show how transitory it was, this over-prized perfection.
He was still restlessly pacing, still talking.
'Barbara likes to feel that attention is being paid to her. You have to admit that about the sexual act. Attention, specific and intense, is certainly being paid. She needs men to desire her. She doesn't much want them actually to touch her. If she thought I had a hand in killing Paul she wouldn't thank me. I don't think she'd forgive me. And she certainly wouldn't protect me. I'm sorry. I've been too frank. But I think it had to be said.'
'Yes, it had to be said. Who would she protect?'
'Her brother, possibly, but not, I should have thought for long and certainly not at any risk to herself. They've
never been particularly close.'
She said dryly:
'No sibling loyalty will be demanded of her. Dominic Swayne was here in this house with Mattie for the whole of yesterday evening.'
'Is that his story or hers?'
'Are you accusing him of having a hand in my son's death?'
'Of course not. The idea is ridiculous. And if Mattie says he was with her, I've no doubt he was. We all know that Mattie is a model of rectitude. You asked me if there was anyone Barbara would protect, I can think of no one else.'
He had stopped his pacing now and sat down again
opposite to her.
He said:
'Your reasons for telephoning me. You said there were two things we needed to discuss.'
'Yes. I should like to be sure that the child Barbara is carrying is my grandchild, not your bastard.'
67
His shoulders stiffened. For a moment, it could have been a second only, he sat rigidly gazing down at his clasped hands. In the silence she heard the ticking of the carriage clock. Then he looked up. He was still calm but she thought that his face was paler.
'Oh, there's no doubt about that. No possible doubt. I had a vasectomy three years ago. I'm not suited to father-hood and I hadn't any wish to be made ridiculous by paternity suits. I can give you the name of my surgeon if you want proof. That's probably simpler than relying on
blood tests once he's born.'
'He?'
'Oh yes, it's a boy. Barbara had an amniocentesis. Your son wanted an heir and he's going to get an heir. Didn't you know?'
She sat for a moment in silence. Then she said:
'Isn't that a risky procedure for the foetus, particularly so early in the pregnancy?'
'Not with the new techniques and in expert hands. And I saw that she was in expert hands. No, not mine. I'm not
that kind of fool.'
She asked:
'Did Paul know about the child before he died?'
'Barbara hasn't said. I imagine not. After all, she's only just heard of it herself.'
'The pregnancy? Surely not.'
'No, the sex of the child. I rang and told her first thing yesterday morning. But Paul may have suspected that there was a child on the way. After all, he did go back to that church, presumably to ask his God for further and better instructions.'
She was seized by an anger so intense that, for a moment, she couldn't speak. And when her voice did come it quavered like the voice of an old, impotent woman. But at least her words could sting. She said:
'You never could resist it, even as a boy, the temptation to combine vulgarity with what you imagined was wit. Whatever happened to my son in that church, and I don't pretend to understand it, in the end he died because of it.
When next you're tempted to indulge in a cheap witticism you might remember that.'
His own voice was low and as cold as steel.
'I'm sorry. I thought from the beginning that this con-versation was a mistake. We're both too shocked to be rational. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go down to see Barbara before the police descend on her. She's alone I take it?'
'As far as I know .she is. Anthony Farrell should be arriving soon. I sent for him to his private address as soon as I got the news but he has to get up from Win-chester.'
'The family lawyer? Having him here when the police arrive - won't that look suspicious? Too like a necessary precaution?'
'He's
He was still restlessly pacing, still talking.
'Barbara likes to feel that attention is being paid to her. You have to admit that about the sexual act. Attention, specific and intense, is certainly being paid. She needs men to desire her. She doesn't much want them actually to touch her. If she thought I had a hand in killing Paul she wouldn't thank me. I don't think she'd forgive me. And she certainly wouldn't protect me. I'm sorry. I've been too frank. But I think it had to be said.'
'Yes, it had to be said. Who would she protect?'
'Her brother, possibly, but not, I should have thought for long and certainly not at any risk to herself. They've
never been particularly close.'
She said dryly:
'No sibling loyalty will be demanded of her. Dominic Swayne was here in this house with Mattie for the whole of yesterday evening.'
'Is that his story or hers?'
'Are you accusing him of having a hand in my son's death?'
'Of course not. The idea is ridiculous. And if Mattie says he was with her, I've no doubt he was. We all know that Mattie is a model of rectitude. You asked me if there was anyone Barbara would protect, I can think of no one else.'
He had stopped his pacing now and sat down again
opposite to her.
He said:
'Your reasons for telephoning me. You said there were two things we needed to discuss.'
'Yes. I should like to be sure that the child Barbara is carrying is my grandchild, not your bastard.'
67
His shoulders stiffened. For a moment, it could have been a second only, he sat rigidly gazing down at his clasped hands. In the silence she heard the ticking of the carriage clock. Then he looked up. He was still calm but she thought that his face was paler.
'Oh, there's no doubt about that. No possible doubt. I had a vasectomy three years ago. I'm not suited to father-hood and I hadn't any wish to be made ridiculous by paternity suits. I can give you the name of my surgeon if you want proof. That's probably simpler than relying on
blood tests once he's born.'
'He?'
'Oh yes, it's a boy. Barbara had an amniocentesis. Your son wanted an heir and he's going to get an heir. Didn't you know?'
She sat for a moment in silence. Then she said:
'Isn't that a risky procedure for the foetus, particularly so early in the pregnancy?'
'Not with the new techniques and in expert hands. And I saw that she was in expert hands. No, not mine. I'm not
that kind of fool.'
She asked:
'Did Paul know about the child before he died?'
'Barbara hasn't said. I imagine not. After all, she's only just heard of it herself.'
'The pregnancy? Surely not.'
'No, the sex of the child. I rang and told her first thing yesterday morning. But Paul may have suspected that there was a child on the way. After all, he did go back to that church, presumably to ask his God for further and better instructions.'
She was seized by an anger so intense that, for a moment, she couldn't speak. And when her voice did come it quavered like the voice of an old, impotent woman. But at least her words could sting. She said:
'You never could resist it, even as a boy, the temptation to combine vulgarity with what you imagined was wit. Whatever happened to my son in that church, and I don't pretend to understand it, in the end he died because of it.
When next you're tempted to indulge in a cheap witticism you might remember that.'
His own voice was low and as cold as steel.
'I'm sorry. I thought from the beginning that this con-versation was a mistake. We're both too shocked to be rational. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go down to see Barbara before the police descend on her. She's alone I take it?'
'As far as I know .she is. Anthony Farrell should be arriving soon. I sent for him to his private address as soon as I got the news but he has to get up from Win-chester.'
'The family lawyer? Having him here when the police arrive - won't that look suspicious? Too like a necessary precaution?'
'He's
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