‘You know, Philip,’ said Alfred, ‘I don’t wish to fill this house with the ornaments of society.’
‘No, sir. If I may be allowed to make an observation, all ambassadors begin by saying that. The fact is, however, that if you don’t have a sprinkling of them the others don’t care to come. By the way, I really looked in to tell you that Bouche-Bontemps has just telephoned. He wants to know if he can see you tomorrow.’
I liked M. Bouche-Bontemps very much, felt natural and at my ease with him. ‘He’s a dear,’ I said.
‘Yes. The old-fashioned kind – a jolly Roman Catholic. All the up-and-coming young men seem to be Protestants – makes them so priggish.’
‘I thought the old ones were free-thinkers?’
‘It’s the same as far as jollity goes.’
‘Let’s ask him to luncheon, shall we?’ I said.
‘Tomorrow? I don’t know if he could with this crisis impending.’
‘Of course, there’s a crisis. I’ve been too much occupied with our own to take much notice.’
‘All the same it might just suit him. I’ll go and see.’
‘What crisis?’ said Northey, following him out of the room with her eyes.
‘One of your duties here will be to read the papers,’ said Alfred. ‘You can read, I suppose?’
‘I can read and I have a certain native intelligence. Don’t be sarcastic with me, I beg.’
‘Well, then, there’s a parliamentary crisis going on and it looks as if this government may fall.’
‘Then there’ll be a general election? You see, I know about politics.’
‘The point is that there will not. Fanny must give you some books to read about the state of France.’
Philip came back and said the Foreign Minister would be very much pleased to lunch, but he had business to do with the Ambassador and must see him alone.
‘Northey and I can eat in the Salon Vert,’ I said, ‘and you can have your secrets in the upstairs dining-room. But do bring him in for a cocktail first, if you think he has time.’
‘They always have time in the middle of the day,’ said Philip. ‘They can be up all night and start intriguing again before breakfast but the hours between one and three are sacred. That’s why they are all so well – one never hears of a French politician dying – they live for ever, haven’t you noticed?’
‘I’ve come to say good-bye,’ said Davey, arriving with my tray in the morning.
‘Davey, don’t go. It’s so comfortable to feel you’re here. Why don’t you stay on in some capacity – comptroller? I think Major Jarvis is leaving us. Take his place – oh do!’
‘Sweet of you, Fanny, but I couldn’t live with the French. I understand them too well. Besides, I have fish to fry at home. New curtains for the drawing-room. And I can’t live for ever without Mrs Dale. Tea-time at home is delightful – blinds are drawn at the witching hour of 4.30 and I have her on the wireless.’
‘We’ve got a wireless; you can have her here.’
‘I’ve tried. She doesn’t sound the same.’
‘I wanted you to see Northey.’
‘I have. We had our breakfast together just now. Rocks ahead there. So, I’m off. When you’re next in trouble send for me, won’t you? See you very soon in that case.’
When the Foreign Minister saw Northey he said we must all lunch together. He could do his business with Alfred in two minutes on his way out – he had never meant that the charming Ambassadress should be excluded from their talk. Mees Nortee was no doubt aware that her job demanded enormous discretion and indeed he could see by her face that she was a serious woman. During luncheon he addressed himself to her in a tender, avuncular, bantering tone of voice.
‘So you are studying French. But why? Everybody here speaks English. And reading books on the state of France by English experts? I know these experts. They are all in love with Arabs.’
‘No,’ said Alfred firmly, ‘respectable, married men.’
‘The English who specialize in French affairs fill me with misgivings. Why are there so many of them and why must they concentrate on my poor country – are there no others in the world whose state is worth considering? Why not the state of Denmark for a change?’
‘You ought to be flattered,’ said Alfred. ‘The publishers know they can sell any amount of books about France – in fact France, like Love, is a certain winner on a title-page.’
‘Ah! So Mees Nortee is to learn about France and Love. I shall teach her, I know more than the English experts.’
‘You are kind,’ said Northey, ‘because I can see that these books are a bore. No pictures, no talk and such terribly long sentences.’
‘You told me you could read,’ said Alfred.
‘Like all of us she can read what interests her. When you have been here for a year, Mees, you will probably find yourself enjoying books about the state of France – though what this state will be by then, who can say?’ He sighed deeply. ‘Now, we will begin our lesson. Your uncle, the Ambassador here, has two bones to pick over with the French government, whenever there is a government. There are Les Îles Minquiers, a very nice point. You will hear more of them in due course – hats off to the Intelligence Service! And there is the European Army, known as C.E.D. or E.D.C., nobody can ever remember why. One of your uncle’s assignments is to persuade us to merge our army, which is overseas, fighting, with that of the Germans which is non-existent. This merging is desired by the Americans who see everything in black and white – with a strong preference for black.’
‘M. le Ministre –’ said Alfred sharply.
‘Your protest is registered, M.
