Not to Disturb

Read Not to Disturb for Free Online

Book: Read Not to Disturb for Free Online
Authors: Muriel Spark
Lake of Geneva where the boats are moored and
the water stretches across to the mountain shore. The little dark green car,
leaving it all behind, reaches the lodge. Anne sounds the horn. Theo, wrapped
up, now, in a heavy coat, stands evidently forewarned; he unlocks the gate and
swings it wide.
    When they have reached the main road and are off, he goes
indoors; there he writes down the number of their car on a scribbling block
which he has set out ready in the hall.
    His wife stands by in her cord-trimmed dressing-gown.
‘Why are you doing that?’ she says.
    â€˜I don’t know, Clara. But seeing I’ve been told to expect
an all-night spell of duty without any relief-man, I’ve been taking a note of
all numbers. I don’t know, Clara, I really don’t know why.’ He tears off the
sheet and crumples it, tossing it on the sitting-room fire.
    â€˜What’s wrong with the relief-men tonight?’ Clara says.
‘Where’s Conrad, where’s Bernard, where’s Jean-Albert, where’s Stephen? Why
don’t they send Pablo, what’s he doing with them up there at the house? My sleep
is terrible, how can I sleep?’
    â€˜I’m a simple man,’ says Theo, ‘and your dreams give me
the jitters, but setting all that aside I smell a crisis. The Baroness hasn’t
been playing the game, and that’s about it. Why did she let herself go to rack
and ruin? They say she was a fine-looking woman a year ago. Lovely
specimen.’
    â€˜She used to keep her hair frosted or blond-streaked,’
Clara whispers. ‘She shouldn’t have let go her shape. Why did she suddenly start
to go natural? She must have started to be sincere with someone.’
    â€˜Don’t be frightened, Clara. Don’t be afraid.’
    â€˜It’s true what I say, Theo. She changed all of a sudden.
I showed you her in the magazines in her ski-outfit. Wasn’t she
magnificent?’
    â€˜Go to bed, Clara. I say, go up to bed, dear.’
    â€˜Can’t I have the wireless on for company?’
    â€˜All right. Keep it low. We aren’t supposed to be here to
enjoy ourselves, you know.’
    Theo steps forth from his doorway as another car
approaches the gate, flicking its large headlights.
    The chauffeur puts his head out while Theo opens the
gate, but Theo speaks first, apparently recognizing the occupant of the back
seat.
    â€˜His Excellency, Prince Eugene,’ Theo says,
respectfully.
    The chauffeur’s mouth smiles a little, his eyes drooping,
perhaps with boredom, perhaps with tiredness.
    â€˜I’m pretty sure they’re not at home. Were they expecting
his Excellency?’ Theo says.
    â€˜Yes,’ says the visitor from the depths of the back
seat.
    â€˜I’ll just call the house,’ says Theo and returns to the
lodge.
    â€˜Drive on,’ says Prince Eugene to his driver. ‘Don’t wait
for him and all that rot. I said to Klopstock I’d look in after dinner and I’m
looking in after dinner. He should have told his porter to expect me.’ As he
speaks, the car is already off on its meander towards the house.
    Lister is waiting at the door. He runs down the steps
towards the big car as the driver gets out to open the door for the prince.
    â€˜The Baron and Baroness are not at home,’ Lister
says.
    Prince Eugene has got out and looks at Lister. ‘Who are
you?’ he says.
    â€˜Excuse me, your Excellency, that I’m in my off-duty
clothes,’ Lister says. ‘I’m Lister, the butler.’
    â€˜You look like a Secretary of State.’
    â€˜Thank you, sir,’ says Lister.
    â€˜It isn’t a compliment,’ says the prince. ‘What do you
mean, they’re not at home? I saw the Baron this morning and he asked me to drop
in after dinner. They’re expecting me.’ He mounts the steps, Lister following
him, and enters the house.
    In the hall he nods towards the library door from

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