VII
“So here you are, Pagel,” said Herr von Zecke. “I’ve rather been expecting. you.” And as Wolfgang made a gesture, he added: “Not exactly today—but you were due, weren’t you?”
And Zecke gave a superior smile, to Pagel’s annoyance. Zecke, it occurred to him, had always loved an affectation of mystery; he had always had this supercilious smile, so irritating to Wolfgang. Zecke smiled in that way whenever he considered himself particularly smart.
“Well, I only mention it,” grinned Zecke. “After all, you’re sitting here—you won’t deny that. Well, never mind. I know what I know. Shall we have a schnapps and a cigarette and a look at my pictures?” Pagel had glimpsed the pictures on entering.
They were sitting in a big, very well-furnished sun-porch. A couple of doors opened on to the terrace, steeped in the glowing sun. Through them could be seen a lawn bright with summer; but it was, nevertheless, pleasantly cool inside. Light, radiant and dark at the same time, and, above everything else, cool, filtered through green venetian blinds.
They sat in pleasant chairs, not in those smooth, cold leather things which one now saw everywhere, but in deep, roomy easy-chairs upholstered in some flowery English material—most likely chintz. Books a third of the wall high, and above them pictures, good modern paintings, as Pagel had seen at once. But he did not react to Zecke’s question. He realized that the atmosphere was not unfavorable, that his visit somehow suited Herr von Zecke. Zecke, of course, wanted something, and so he could quietly wait and be a little difficult. (He would get his money!) He pointed at the books. “Nice collection. Do you read much?”
But von Zecke was not so silly as all that. He laughed heartily. “I read? You’re still the same old joker, aren’t you? Wouldn’t you like me to say yes, so that you could bore me stiff with what’s written in Nietzsche, there!” His face changed, became pensive. “I believe they’re quite a good investment. Full-leather binding. You have to see how to invest your money in stable values. I understand nothing of books—Salvarsan’s simpler—but I’ve got a little student who advises me …” He deliberated a moment, probably considering whether the little student was worth the money he paid him. Then he asked: “Well, and the paintings?” But Pagel was not biting. He indicated some carvings, figures of apostles, a Virgin and Child, a crucifix, two Pietàs. “You’re collecting medieval wood-carvings also?”
Zecke pulled a doleful face. “Not collect, no. Invest money in. But I don’t know what’s happened, it’s beginning to amuse me. Have a look at this one, the fellow with the key, Peter, of course. I got him from Würzburg. I don’t understand anything about it, it doesn’t look much, not at all impressive and so on—but I like it. And this Angel light-bearer—the arm’s probably restored. Do you think I’ve been done?”
Wolfgang Pagel cast a searching glance at von Zecke. He was a little man; in spite of his twenty-four or twenty-five years he was already rotund and, his hair having retreated at the temples, his forehead was high. In addition he was dark—and all this annoyed Wolfgang, together with the fact that von Zecke liked carvings and that his pictures seemed to cause him real concern. Zecke was a profiteer, nothing more, and he had to stay one. For a man like that to take an interest in art was ridiculous and disgusting. Wolf was most indignant, however, at having to ask this transformed Zecke for money—Zecke was capable of giving it out of sheer decency. No, the man was a profiteer and must remain so, and if he lent money he ought to take exorbitant interest; otherwise Wolfgang wanted to have nothing to do with him. He didn’t want to receive money as a gift from a man like Zecke. Looking disapprovingly at the torch-bearing angel, he said: “So now it’s the turn of angels—you no longer deal in variety tarts?”
At once he saw from Zecke’s reaction that he had gone too far, that he had made a fatal mistake: They were no longer at school, where one had to put up with such familiarities, where they were considered to be a form of sport. Zecke’s nose turned pale, while his face remained extremely red, a sign known to Pagel from those earlier days.
But if von Zecke had not yet learned to read books he had learned to control himself (and in this respect he was far ahead of Pagel). He behaved as if he had heard nothing, put the angel slowly down, gently stroked the probably restored arm, and said: “Yes, yes, the pictures. You must still have some very fine ones at home, of your father’s.”
Aha, so that’s what you’re after, thought Pagel, completely satisfied. “Yes, some very fine specimens are still there,” he replied.
“I know,” said Zecke, pouring out another schnapps, first in Pagel’s glass, then in his own, and seating himself comfortably. “So, if you’re in need of money—I buy paintings as you can see …”
That was a facer, a belated reply to his impertinence, but Pagel did not show it. “I don’t think we’re selling any.”
“You’re not quite informed there.” Zecke smiled charmingly. “Only last month your mother sold ‘Autumn Trees’ to the art gallery in Glasgow. Well, your health!” He drank, leaned back satisfied and said innocently: “Well, what’s the old woman to live on nowadays? What she had in stocks and shares is worth less than nothing today.”
Zecke didn’t grin, but Pagel felt very strongly that the designation of “good friend” which only that morning he had applied to him was an overstatement. He had already been stung by two darts, and he wouldn’t have long to wait for the third. True, von Zecke had always been a snake, a bad enemy, so it would be better to advance to the attack himself—then the matter would be settled and finished with. Trying to speak as easily as possible, he said: “I’m a bit hard up, Zecke. Could you help me out with a little money?”
“What do you call a little money?” asked Zecke.
“Well, not much, a trifle to you. What do you say to a hundred millions?”
“A hundred millions,” murmured Zecke dreamily. “I didn’t make as much as that on all the variety tarts.”
The third blow, and this time it really seemed a knockout. But Wolfgang Pagel did not so easily take the count. He started to laugh, heartily and unconcerned. “You’re right, Zecke. Splendid! I talk big and then it turns out I only want to touch you for money. But, you know, something put my back up immediately I came in. I don’t know whether you understand what I mean … I live in a kind of hole in Alexanderplatz, you know!” Zecke nodded as if he knew. “With nothing at all … and then to come here amidst all this splendor! Not at all like the parvenus and profiteers, but really well done, and I don’t believe the arm’s restored either.”
He stopped to look scrutinizingly at Zecke. He couldn’t say more, he simply couldn’t bring himself to say another word. But when Zecke didn’t make a move, he added: “All right, don’t give me any money, Zecke. I don’t deserve any; I’ve behaved like an idiot.”
“I don’t necessarily say no,” explained Zecke. “I only just want to hear what you have in mind. Money is money, and you don’t want it as a present, do you?”
“No, as soon as I can you’ll get it back.”
“And when will that be?”
“Under favorable circumstances, if all goes well, tomorrow.”
“Really,” said Zecke, not particularly enthusiastic. “Really. Well, let’s have another schnapps. And what do you need the money for?”
“Oh,” said Pagel, getting confused and annoyed, “I’ve got a few debts with my landlady, trifles really—you know, a hundred millions sounds a tremendous lot, but one way and another it’s not much more than a hundred dollars, not so alarming.”