Коллекционер

           Hesaidthenextday,thereweresomepeopletherethatevening.

           Heseemedgladtoseeme.IwastryingtolookasifIhadn’ttriedtolookpretty.Ihad.

           AndItoldhimallaboutFranceandSpainandtheGoyasandAlbiandeverythingelse.Piers.Andhelistened,hewouldn’treallysaywhathehadbeendoing,butlaterheshowedmesomeofthethingshe’ddoneintheHebrides.AndIfeltashamed.Becausewe’dnoneofusdonemuch,we’dbeentoobusylyinginthesun(Imeantoolazy)andlookingatgreatpicturestodomuchdrawingoranything.

           Isaid(havinggushedforatleastanhour)I’mtalkingtoomuch.

           Hesaid,Idon’tmind.

           Hewasgettingtherustoffanoldironwheelwithsomeacid.He’dseenitinajunk-shopinEdinburgh,andbroughtitallthewaydown.Ithadstrangeobtuseteeth,hethoughtitwaspartofanoldchurchclock.Veryeleganttaperedspoke-arms.Itwasbeautiful.

           Wedidn’tsayanythingforawhile,Iwasleaningbesidehimagainsthisbenchwatchinghimcleanofftherust.Thenhesaid,I’vemissedyou.

           Isaid,youcan’thave.

           Hesaid,you’vedisturbedme.

           Isaid(knighttocoverhispawn),haveyouseenAntoinette?

           Hesaid,no.IthoughtItoldyouIgavehertheboot.Helookedsideways.Hislizardlook.Stillshocked?Ishookmyhead.

           Forgiven?

           Isaid,therewasnothingtoforgive.

           Hesaid,IkeptonthinkingaboutyouintheHebrides.Iwantedtoshowyouthings.

           Isaid,IwishedyouwerewithusinSpain.

           Hewasbusyemery-paperingbetweentheteeth.