Read The End Of Solomon Grundy for Free Online Page B

really are being difficult, old chap.”
    “Do you want to restrict coloured immigration to The Dell? Shall we fix a percentage limit?”
    “I hate to have to say this, but I wasn’t the cause of Tony Kabanga and his friend leaving the party last night, was I?”
    Sir Edmund, who had been following these exchanges with increasing bewilderment, now tapped again on his saucer. “This has gone far enough. I really don’t know what you’re talking about, but if this bickering goes on I shall have to close the meeting. We are here to consider garages, not coloured people. Mrs Facey and Mr Jellifer have said that they are in favour of Mr Paget’s suggestion. Will you let us have your views, Mr Weldon?”
    It was at this moment that the door opened and Arlene appeared, looking, for one of her general assurance, almost nervous. Behind her, in a lightweight light-coloured suit, stood the smiling figure of Tony Kabanga.
    The members of the committee stared at him, open-mouthed. Sir Edmund, who had never met Kabanga, looked the least surprised. He stuck in his monocle.
    “Good evening. Can we help you?”
    “I heard that there was a meeting. Is it permitted to come to it?”
    Grundy laughed, a raw sound. Jack Jellifer said ponderously, “I don’t think you know our chairman, Sir Edmund Stone. This is Mr Kabanga, who has just come to live in our community.”
    Kabanga smiled, showed his very white teeth. “I am delighted to make your acquaintance. I heard that there was a meeting, and decided to attend. You must inform me if I am out of place.”
    A chorus of sounds avowed pleasure at his presence. With thin superciliousness Sir Edmund said, “It is unusual for residents to be present at our deliberations, but I am sure there will be no objections. Please sit down.”
    Kabanga sat, placed one leg over another, and offered Russian cigarettes, which nobody except Jellifer accepted.
    “We were discussing an offer made by the SGH Trust in relation to the – ah – vexed garage question.”
    “Not correct.” Grundy shook his ginger head. “We were talking about coloured people living here.”
    “You are out of order.”
    “I said there were four coloured residents, and they ought to be represented. Most of them seemed to think four families were three too many.”
    “You will please stop.” Sir Edmund’s voice had risen. and issued now in an unfortunate squeak.
    “This is absolutely too much,” Felicity cried.
    Grundy grinned at her. “Didn’t you say another half-dozen coloured people coming here would seriously affect the value of our properties?”
    Felicity’s face was red. “Oh, you’re insufferable.”
    Kabanga stood up, put out his cigarette, then walked over to Grundy, who looked up at him.
    “I have tried to ignore what happened last night, but you will not allow me to do so. Please will you understand that all we wish is to be left alone.”
    “You don’t understand. I’m on your side, boy.”
    In his soft, classless voice, Kabanga said, “If you make trouble for me, Mr Grundy, I shall make trouble for you.” He turned to Sir Edmund. “I think it is better that I should go. I am sorry.”
    When he had gone Sir Edmund tapped on his saucer once more. “I am closing the meeting. And I must say, Mr Grundy, that the way in which you have comported yourself has made this an extremely painful occasion. Extremely painful. In a lifetime’s experience of committee meetings I cannot say that I have ever known one so—” He seemed to search for some really explosive word, but the one that came was tame, “–unsatisfactory.”
    “Sorry about that. Don’t see what I’ve done, beyond sticking up for our coloured neighbours, but there’s only one thing to do about it. Dick, you’re secretary, will you accept my resignation from the committee here and now.”
    Nobody expressed distress. The meeting broke up. Dick Weldon and Grundy walked home together. When they reached Dick’s house he said, “Come