Коллекционер

           AsifhewastryingtogetridofawholecloudoffalseideasIprobablyhadaboutit.

           Wewentouttowaitfortheothers.Hesaid,thatpicturemovesmeverymuch.Andhelookedatme,asifhethoughtImightlaugh.Oneofthoseflashesofshynesshehas.

           Isaid,itmovesmenow,too.

           Buthegrinned.Itcan’tpossibly.Notforyearsyet.

           Howdoyouknow?

           Hesaid,Isupposetherearepeoplewhoarepurelymovedbygreatart.Inevermetapainterwhowas.I’mnot.AllIthinkofwhenIseethatpictureisthatithasthesuprememasteryIhavespentallmylifetryingtoattain.Andshallnot.Ever.You’reyoung.Youcanunderstand.Butyoucan’tfeelthatyet.

           Isaid,IthinkIdo.

           Hesaid,thenthat’sbad.Youshouldbeblindtofailure.Atyourage.Thenhesaid,don’ttrytobeourage.Ishalldespiseyouifyoudo.

           Hesaid,you’relikeakidtryingtoseeoverasix-footwall.

           Thatwasthefirsttime.Hehatedmeforattractinghim.TheProfessorHigginssideofhim.

           Later,whentheCruikshankscameout,hesaid,astheywalkedtowardsus,Barber’sawomanizer.Refusetomeethimifheasks.

           Igavehimasurprisedlook.Hesaid,smilingatthem,notyou,Ican’tstandthepainforFrances.

           BackinHampsteadIleftthemandwentonhome.AllthewaybackthereI’drealizedthatG.P.wasmakingsureBarberCruikshankandIshouldn’tbeleftalone.They(Barber)askedmetocometoseethemifIwaseverinCornwall.

           G.P.said,seeyouoneday.Asifhedidn’tcarewhetherhedidornot.