Free For Love or Money by Tim Jeal Page A

sure that George has got another woman?’
    ‘No proof … but I don’t think you can seriously tell me that he’d spend
£
1,500 for a week-end-a-month flat if he didn’t “entertain”. I’ve stayed in the place … extremely well-appointed. Of course he’d removed any possible evidence before I got there.’
    ‘I’m surprised you didn’t find out about the woman earlier … knowing the address.’
    ‘Robert, I’ve already explained, I wouldn’t be able to use the information without harming myself.’
    Robert got up from the floor and went over to the cupboard. Steven heard the clattering of tea cups.
    ‘Thought we might have some tea.’ Steven nodded. ‘The only thing that occurs to me …’ Robert mumbled, his headin the cupboard, still searching for another cup. ‘Thing is … what happens to your mother when he’s gone? Big ships take little ones with them.’
    ‘She’ll cling to anything left which isn’t firmly out of her grasp.’
    Robert looked up sharply.
    ‘So you’ll have to get out before Saturday in fact, which leaves David …’
    ‘I’m afraid you couldn’t have put it better than I myself.’
    ‘That’s where Sarah …’ Robert wasn’t smiling. ‘May I be the first to offer you my congratulations.’
    ‘You really do astonish me, you can be so perceptive.’
    ‘So David’s left with Mum and you marry Sarah and try to grab your share before anything else happens.’
    ‘That’s right … of course as you seem to have guessed I became engaged this morning. An engagement is I think firm enough for the moment. Mummy wouldn’t want me to break the girl’s little heart.’
    ‘Christ, if I astonish you, you leave me bleeding speechless . You’re really going to live your life to the letter of the theory.’
    ‘Life comes first and theories after and because of life’s problems.’
    ‘Well, thank you very much indeed, Mr. Machiavelli, for coming along and talking on “Woman’s Hour” … I’m sure that a lot of …’
    ‘Not now, Robert.’
    ‘In nomine filio …’
    ‘Robert, I came for advice …’
    ‘I’m afraid my advice won’t be much use; you know what I feel about Sarah.’
    ‘Try and give the “she’s too good for you” stuff a miss … try and be unbiased.’
    ‘Unlike you, I can’t separate mind from body …’
    ‘Don’t be so bloody self-righteous. Anyway it should be reason from emotion … a rather different proposition I think you’ll agree. I wasn’t proposing indifference to sleeping with an ape.’
    ‘I’ve listened well, Steven; I’ve answered your questionsand asked others. Don’t ask for more, you can’t expect me to agree with you as well. If there are any loopholes you will have seen them. In theory I can see no flaws. But Steven in weeks, in months, years … this room and my answers now … you’ll pay.’
    ‘Banquo, I didn’t come for philosophy; I came for logical replies. You have given me both and I’m grateful.’
    Steven got up. ‘I really am grateful, Robert,’ he added, smiling. A second later and the door had closed behind him.
    Going down the stairs he grinned; silly of him, he should have remembered that Robert had been in love with Sarah … still might be for all that. He ought to know … Robert was, after all, his best friend. One day he’d find out what made him really tick. It was difficult to imagine Robert in love, he was always so sensible. Yes, one day he’d ask him about himself … might be quite amusing.
    Outside in the quad again, Steven wished he’d brought a coat. He buttoned his jacket to the top and turned up the collar.
    Back in his rooms he sat down at the table. With one arm he swept all the remains of last night’s industry on to the floor. He then pulled a writing-pad out of the drawer and began on the first of the two letters. He complimented David on his idea … of course it would be nice to see George, he would probably be quite pleased to see him when he arrived. Absolutely