After the Circus Read Online Free PDF Page A

armchairs colored the same red as the couch. Ansart sat on the couch and put his arm around the blonde girl’s shoulder.
    â€œDid you have dinner on Rue Washington?”
    Jacques nodded. A staircase spiraled up at the back of the room. Via the closed trap door, one could access what was probably the bedroom. To the left, the living room communicated with a large kitchen that must also have served as dining room, in which I noticed, from my chair, the whiteness of the gleaming new appliances.
    Ansart caught me looking.
    â€œIt’s a former garage that I converted into an apartment.”
    â€œIt’s very nice,” I said.
    â€œWould you like something to drink? Some herb tea?”
    The blonde girl got up and walked to the kitchen.
    â€œFour herb teas, Martine,” Ansart said with paternalistic authority.
    His eyes were still fixed on me, as if he were trying to gauge whom he was dealing with.
    â€œYou’re very young …”
    â€œI’m twenty-one.”
    I repeated my lie from the day before. She had removed her sunglasses and was staring at me as if seeing me for the first time.
    â€œHe’s a student,” Jacques said, looking at me as well.
    I was embarrassed to be the focus of their attention. I started wondering what I was doing there, amid these people I didn’t know. Evenshe—I didn’t know her any better than the others.
    â€œA student of what?” Ansart asked.
    â€œLiterature,” said Jacques.
    The blonde girl came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray that she set on the carpet among us. With graceful movements, she handed each of us a cup of tea.
    â€œAnd when will you be finished with your studies?” Ansart asked me.
    â€œIn two or three years.”
    â€œMeantime, I suppose it’s your parents who provide for you …”
    His eyes were still fixed on me, as if I were some kind of curious specimen. I thought I discerned in Ansart’s voice an amused contempt.
    â€œYou’re lucky to have such good parents to help you out …”
    He’d said it with a touch of bitterness and his gaze clouded over.
    What could I reply? I briefly thought of my father and his escape to Switzerland, Grabley,the empty apartment, Dell’Aversano, my mother somewhere in southern Spain … All things considered, it was better to have him think of me as a nice young man being supported by his parents.
    â€œYou’re wrong,” she said suddenly. “Nobody’s helping him out. My brother’s making his own way …”
    I was moved that she’d come to my rescue. I had forgotten we were brother and sister, and so naturally we had the same parents.
    â€œBesides, we don’t have any family left. It simplifies things …”
    Ansart gave us a wide smile.
    â€œMy poor children …”
    The atmosphere relaxed. The blonde girl poured some more tea into our empty cups. She seemed very fond of Gisèle and called her
tu.
    â€œAre you going by the restaurant this evening?”Jacques asked.
    â€œYes,” said Ansart.
    Gisèle turned to me.
    â€œPierre owns a small restaurant in the neighborhood.”
    â€œOh, it’s nothing much,” Ansart said. “The place was on the skids and I took it over, no good reason, just for fun …”
    â€œWe’ll take you for dinner there some evening,” said Jacques.
    â€œI don’t know if my brother will come. He never goes out.”
    She had used a firm tone of voice, as if she wanted to protect me from them.
    â€œBut it would be so nice to go out, just the four of us,” the blonde girl said.
    She rested her candid gaze first on Gisèle, then on me. She seemed to wish us well.
    â€œLucien and I have to get back to Saint-Leu-la-Forêt,” Gisèle said.
    â€œCan’t you stay just a little longer?” Jacques said.
    I took a deep breath and said in a firm voice, “No, we really should be going. My sister