The Unconsoled Read Online Free PDF Page B

I'm a pianist myself. On a strictly amateur basis, I mean. And, well, I've always admired you terribly. When Father finally got word that you were coming, I was so thrilled.'
    'Father?'
    'I'm so sorry. I'm Stephan Hoffman. The manager's son.'
    'Ah yes, I see. How do you do.'
    'You wouldn't mind if I sat here for a minute, would you?' The young man climbed up onto the stool next to mine. 'You know, sir, Father's just as thrilled, if not more so. Knowing Father he may not have told you just how much he's thrilled. But believe me it means everything to him.'
    'Is that so?'
    'Yes, really, I'm hardly exaggerating. I remember the period when Father was still waiting for your reply. This peculiar silence would come over him whenever your name was mentioned. And then, when the pressure really built up, he'd start muttering under his breath about it all. "How much longer? How much longer until he replies? He's going to turn us down. I can sense it." I had to really work then, to keep his spirits up. Anyway, sir, you can imagine just what your being here now means to him. He's such a perfectionist! When he organises an event like Thursday night, everything, everything , has to be just right. He goes over every detail in his head, over and over. Sometimes it does get a bit much, all this single-mindedness. But then I suppose if he didn't have that side to him, he wouldn't be Father and he wouldn't achieve half of what he does.'
    'Indeed. He seems an admirable person.'
    'Actually, Mr Ryder,' the young man said, 'I did have something I wanted to ask you. It's a request really. If it's impossible, then please just say so. I won't take it amiss.'
    Stephan Hoffman paused as though to gather up his courage. I drank a little more coffee and gazed at the reflection of the two of us sitting side by side.
    'Well, this is also to do with Thursday night,' he went on. 'You see, Father's asked me to play the piano at the event. I've practised and I'm ready and it's not that I'm worried about it or anything…' As he said this, just for a second his assured manner faltered and I caught a glimpse of an anxious adolescent. But almost immediately he had recovered with a nonchalant shrug. 'It's just that with Thursday night being so important, I don't want to let him down. To come to the point, I was just wondering if you would have a few minutes to spare to listen to me run through my piece. I've decided to play Jean-Louis La Roche's Dahlia . I'm just an amateur and you'd have to be very tolerant. But I thought I could just run through it and you could give me a few tips about how I might polish things up.'
    I thought about this for a moment. 'So,' I said after a while, 'you're set to perform on Thursday night.'
    'Of course, it's a very small contribution to the evening alongside, well' - he gave a laugh - 'the other things taking place. All the same I want my bit to be as good as possible.'
    'Yes, I can quite understand. Well, I'd be pleased to do what I can for you.'
    The young man's face lit up. 'Mr Ryder, I'm speechless! It's the very thing I need…'
    'But there is a problem. As you can guess, my time here is very restricted. I'll have to find a moment when I have a few minutes free.'
    'Of course. Whenever it's convenient for you, Mr Ryder. My goodness, I'm so flattered. To be frank, I thought you'd turn me down flat.'
    A bleeper began to sound somewhere within the young man's clothing. Stephan started, then reached inside his jacket.
    'Awfully sorry,' he said, 'but that's the urgent one. I should have been somewhere else long ago. But when I saw you sitting here, Mr Ryder, I couldn't resist coming over. I hope we can continue this discussion very shortly. But for now, please excuse me.'
    He got down off the stool, but then for a second seemed tempted to start another exchange. Then the bleeper went off again and he hurried away with an embarrassed smile.
    I turned back to my reflection behind the bar counter and began to sip my coffee again. I could