按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
her man。 She told me as much； without a word； when she took the cigarette from my lips。
All this I learned about Julia； bit by bit； as one does learn the former … as it seems at the time； the preparatory … life of a woman one loves； so that one thinks of oneself as having been part of it； directing it by devious ways； towards oneself。
Julia left Sebastian and me at Brideshead and went to stay with an aunt； Lady Rossmon； in her villa at Cap Ferrat。 All the way she pondered her problem。 She had given a name to her widower…diplomat； she called him 〃Eustace〃； and from that moment he became a figure of fun to her； a little interior； inmunicable joke； so that when at last such a man did cross her path … though he was not a diplomat but a wistful major in the Life Guards … and fall in love with her and offer her just those gifts she had chosen； she sent him away moodier and more wistful than ever； for by that time she had met Rex Mottram。
Rex's age was greatly in his favour； for among Julia's friends there was a kind of gerontophilic snobbery； young men were held to be gauche and pimply； it was thought very much more chic to be seen lunching alone at the Ritz … a thing； in any case； allowed to few girls of that day； to the tiny circle of Julia's intimates； a thing looked at askance by the elders who kept the score； chatting pleasantly against the walls of the ballrooms … at the table on the left as you came in； with a starched and wrinkled old rou？whom your mother had be warned of as a girl； than than in the centre of the room with a party of exuberant young bloods。 Rex； indeed； was neither starched nor wrinkled； his seniors thought him a pushful young cad； but Julia recognized the unmistakable chic … the flavour of 'Max' and 'F。 E。' and the Prince of Wales； of the big table in the Sporting Club； the second magnum； and the fourth cigar； of the chauffeur kept waiting hour after hour without punction … which her friends would envy。 His social position was unique； it had an air of mystery； even of crime； about it； people said Rex went about armed。 Julia and her friends had a fascinated abhorrence of what they called 'Pont Street'； they collected phrases that damned their user； and among themselves … and often； disconcertingly； in public … talked a language made up of them。 It was 'Pont Street' to wear a signet ring and to give chocolates at the theatre； it was 'Pont Street' at a dance to say； 'Can I forage for you？' Whatever Rex might be； he was definitely not 'Pont Street'。 He had stepped straight from the underworld into the world of Brenda Champion who was herself the innermost of a number of concentric ivory spheres。 Perhaps Julia recognized in Brenda Champion an intimation of what she and her friends might be in twelve years' time； there was an antagonism between the girl and the woman that was hard to explain otherwise。 Certainly the fact of his being Brenda Champion's property sharpened Julia's appetite for Rex。
Rex and Brenda Champion were staying at the next villa on Cap Ferrat； taken that year by a newspaper magnate； and frequented by politicians。 They would not normally have e within Lady Rossmon's ambit； but； living so close； the parties mingled and at once； Rex began warily to pay his court。
All that summer he had been feeling restless。 Mrs Champion had proved a dead end； it had all been intensely exciting at first； but now the bonds had begun to chafe。 Mrs Champion lived as； he found； the English seemed apt to do； in a little world within a little world； Rex demanded a wider horizon。 He wanted to consolidate his gains； to strike the black ensign； go ashore； hang the cutlass up over the chimney； and think about the crops。 It was time he married； he； too； was in search of a 'Eustace'； but； living as he did； he met few girls。 He knew of Julia； she was by all accounts top debutante； a suitable prize。
With Mrs Champion's cold eyes watching behind her sunglasses； there was little Rex could do at Cap Ferrat except establish a friendliness which could be widened later。 He was never entirely alone with Julia； but he saw to it that she was included in most things they did； he taught her chemin…de…fer； he arranged that it was always in his car that they drove to Monte Carlo or Nice； he did enough to make Lady Rossmon。 write to Lady Marchmain； and Mrs Champion move him； sooner than they had planned； to Antibes。
Julia went to Salzburg to join her mother。
'Aunt Fanny tells me you made great friends with Mr Mottram。 I'm sure he can't be very nice。'
'I don't think he is；' said Julia。 'I don't know that I like nice people。'
There is proverbially a mystery among most men of new wealth； how they made their first ten thousand； it is the qualities they showed then； before they became bullies； when every man was someone to be placated； when only hope sustained them and they could count on nothing from the world but what could be charmed from it； that make them； if they survive their triumph； successful with women。 Rex； in the parative freedom of London； became abject to Julia； he planned his life about hers where he would meet her； ingratiating himself with those who could report well of him to her； he sat on a number of charitable mittees in order to be near Lady Marchmain； he offered his services to Brideshead in getting him a seat in Parliament （but was there rebuffed）； he expressed a keen interest in the Catholic Church until he found that this was no way to Julia's heart。 He was always ready to drive her in his Hispano wherever she wanted to go； he took her and parties of her friends to ring…side seats at prize…fights and introduced them afterwards to the pugilists； and all the time he never once made love to her。 From being agreeable； he became indispensable to her； from having been proud of him in public she became a little ashamed； but by that time； between Christmas and Easter； he had bee indispensable。 And then； without in the least expecting it； she suddenly found herself in love。
It came to her； this disturbing and unsought revelation； one evening in May； when Rex had told her he would be busy at the House； and； driving by chance down Charles Street； she saw him leaving what she knew to be Brenda Champion's house。 She was so hurt and angry that she could barely keep up appearances through dinner； as soon as she could； she went home and cried bitterly for ten minutes； then she felt hungry； wished she had eaten more at dinner； ordered some bread…and…milk； and went to bed saying： 'When Mr Mottram telephones in the morning； whatever time it is； say I am not to be disturbed。'
Next day she breakfasted in bed as usual； read the papers； telephoned to her friends。 Finally she asked： 'Did Mr Mottram ring up by any chance？'
'Oh yes my lady four times。 Shall I put him through when he rings again？'
'Yes。 No。 Say I've gone out。'
When she came downstairs there was a message for her on the hall table。 Mr Mottram expects Lady Julia at the Ritz at 1。30。 'I shall lunch at home today； ' she said。
That afternoon she went shopping with her mother； they had tea with an aunt and returned at six。
'Mr Mottram is waiting； my Lady。 I've shown him into the library。'
'Oh； mu