Not to Disturb. Muriel Spark
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Название: Not to Disturb
Автор: Muriel Spark
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Контркультура
isbn: 9781782117605
isbn:
‘I know, I know. Arrange something to make it easy, Lister. The Baron and I would be so grateful.’ Then she throws open the door somewhat dramatically and walks in, while the two men get up from the grey leather armchairs. Lister waits in the room, by the door.
‘Nothing, thanks, Lister,’ says the Baron. ‘We have everything here for the moment.’ He waves towards the drinks cupboard in a preoccupied way. The Baroness flops into a sofa while Lister, about to leave the room, is halted by the Baron’s afterthought – ‘Lister, if anyone calls, we aren’t on any account to be disturbed.’ The Baron looks at the ormolu and blue enamelled clock, and then at his own wristwatch. ‘We don’t want to be disturbed by anyone whomsoever.’ Lister moves his lips and head compliantly and leaves.
‘They haunt the house,’ says Lister, ‘like insubstantial bodies, while still alive. I think we have a long wait in front of us.’ He takes his place at the head of the table. ‘He said on no account to disturb them. “Not to be disturbed, Lister.” You should have seen the look on her face. My mind floats about, catching at phantoms and I think of the look on her face. I am bound to ventilate this impression or I won’t digest my supper.’
‘Not a bad woman,’ says Pablo.
‘She likes to keep grace and favour in her own hands,’ Lister says, ‘and leave disagreeable matters to others. “The couple at the lodge has to go, Lister,” she said, “I rely on you to tell them. I need the lodge for my cousins,” or was it “my cousin”? – one, two, three, I don’t know. The point is she wants the lodge for them.’
‘How many cousins can she possibly have?’ says Eleanor, looking at the clean prongs of her fork, for some reason, before making them coincide with a morsel of veal. ‘And all the secretaries besides.’
‘Cousins uncountable, secretaries perhaps fewer,’ says Lister, ‘if only she had survived to enjoy them. As it is the lodge will probably be vacated anyhow. No need for me to speak to the poor silly couple.’
‘You never know,’ says Heloise.
‘Listen! – I hear a noise,’ says Pablo.
‘The shutters banging upstairs,’ says Hadrian.
‘No, it’s him in the attic, throwing his supper plates around,’ Heloise says.
‘It wasn’t plates, it was a banging,’ Pablo says. ‘There it goes. Listen.’
‘Eat on,’ says Clovis. ‘It’s only the couple of ladies in the car again. They’re getting impatient.’
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