They were queer words to say, those last ones. I said them as though it was somebody else saying them.
'Yes, it should be like that,' said Santonix. 'It should be. But it can't be, can it, if there is something evil possessing it?'
'You don't believe, surely, in -'
'There are many queer things I believe… I know something about evil. Don't you realise, haven't you often felt, that I am partly evil myself? Always have been. That's why I know. I know when it's near me, although I don't always know exactly where it is… I want the house I built purged of evil. You understand that?' His tone was menacing. 'You understand that? It matters to me.'
Then his whole manner changed.
'Come on,' he said, 'don't let's talk a lot of nonsense. Let's come in and see Ellie.'
So we went in through the window and Ellie greeted Santonix with enormous pleasure.
Santonix showed all his normal manner that evening.
There were no more histrionics, he was his own self, charming, light-hearted. He talked mostly to Greta, giving her as it were the especial benefit of his charm. And he had a lot of charm. Anyone would have sworn that he was impressed by her, that he liked her, that he was anxious to please her. It made me feel that Santonix was really a very dangerous man, there was a great deal more to him than I had ever glimpsed.
Greta always responded to admiration. She showed herself at her best. She could on occasion dim her beauty or else reveal it and tonight she looked as beautiful as I'd ever seen her. Smiling at Santonix, listening to him as though spellbound. I wondered what lay behind his manner.
You never knew with Santonix. Ellie said she hoped he was staying for several days but he shook his head. He had to leave on the following day, he said.
'Are you building something now, are you busy?'
He said no, he'd just come out of hospital.
'They've patched me up once more,' he said, 'but it's probably for the last time.'
'Patched you up? What do they do to you?'
'Drain the bad blood out of my body and put some good, fresh red blood in,' he said.
'Oh.' Ellie gave a little shudder.
'Don't worry,' said Santonix, 'it will never happen to you.'
'But why has it got to happen to you?' said Ellie. 'It's cruel.'
'Not cruel, no,' said Santonix. 'I heard what you were singing just now.
Man was made for Joy and Woe
And when this we rightly know
Thro' the World we safely go.
because I know why I'm here. And for you,
Every Morn and every Night
Some are born to Sweet Delight.
That's you.'
'I wish I could feel safe,' said Ellie.
'Don't you feel safe?'
'I don't like to be threatened,' said Ellie. 'I don't like anyone to put curse on me.'
'You're talking about your gipsy?'
'Yes.'
'Forget it,' mid Santonix. 'Forget it for tonight. Let's be happy. Ellie – your health – long life to you – and a quick and merciful end to me – and good luck to Mike here -' He stopped, his glass raised towards Greta.
'Yes?' said Greta. 'And to me?'
'And to you, what's coming to you! Success, perhaps?' he added, half quizzically with an ironic question in his tone.
He went away next morning early.
'What a strange man he is,' Ellie said. 'I've never understood him.'
'I never understand half of what he says,' I answered.
'He knows things,' said Ellie thoughtfully.
'You mean he knows the future?'
'No,' said Ellie, 'I didn't mean that. He knows people. I said it to you once before. He knows people better than they know themselves. Sometimes he hates them because of that, and sometimes he's sorry for them. He's not sorry for me, though,' she added meditatively.
'Why should he be?' I demanded.
'Oh, because -' said Ellie.
Chapter 16
It was the next day in the afternoon that as I was walking rather rapidly in the darkest part of the wood where the shade of the pine trees was more menacing than anywhere else, I saw the figure of a tall woman standing in the drive.
I took a quick impulsive step off the path. I'd taken it for granted that she was our gipsy but I stopped in sudden recoil when I saw who it actually was. It was my mother.
She stood there tall and grim and grey-haired.
'Good lord,' I said, 'you startled me, Mum. What are you doing here? Come to see us? We've asked you often enough, haven't we?'
We hadn't actually. I'd extended one rather lukewarm invitation, that was all. I'd put it, too, in a way which made it pretty sure that my mother wouldn't accept. I didn't want her here. I'd never wanted her here.
'You're right,' she said. 'I've come to see you at last. To see all's well with you. So this is the grand house you've built, and it is a grand house,' she said, looking over my shoulder.
I thought I detected in her voice the disapproving acidity that I'd expected to find.
'Too grand for the likes of me, eh?' I said.
'I didn't say that, lad.'
'But you thought it.'
'It wasn't what you were born to, and no good comes from getting out of your station in life.'
'Nobody'd ever get anywhere if they listened to you.'
'Aye, I know that's what you say and think, but I don't know what good ambition's ever done to anybody. It's the kind of thing that turns to dead sea fruit in your mouth.'
'Ah, for God's sake don't croak,' I said. 'Come on. Come along up to see our grand house for yourself and turn up your nose at it. And come and see my grand wife, too, and turn up your nose at her if you dare.'
'Your wife? I've seen her already.'
'What do you mean, you've seen her already?' I demanded.
'So she didn't tell you, eh?'
'What?' I demanded.
'That she came to see me.'
'She came to see you?' I asked, dumbfounded.
'Yes. There she was one day standing outside the door, ringing the bell and looking a little scared. She's a pretty lass and a sweet one for all the fine clothes she had on. She said 'You're Mike's mother, aren't you?' and I said 'Yes, and who are you?' and she said 'I'm his wife.' She said 'I had to come to see you. It didn't seem right that I shouldn't know Mike's mother…' And I said 'I bet he didn't want you to.' and she hesitated, and I said: 'You don't
