Коллекционер

           Buttheyweregoingforawalk,theyhadcomeintomakehimgowiththem,andtheywantedmetogotoo.BarberCruikshankdid;hehadspecialseductioneyesforme.

           Supposingauntseesus,G.P.said.Barber’sgotthefoulestreputationinCornwall.

           Isaid,she’smyaunt.Notmyduenna.

           SoweallwenttotheValeofHealthpubandthenontoKenwood.FrancestoldmeabouttheirlifeinCornwallandIfeltforthefirsttimeinmylifethatIwasamongpeopleofanoldergenerationthatIunderstood,realpeople.AndatthesametimeIcouldn’thelpseeingBarberwasabitofasham.Allthosefunnymaliciousstories.WhileG.P.wastheonewholedusintoalltheseriousthings.Idon’tmeanthathewasn’tgay,too.Onlyhehasthisstrangetwistofplungingstraightintowhatmatters.Oncewhenhewasawaygettingdrinks,BarberaskedmehowlongI’dknownG.P.Thenhesaid,IwishtoGodI’dmetsomeonelikeG.P.whenIwasastudent.AndquietlittleFrancessaid,wethinkhe’sthemostwonderfulperson.He’soneofthefew.Shedidn’tsaywhichfew,butIknewwhatshemeant.

           AtKenwoodG.P.madeussplit.HetookmestraighttotheRembrandtandtalkedaboutit,withoutloweringhisvoice,andIhadthesmallnesstobeembarrassedbecausesomeotherpeopletherestaredatus.Ithought,wemustlooklikefatheranddaughter.Hetoldmeallaboutthebackgroundtothepicture,whatRembrandtprobablyfeltlikeatthattime,whathewastryingtosay,howhesaidit.AsifIknewnothingaboutart.