«Ah well. Wish I could get away. Send me a postcard.»
«I say, I am sorry-«Not at all.»
I put the telephone down. I felt the hand of destiny heavy upon me. Even the air was thickening as if it were full of incense or rich pollen. I looked at my watch. It was time to go to Netting Hill. I stood there in my little sitting-room and looked at the buffalo lady who was lying on her side in the lacquered display cabinet. I had not dared to try to straighten out the buffalo's crumpled leg for fear of snapping the delicate bronze. I looked where a line of sloping sun had made a flying buttress against the wall outside, making the grime stand out in lacy relief, outlining the bricks. The room, the wall, trembled with precision, as if the inanimate world were about to utter a word.
Just then the doorbell rang. I went to the door. It was Julian Baffin. I looked at her blankly.
«Bradley, you've forgotten! I've come for my Hamlet tutorial.»
«I hadn't forgotten,» I said with a silent curse. «Come in.»
«You're wearing the boots,» I said.
«Yes. It's a bit hot for them, but I wanted to show them off to you. I'm so cheered up and grateful. Are you sure you don't mind discussing Shakespeare? You look as if you were going somewhere. Did you really remember I was coming?»
«Yes, of course.»
«Oh Bradley, you are so good for my nerves. Everybody irritates me like mad except you. I didn't bring two texts. I suppose you've got one?»
«Yes. Here.»
I sat down opposite to her. She sat sidesaddle on her chair, the boots side by side, very much on display. I sat astride on mine, gripping it with my knees. I opened my copy of Shakespeare in front of me on the table. Julian laughed.
«Why are you laughing?»
«You're so matter-of-fact. I'm sure you weren't expecting me. You'd forgotten I existed. Now you're just like a schoolteacher.»
«Perhaps you are good for my nerves too.»
«Bradley, this is fun.»
«Nothing's happened yet. It may not be fun. What do you want to do?»
«I'll ask questions and you answer them.»
«Go on then.»
«I've got a whole list of questions, look.»
«I've answered that one already.»
«About Gertrude and-Yes, but I'm not convinced.»
«You're going to waste my time with these questions and then not believe my answers?»
«Well, it can be a starting point for a discussion.»
