The Three Evangelists

VIII

ONCE SOPHIA HAD LEFT, NO-ONE KNEW QUITE WHAT TO DO, AS THEY all paced around the big room. Vandoosler senior preferred to take his meals upstairs. Before leaving the room, he looked at them. The three younger men were standing, oddly enough, each one in front of one of the tall windows, gazing into the dark garden. Standing like that, each framed in an archway, they looked like three statues with their backs to him. St Luke on the left, St Matthew in the middle, St Mark on the right. Each of them turned to stone in his niche. Strange figures and they made strange saints. Marc had crossed his hands behind his back and was standing stiffly, legs apart. Vandoosler had done a lot of stupid things in his life; but he loved his godson. Not that there had ever been a christening.

‘Dinner time,’ said Lucien. ‘I’ve made some pâté.’

‘What kind?’ asked Mathias.

They had not moved, but were speaking to each other while still staring into the garden.

‘Jugged hare. A good dry pâté. I think it will taste fine.’

‘Hare? That’s expensive,’ said Mathias.

‘Marc shoplifted it this morning and delivered it to me.’

‘Terrific,’ said Mathias ironically. ‘Takes after the old man. Why did you pinch it, Marc?’

‘Because Lucien wanted one and it cost too much.’

‘Oh, of course, naturally,’ said Mathias. ‘Tell me something. How come your name is Vandoosler like his, if he is your mother’s brother.’

‘Because my mother wasn’t married, dickhead.’

‘Let’s eat,’ said Lucien. ‘Why are you badgering him?’

‘I’m not badgering him, I’m just asking him a question. And what did Vandoosler do to get thrown out?’

‘He helped a murderer escape.’

‘Oh, of course,’ said Mathias again. ‘And what sort of name is that anyway, Vandoosler?’

‘Belgian. It should be written Van Doos-l-a-e-r-e. Too complicated. My grandfather came to France in 1915.’

‘Aha,’ said Lucien. ‘Did he fight in the war? Did he leave any letters, or documents?’

‘No idea.’

‘You ought to do some digging,’ Lucien remarked, without leaving his post by the window.

‘Well, for the time being,’ said Marc, ‘we have to dig a hole. I don’t know what we’re getting ourselves into.’

‘Big trouble,’ said Mathias cheerfully. ‘Just for a change.’

‘Let’s eat,’ said Lucien. ‘We can make believe we haven’t a care in the world for now.’