroom,muchbiggerthantheotherrooms,peculiarlysquare,youdon’texpectit,withonehugecrossbeamsupportedonthreeuprightsinthemiddleoftheroom,andothercrossbeamsandnooksanddeliciousanglesanarchitectwouldn’tthinkofonceinathousandyears.Allmassacred,ofcourse,bythefurniture.Chinawildduckonalovelyoldfireplace.Icouldn’tstandit,IgothimtoretiemyhandsinfrontandthenIunhookedthemonstersandsmashedthemonthehearth.

           ThathurthimalmostasmuchaswhenIslappedhisfacefornotlettingmeescape.