“Newest equipment. See… Here’s an electric calendar that lights up on
specific days to remind me of meetin
This is an intercommunicator setup with eighteen offices in the building.
Now, right here a private wire to . . .”
“Never mind. Im impressed. I haven’t much time. I thought you might like to
know. . . . I may get married.”
“Whatt . . . Ulster, MY God in heavenl Youl Marriedl You’re going to get
married?”
“Seems to be a general request.”
‘Who, for God’s sakel”
Oh, rve whittled the numbers down, sport. Don’t fret. She’ll be
acceptable.”
Chancellor eyed his brother coldly. He was prepared to be told that Ulster
had chosen some Broadway trollop from a Ziegfeld show, or, perhaps, one of
those weird female writers in black sweaters and men’s haircuts who wen
always at Ulstees partieL
“Acceptable to whom?”
“Well, let’s see, I’ve tried out most of them.”
“I’m not interested in your sex lifel Who?”
“Oh, but you should be. Meg of your wife’s friendsmarried and otherwise-are
lousy lays.”
“Just tell me who you intend honoring, if you don’t saind?”
“What would you say to the Saxon girir,
“Janed . . . Janet Saxonl” Chancellor cried out with delight.
“I think she’d do,” murmured Ulster.
“Dot Why, she’s wonderfull Mother will be so pleasedl Shes just tenificl”
“Shell do.” Ulster was strangely quieL
86
‘Uster, I can’t tell you how pleased I am. You’ve asked her, of course.” It
was a statement.
“Why, Chance, how can you think that? . . . I wasn’t sure she’d pass
inspection.”
“I see what you mean. Of course. . . . But I’m sure she will. Have you told
Mother? Is that why she’s calling so hystericallyT’
“I’ve never seen Mother hysterical. That should be quite a sight.”
“Really, you should phone her right away.”
“I will. Give me a minute. . . . I want to say something. It’s quite
personal.” Ulster Scarlett sat carelessly down in a chair in front of his
brothees desk.
Chancellor, knowing that his brother rarely wanted to be personaL took his
seat apprehensively. ‘”What is it?”
“I was pulling your leg a few minutes ago. I mean about the lays.”
“I’m relieved to hear thad”
“Oh, don’t mistake me-I’m not saying it isn’t truejust tasteless of me to
discuss it… I wanted to see you get upset. Take it easy, I had a reason
. . . . I think it makes my case stronger.”
“What case?”
“It’s why I went out to the island . . . . To do a lot of thinking. . . .
The aimless, crazy days are coming to an end. Not overnight, but they’re
slowly fading out.”
Chancellor looked intently at his brother. “I’ve never heard you talk like
this before.”
“You do a lot of thinking in a cottage by yourself. No telephones, no one
barging in on you. . . . Oh, I’m not making any big promises I can’t keep.
I don’t have to do that. But I want to try. . guess you’re the only person
I can turn to.”
Chancellor Scarlett was touched. “What can I do?”
“I’d like to get some kind of position. Informal, at first. Nothing
regimented. See if I can’t get interested in something.”
“Of ooursel I’ll get you a job herel It’ll be simply great working
together.”
“No. Not here. Thatd be just another gift. No. I want to do what I should
have done a long time ago. Do what you didL Start right at home.”
“At home. What kind of position is thatT’
“Figuratively speaking, I want to learn everything 1
87
can about us. The family. Scarlatti. Its interests, businesses, that sort of
thing… That’s what you did and I’ve always admired you for W’
“Did you really?” Chancellor was very serious.
“Yes, I did. . . . I took a lot of papers out to the island with me.
Reports and things I picked up at mother’s office. We do a lot of work with
that bank downtown, doet we? What in hell is the namer,
‘Vaterman Trust. They execute all Scarlatti commitments. Have for years.”
“Maybe I could start them . . . Informally. Couple of hours a day.19
“No problem at alli rll arrange it this afternoon.”
“Another thing. Do you think you might phone Mother… Just as a favor.
