The Comforters

‘Yes. My brother Edwin is a mystic. He is not interested in dancing and will only invest in that which interests him. But he gave us fifty pounds. Eleanor bought a dress.’

‘I can imagine Eleanor would.’

‘I am myself very detached from money,’ Ernest remarked, ‘that is why I need so much of it. One simply doesn’t notice the stuff; it slithers away.

He sat back in his chair as if he had the whole afternoon. His guest had discovered that the business proposition for which he had been summoned was an unprofitable one.

‘A quarter to three,’ said Mervyn Hogarth. ‘My word, the time does fly. I have one or two things to do this afternoon. People to see. Bore.’

‘There was something else,’ Ernest said, ‘but if you’re rushed, perhaps another time.’

‘Perhaps another time’ — but Mervyn Hogarth did a little exercise in his head which took no time at all, but which, had it been laboured out, would have gone like this:

Fares 13s. but had to come to London anyway; dreariness of food but it was free; disappointment at subject of discussion (Ernest had invited him to discuss ‘matters of interest to you’) but satisfaction about Eleanor’s break with Stock and consequent money difficulties; annoyance at being touched for money but satisfaction in refusing; waste of time but now Manders wants to say something further, which might possibly redeem the meeting or on the other hand confirm it as a dead loss.

The process passed through his mind like a snap of the fingers and so, when Ernest said, ‘There was something else, but if you’re rushed —’

‘Something else?’ Hogarth replied.

‘Perhaps another time,’ Ernest said.

‘Oh, I’m not rushed for the next half-hour. Do carry on.

‘Well,’ said Ernest, ‘it may interest you or it may not. I feel, you know, I’ve brought you up to London on a disappointing inducement — I did think honestly it would please you to be substantially connected with the dancing school — and Eleanor was sure you would — I hope you don’t feel it impertinent on our part.’

‘He is like a woman,’ Mervyn thought. ‘It’s just like lunching with a woman.’ And he assured Ernest that he hadn’t minded a bit: ‘only too sorry I can’t spare a penny. What was the other question you wanted to mention?’

‘Yes, well, that may be of interest and it may not. It’s just as you feel. The lamb was most peculiar, I must apologize. It’s the worst club lunch I do ever remember. I would send a complaint, only I did fire watching with the chef, who is most really nice and almost never has an off day like this.’

‘A very good lunch,’ said Mervyn sadly.

‘Sweet of you to say so,’ said Ernest.

‘This further question —?’

‘Truly you’ve time? I should so like to say a few words, something which you might be interested in. You know my brother Edwin?’

‘I haven’t met Sir Edwin Manders.’

‘He is very rich. You know Helena?’

‘His wife, that is? I know of her.’

‘She’s rather sweet. You’ve met her mother?’

‘As a matter of fact I do know Mrs Jepp. ‘‘Mrs Jepp,’ said Ernest.

‘Fine old lady. Lives quite near my place,’ said Mervyn.

‘Yes, I know that,’ said Ernest. ‘You visit regularly, I hear. ‘‘I hear,’ said Mervyn, ‘that her grandson had an accident.’

‘Only a broken rib. He’s recovering rapidly.’

‘Ah, these young people. I met the grandson.’

‘I know,’ said Ernest.

It was creeping on three o’clock and their glasses had been twice filled. Ernest thought he was doing rather well. Mervyn was hoping against time, but really there was no excuse for prolonging the afternoon. Ernest had made it clear, in the soft mannerly style of pertinacity, that the Manders family had started to smell out the affairs of Louisa Jepp. Mervyn would have liked to hit Ernest for his womanly ways, and he said, ‘I must say, Manders, I can’t reveal any of Mrs Jepp’s confidences.’

‘Certainly not. Are you going abroad soon?’

‘I take it this farce of asking me to lunch in order to ask me for a loan was really intended to create an opportunity to ask —’

‘Oh dear, I can’t possibly,’ said Ernest, ‘cope. I am so — am so sorry about the lunch. “Farce” is the word exactly. I do wish I had made you take duck. Most distressing, I did so think you’d be interested in Eleanor’s academy, it is top-ranking absolutely if she only had the capital. How dire for you, how frightful my dear man, for me.

‘Your questions about Mrs Jepp, I can’t possibly answer them, ‘said Mervyn, looking at his watch but unpurposed, settling into his chair, so that Ernest in his heart shook hands with himself: ‘He is waiting for more questions, more clues towards how much I’m in the know.’ He said to his guest, ‘I mustn’t keep you, then. It’s been charming.’

Mervyn rose. He said, ‘Look here,’ and stopped.