Джеффри Арчер - This Was a Man

‘An older and much more sophisticated individual, with whom Jessica was unfortunately besotted.’

‘Quite possibly, Dr Barrington. But are you also aware that Miss Clifton’s scholarship was rescinded earlier this year after she was caught smoking marijuana on college premises?’

‘Yes, I am, Sir James. Jessica has told me everything that happened during the past year, and I can assure you she deeply regrets her actions, but if you reinstate her, she will not let you down a second time.’

‘Whose word do we have for that?’

‘Mine.’

Sir James hesitated, before saying, ‘I’m afraid it’s out of the question, Dr Barrington. Did Miss Clifton also mention that she only attended three lectures and seven classes last term, and during that time her work went from excellent to unacceptable?’

‘Yes, she did.’

‘And when her supervisor, Professor Howard, raised the matter with her, she told him, and I apologize for my language, to fuck off?’

‘And you’ve never resorted to such language, Sir James?’

‘Not when addressing my tutor, and I doubt if your great-niece has resorted to such language in front of you, Dr Barrington, or any other members of your family.’

‘So you’ve never known a student to rebel against what you and I would consider acceptable behaviour? After all, you have a son and two daughters of your own.’ Sir James was silenced for a moment, which allowed Grace to continue. ‘I’ve had the privilege of teaching many talented young women over the years, but rarely have I encountered one as gifted as my great-niece.’

‘Talent is not an excuse to flout college rules, while expecting everyone else to behave properly, as the principal clearly spelt out in his report on this unhappy state of affairs.’

‘In that same report, Sir James, Professor Howard addressed the board on Jessica’s behalf, and if I recall his words correctly, he said that she possessed a rare talent that should be nurtured, not stamped out.’

‘The board considered Professor Howard’s words most carefully before we came to our decision, and I’m afraid the attendant publicity left us with no choice but to—’

‘The attendant publicity, Sir James, was not caused by Jessica, but my sister Emma, my brother-in-law Harry, and even my brother, Giles Barrington.’

‘That is possibly the case, Dr Barrington, but the privilege of being brought up in such a remarkable family gives one added responsibility.’

‘So if Jessica had been the daughter of a single mother, whose father had deserted her, your whole attitude might have been different?’

Sir James rose angrily from his place. ‘I apologize, Dr Barrington, but I can see no purpose in prolonging this discussion. The board has made its decision, and I do not have the authority to overturn it.’

‘I’m loath to correct you, Sir James,’ said Grace, not rising from her seat, ‘but I think you’ll find, if you check the statutes of the Slade carefully, that rule 73b allows you to do just that.’

‘I don’t recall rule 73b,’ said Sir James, sinking back into his chair, ‘but I have a feeling you’re about to enlighten me.’

‘It is the president’s prerogative,’ said Grace calmly, ‘to overrule a board decision if he believes that there were extenuating circumstances that had not been taken into consideration at the time.’

‘Such as?’ said Sir James, barely able to disguise his irritation.

‘Perhaps it’s time to remind you about another student, who didn’t have the same privileges as Jessica Clifton. A young man who, when he was an undergraduate at Cambridge, took his tutor’s motorbike without permission and in the middle of the night went on a joyride. When he was pulled over by the police for speeding, he claimed he had the owner’s permission.’

‘That was just a harmless prank.’

‘And when he appeared in front of the magistrate the following morning, he wasn’t charged, but was told to return the bike to its owner and apologize. And fortunately, because the young man was not the son of a government minister, the incident didn’t even manage a paragraph in the Cambridge Evening News .’

‘That’s not altogether fair, Dr Barrington.’

‘And when he returned the bike to his tutor and apologized, the undergraduate was not sent down or even rusticated, because his tutor was a civilized fellow, and was well aware that the young man was only a few weeks away from his finals.’

‘That’s below the belt, Dr Barrington.’

‘I cannot disagree,’ said Grace. ‘But I think it worthy of mention that the young man in question graduated with a first-class honours degree, and later became chairman of BP, president of the Slade School of Art, and a knight of the realm.’

Sir James bowed his head.

‘I apologize for resorting to such tactics, Sir James, and can only hope you will forgive me when Dame Jessica Clifton RA is appointed president of the Royal Academy.’

‘Tell me, Grandpops,’ said Jessica, ‘have you ever made a complete fool of yourself?’

‘Do you mean this week, or last week?’ asked Harry.

‘I’m serious. I mean when you were young.’

‘That’s so long ago, I can’t even remember,’ said Harry. Jessica remained silent as she waited for him to answer her question. ‘What about being arrested for murder?’ he finally managed. ‘Does that count?’

‘But you were innocent and it was all a terrible mistake.’

‘The judge didn’t seem to think so, because he sentenced me to four years in jail, and if I remember correctly, you only managed one night.’ Jessica frowned, and didn’t respond. ‘And then there was the time I disobeyed orders and advised a German general to lay down his arms and surrender, when all I had at my disposal was a pistol and an Irish corporal.’

‘And the Americans decorated you for that action.’

‘But that’s the point, Jessie. Often in war you’re hailed as a hero for something that had you done in peacetime, you would have been arrested for and possibly shot.’

‘Do you think my father will ever forgive me?’

‘There’s no reason why he shouldn’t. He did something far worse at your age, which was the reason your mother left him and returned to America.’

‘She told me they drifted apart.’

‘True, but what she didn’t tell you was why. And they have you to thank for bringing them back together.’

‘And whom do I have to thank?’

‘Your great-aunt Grace, if you’re asking who made it possible for you to return to the Slade in September.’

‘I assumed it was you or Grandmama who intervened.’

‘No. Although she won’t thank me for telling you, Grace joined forces with Professor Howard, proving that when two people work together, they can become an army.’

‘How can I ever begin to thank them?’

‘By proving they were right. Which leads me to ask how your work’s coming on.’

‘I don’t know, is the honest answer. Can you ever be sure how one of your books is shaping up?’

‘No. In the end I leave it to the critics and the public to make that decision.’

‘Then I guess it will be the same for me. So would you be willing to offer an honest opinion on my latest work?’

‘I could try,’ said Harry, hoping he wouldn’t have to dissemble.

‘Then no better time than now,’ said Jessica, grabbing him by the hand and leading him out of the library. ‘It was kind of you to allow me to come down for the summer and see if I could pick up the pieces,’ she added as they climbed the stairs.

‘And have you?’

‘That’s exactly what I’m hoping you’ll tell me,’ said Jessica, as she opened the door to the old playroom and stood aside.