Коллекционер

           Isaid,anyhow,youdon’tattractmethatwayintheleast.

           Hesaid,withhisbackstillturned,whatdoyoumeanbypromiscuity?

           Isaid,goingtobedforpleasure.Sexandnothingelse.Withoutlove.

           Hesaid,I’mverypromiscuousthen.InevergotobedwiththepeopleIlove.Ididonce.

           Isaid,youwarnedmeagainstBarberCruikshank.

           I’mwarningyouagainstmyselfnow,hesaid.Hestoodwatchingthevriki.YouknowtheAshmoleanUccello?TheHunt?No?Thedesignhitsyouthemomentyouseeit.Apartfromalltheothertechnicalthings.Youknowit’sfaultless.TheprofessorswithMiddle-Europeannamesspendtheirlivesworkingoutwhatthegreatinnersecretis,thatthingyoufeelatthefirstglance.Now,Iseeyouhavethegreatinnersecret,too.Godknowswhatitis.I’mnotaMiddle-Europeanprofessor,Idon’treallycarehowitis.Butyouhaveit.You’relikeSheratonjoinery.Youwon’tfallapart.

           Hespokeitallinaverymatter-of-factvoice.Too.

           It’shazard,ofcourse,hesaid.Thegenes.

           Heliftedthevrikioffthegas-ringatthelastpossiblemoment.Theonlythingis,hesaid,there’sthatscarletpointinyoureye.Whatisit?Passion?Stop?

           Hestoodstaringatme,thedrylook.

           It’snotbed,Isaid.

           Butforsomeone?

           Fornoone.

           Isatonthedivanandheonhishighstoolbythebench.

           I’veshockedyou,hesaid.

           Iwaswarned.

           Byaunt?

           Yes.

           Heturnedandveryslowly,verycarefully,pouredthecoffeeintothecups.

           Hesaid,allmylifeI’vehadtohavewomen.