Tell her rm on my way over. I won’t bother to call. You might mention our
discussion. Tell her about Janet, if you lik&” Ulster Scarlett stood up in
front of his brother. There was something modestly heroic about him, about
this errant who was trying to find his roots.
The effect was not lost on Chancellor, who rose from his chair and extended
his hand. ‘Velcome home, Ulster. lift the start of a new life for you. Mark
my words.”
“YeL I think it is. Not overnight, but it’s a beginning.”
Elizabeth Scarlatti slammed the flat of her hand down on the desk as she
rose from bar chair.
“You!re sorry? Sorry? You don’t fool me for a minutel You’re frightened out
of your wits and well you should bel You damned fooll You assl What did you
think you were doing? Playing gamesl Little boy gamesl”
Ulster Scarlett gripped the arm of the sofa in which he sat and repeated to
himself over and over again, Heinrich Kroeger, Heinrkh KroeRer.
“I demand an explanation, Ulsterr
q told you. I was bored. Just plain bored.”
“How involved are your
“Oh, Chnstl rm not. All I did was give some money for a supply. A shipmeaL
Thafs all.”
“Who did you give the money to?”
Just–guys- Fellows I met at clubs.-
-Were they criminals?-
88
“I don’t know. Who isn’t these days? Yes, I guess they were. They are. Iles
why I’m out of it. Completely out of itr
“Did you ever sign anything?”
“Jesus, nol You think I’m crazy9”
“No. I think you’re stupid.”
Heinrich Kroeser, Heinrich Kroeger. Ulster ScarlW rose from the sofa and
lit a cigarette. He walked to the fireplace and threw the match on the
crackling logs.
“I’m not stupid, Mother,” replied Elizabeth’s son.
Elizabeth dismused his pouting objection. -You only supplied money? You
were never involved in any violence?”
‘.Nol Of course notr
‘7hen who was the shies captain? The man who was murderedr’
“I don’t knowl Look, I told you. I admit I was down there. Some guys said
I’d get a kick out of seeing how the stuff came in. But that’s all, I swear
it. There was trouble. The crew started fighting and I left. I got out of
there as fast as I could.”
“rhere’s nothing more? That’s the extent of it?-
“Yes. What do you want me to do? Bleed from my hands and feetr’
“That’s Dot very blely.” Elizabeth walked around the desk and approached
her son. “What about this marriar, Ulster? Is it, too, because you’re
bored?”
“I thought you’d approve.”
“Approve? I wasn’t aware that my approval or disapproval concerned you.”
“It does.”
“I approve of the Saxon girl, but I doubt for the reaam Chancellor thin I
should. She seems to be a kway girl from what I’ve seen of her. . . . I’m
not at all sure I approve of you… Do you love herr’
Ulster Scarlett looked casually at his mother. 01 think shell make a good
wife.”
“Since you avoid my quesWn, do you think youll. make a good husband?”
“Why, Mother. I read In Vanity Fair where I was New York s most eligible
bachelor ”
“Good husbands and eligible bachelors are often mutually exclusive… Why
do you want to be marriedr
“ICs time I should be.”
89
“rd accept that answer from your brother. Not from
YOU- ”
Scarleft walked away from his mother to the windows. This was the moment.
This was the moment be had planned, the moment he had rehearsed. He had to
do it simply, say it simply. IWd pull It off and me day Elizabeth would
recogahe how wrong she was.
He wasn’t stupid; he was brillianL
“I tried to tell ChanoL 12 try again with you. I do want to get married. I
do want to get interested in sornething. . . . You asked me if I love the
girl. I think I do. I think i will. Whars important to me now is that,I get
straightened out.” He turned from the window and faced his mother. “rd like
to learn what you built for us. I want to know what the Scarlatti family’s
all about. Everyone seems to know but me. Its a place to start, Mother.”
“Yes. ifs a place to start. But I should caution you. When you speak of
Scarlatti, don’t be under any illusions that your name guarantees you a
voice in its management. Youll have to prove your value before you recave
any respozisibility”-or authority In that decWon, I am,
“Yes. You’ve always made that very clear.”