JК
Something Happened :: Хеллер Джозеф
Страница: 371 из 398(I believeI understand now why I get along so well with women when I want to and have so much trouble getting along with my children. I treat my girlfriends like children and expect my children to behave like grown-ups.) Arthur Baron wouldn't want me to.
"Well?" he's asked. His smile was a trace broader than ever before and there was a stronger cordiality in his expression.
"I really have no choice," I surrender with a smile, "have I?"
"You do."
"Not really. I want Kagle's job."
"That's good, Bob. Congratulations."
"Thanks, Art."
"We'll tell him early next week. You know him pretty well. How would you guess he'll take it?"
"Bad. But he'll do everything to hide it. He may ask to be the one to tell me."
"We'll let him."
"He'll want to take credit. He may even want to be allowed to issue the announcement."
"That will make things easier. You'll have much to put in order."
"I've made a list."
"I'll probably want to add to it, Bob."
"That's okay with me, Art." I laugh lightly (before tendering my gentle wisecrack) and bow my head in a gesture of self-effacement. "I'm not one of these officials who'll resent advice from his superiors."
"Ha, ha. I didn't think so, Bob. You'll run the convention."
"I've begun making plans. I think I know how."
"There's one more thing we've found out about Kagle, Bob," Arthur Baron tells me. "He goes to prostitutes in the afternoon."
"I've gone with him."
"You'll stop, though. Won't you?"
"I already have."
"That's good, Bob. I was sure you would. By the way r " he adds, pressing my elbow with a conspiratorial wink and chuckling. "They're much better in the evening."
"Ha, ha."
Almost imperceptibly, my relationship with Arthur Baron has altered already in the direction of a closer conversational familiarity. Shrewdly, discreetly, diplomatically, I make no comment to indicate I've noticed the improvement. I've had a talent, thus far, this footman's talent, for being able to decipher what Arthur Baron and others of my betters (Green is my superior, not my better. Kagle is neither) expect of me and the subtle theatrical instinct for letting them observe they are getting it. (I have the footman's fear of losing it and being turned out of my job for betraying a spaniel's eagerness to please. Holloway in my department is that way again now, stopping people, dogging footsteps, fawning aggressively, extorting attention, demanding praise or benign admonishments. He'll break down again soon.
"Well?" he's asked. His smile was a trace broader than ever before and there was a stronger cordiality in his expression.
"I really have no choice," I surrender with a smile, "have I?"
"You do."
"Not really. I want Kagle's job."
"That's good, Bob. Congratulations."
"Thanks, Art."
"We'll tell him early next week. You know him pretty well. How would you guess he'll take it?"
"Bad. But he'll do everything to hide it. He may ask to be the one to tell me."
"We'll let him."
"He'll want to take credit. He may even want to be allowed to issue the announcement."
"That will make things easier. You'll have much to put in order."
"I've made a list."
"I'll probably want to add to it, Bob."
"That's okay with me, Art." I laugh lightly (before tendering my gentle wisecrack) and bow my head in a gesture of self-effacement. "I'm not one of these officials who'll resent advice from his superiors."
"Ha, ha. I didn't think so, Bob. You'll run the convention."
"I've begun making plans. I think I know how."
"There's one more thing we've found out about Kagle, Bob," Arthur Baron tells me. "He goes to prostitutes in the afternoon."
"I've gone with him."
"You'll stop, though. Won't you?"
"I already have."
"That's good, Bob. I was sure you would. By the way r " he adds, pressing my elbow with a conspiratorial wink and chuckling. "They're much better in the evening."
"Ha, ha."
Almost imperceptibly, my relationship with Arthur Baron has altered already in the direction of a closer conversational familiarity. Shrewdly, discreetly, diplomatically, I make no comment to indicate I've noticed the improvement. I've had a talent, thus far, this footman's talent, for being able to decipher what Arthur Baron and others of my betters (Green is my superior, not my better. Kagle is neither) expect of me and the subtle theatrical instinct for letting them observe they are getting it. (I have the footman's fear of losing it and being turned out of my job for betraying a spaniel's eagerness to please. Holloway in my department is that way again now, stopping people, dogging footsteps, fawning aggressively, extorting attention, demanding praise or benign admonishments. He'll break down again soon.