Sins of the Fathers Read Online Free PDF Page B

about to produce six
     white rabbits from a hat, and glancing past him I saw Jake Reischman in the doorway.
    Immaculate as always, surveying the world with his habitual expression of infinitely sophisticated cynicism, Jake had paused
     on the threshold of the kitchen to inspect his new surroundings much as an experienced traveller might have paused at the
     gateway of some forbidden city. Kitchens were no doubt a novelty for Jake since he would seldom have had the opportunity to
     see one. Unlike Cornelius, who had been born on an Ohio farm and had grown up in middle-class surroundings near Cincinnati,
     Jake had lived all his life in the upper reaches of New York’s German-Jewish aristocracy.
    Our glances met. He never hesitated. His mouth curved in a formal smile although his eyes remained a clear chilly blue.
    ‘
Guten Tag
, Sam.’
    ‘Hullo, Jake.’
    We did not shake hands.
    ‘Jake, you know Teresa, of course—’
    ‘On the contrary,’ said Jake, ‘I’ve never yet had that pleasure.’
    ‘No?’ said Kevin surprised. ‘But I distinctly remember – ah but that was Ingrid, of course. Well, let me introduce you: this
     is Teresa Kowalewski, Jake. Teresa, this is Jake Reischman, yet another of my notorious banking friends.’
    ‘Miss Kowalewski,’ said Jake smoothly, again producing his formal smile as he held out his hand. His instant mastery of the
     Polish surname was so dazzling that for a moment we all stared at him in admiration.
    ‘Hi,’ said Teresa shyly at last, wiping her hand hastily before offering it to be shaken.
    ‘Now what are we all drinking?’ said Kevin sociably. ‘Jake, I’ve got this magnificent southern hooch which Teresa introduced
     me to – she brought a bottle all the way from New Orleans to New York and now I order it direct from Kentucky by the case.
     Have you ever tried Wild Turkey bourbon?’
    Jake shuddered. ‘I’ll take some scotch, please – Johnnie Walker Black Label, if you have it. No soda or water. Three rocks.’
    As he spoke the rice began to erupt stealthily over the stove and Teresa with an exclamation of dismay rushed to attend to
     it. Kevin had already left the room in search of the scotch, and as I watched, Jake indolently removed an onion-ring from
     the nearest chair in order to sit down opposite me. I looked away; I was trying to think how I could escape from the room
     but could find no excuse which would not imply I was snubbing Jake by making a quick exit, and at last in an awkward effort
     to appear friendly I said: ‘How are things with you?’
    ‘Moderate. Let’s hope the FRB’s cut in the price for stock purchases will help the market out of the doldrums. I became so
     tired of listening to Truman talking of the danger of inflation when it was patently obvious all danger of inflation was past
     … I hear you’re only just back from a European vacation?’
    ‘Yes.’ I wanted to say more but no words came.
    ‘How nice,’ said Jake unperturbed. ‘Incidentally, did you see the
Times
today? Groups wearing jackboots and singing ‘Deutschland über Alles’ were parading in the streets of north Germany … how
     little life seems to change sometimes! But no doubt you found Germany very changed. You did go to Germany, didn’t you?’
    ‘Yes.’ I tasted the martini but could not drink it. I put the glass back on the table just as Kevin walked back into a silent
     room.
    ‘How’s Neil, Sam?’ he said cheerfully, referring to Cornelius. ‘Has that daughter of his succeeded in giving him a nervous
     breakdown yet?’
    I just managed to say: ‘She’s still working on it.’
    ‘Poor Neil! Of course I saw it all coming a mile off. If I were Vicky entombed like Rapunzel in that antediluvian architectural
     relic which Neil calls home, I’d certainly have let down my hair to the first young man who came along. God knows no one’s
     fonder of Neil and Alicia than I am, but frankly I think they’ve no idea how to bring up an adolescent girl.