Коллекционер

           Helikesmetowheedle,thebrute.

           Onerequest—no,Idon’taskhimforthings,Iorderthem.IcommandedhimtotryandbuyaGeorgePaston.IgavehimalistofgallerieswherehemightfindthingsbyG.P.Ieventriedtogethimtogotothestudio.

           ButassoonashehearditwasinHampstead,hesmeltarat.HewantedtoknowifIknewthisGeorgePaston.Isaid,no,well,justbyname.Butitdidn’tsoundveryconvincing;andIwasafraidhewouldn’tbuyanyofhispicturesanywhere.SoIsaid,he’sacasualfriendofmine,he’squiteold,buthe’saverygoodpainter,andhebadlyneedsmoneyandIshouldverymuchlikesomeofhispictures.Wecouldhangthemonthewalls.Ifyouboughtstraightfromhimwewouldn’tbepayingmoneytothegalleries,butIcanseeyou’refrightenedtogo,Isaid,sothere’sanendtoit.Ofcoursehedidn’tfallforthat.

           HewantedtoknowifG.P.wasoneofthesepaintpot-at-the-wallchaps.Ijustgavehimalook.

           C.Iwasonlyjoking.

           M.Thendon’t.

           Afterabit,hesaid,hewouldwanttoknowwhereIcamefromandall.

           Itoldhimwhathecouldsay,andhesaidhe’dthinkaboutit.WhichisCalibanesefor"no."Itwastoomuchtoexpect;andthereprobablywon’tbeanythinginanyofthegalleries.

           AndIdon’tworrybecauseI’mnotgoingtobeherethistimetomorrow.I’mgoingtoescape.

           He’llgooffafterbreakfast.He’sgoingtoleavemylunch.