Free The collected stories by Paul Theroux Page B

please." But he did not reply in English. It was so insulting to me. I think he did it to be wicked. When he brought the tea I said, "Please," but he only smiled at me. I was so deeply sorry you were not here. You would have said more.'
    'The young boy?'

    THE ENGLISH ADVENTURE
    The old boy.'
    'I would have said more.'
    'I have been thinking last week of you in England. Proper tea, proper English. I know you already for ten years, but since we are starting this English I know you better. "Lucky Henriet," I have been thinking last week, "in London with the plays and the shows, and speaking English to all the people. And I have nothing but this news and this wicked boy." You buy that shoot in London?'
    'I have bought this suit in London.'
    'Please. And the weather, it was nice?'
    'London weather. London rain.'
    'It is fantastic. And the hotel, it was good?'
    'We will not speak of the hotel.'
    'Janwillem, he enjoyed?'
    'Janwillem is Janwillem. Here he is Janwillem, and in another place we go - how much money, tickets, taxis, rain, different people - he is still Janwillem. In London, at the hotel, we are in the room and I am sitting in the chair. I look out the window - a small square, with grass, very nice, and some flowers, very nice, and the wet street, so different. I turn again and I am happy until I see Janwillem is still Janwillem.'
    'You are not going to speak of the hotel you say!'
    'I was mentioning my husband.'
    'He is a good man.'
    'Quite so, a good man. I love him. But even if he had a few faults I would love him. I would love him more and wish him to understand. The faults make the love stronger. I want him to be a bit faulty, so I can show him my love. But he is a good man. It is so hard to love a good man.'
    'Your English is fantastic. It is London. Last week I am here with this tea and this old boy. I am learning nothing. You are learning more English. It is London.'
    'It is this genever. And my sadness.'
    'We will then speak of the news. You have read already?'
    'And the hotel and Janwillem. So many times I ask of him to understand this thing. "No," he says. "Do not speak of it." And he goes to his church. Even in London - the church, he is missing the church. And the children and the house. He is a good father, such a good one. But at the church, I have seen him three weeks ago, a festival, he is dancing with the other ladies, hugging them.

    WORLD S END
    He is so happy. Kissing them and holding hands. What is wrong with that? A man can do such things and it means nothing, but a woman cannot. No hugging - this is the fault. For a man it means nothing. He is going home in the car laughing, so happy while I am so very sad.'
    'I have read the front page, Henriet. And some letters. Have you seen "appalling lack of taste"? We can discuss.'
    'I have seen "appalling lack of taste" and I have seen the program on television to which it is referring.'
    'Fantastic'
    'But I cannot discuss. I will have another genever. See? He knows I want it and I have not even asked. Such a pleasant boy.'
    'He is the boy who insulted me.'
    'It is only natural, Marianne. You speak in English. He is wishing to be friendly.'
    'I do not wish to be friendly.'
    'He is not the old boy. He is the young.'
    'I am drinking tea. He is the old.'
    'Perhaps he would enjoy an adventure. It means nothing to them.'
    'We shall speak of the news instead.'
    'It is the thing Janwillem does not understand at all and he will never understand. "Do not speak of it!" But if he has an adventure I can understand. I can love him more. But he has no adventure. I have told you about Martin?'
    'The librarian. He gives you books.'
    'He gives me pinches.'
    'We shall talk of the books.'
    'And he tells me how easy it is. It means nothing to him. He wants me to spend the night with him. I tell him impossible. An afternoon, he says. After the lunch period he puts the library in the hands of his assistant and we leave. To my house. Four hours or five. Before Janwillem comes