“You know, Ellsworth, you’ve said a sentence there that you’d never use in your column.”
“Did I? Undoubtedly. I can say a great many things to you that I’d never use in my column. Which one?”
“Every loneliness is a pinnacle.”
“That? Yes, quite right. I wouldn’t. You’re welcome to it–though it’s not too good. Fairly crude. I’ll give you better ones some day, if you wish. Sorry, however, that that’s all you picked out of my little speech.”
“What did you want me to pick?”
“Well, my two explanations, for instance. There’s an interesting question there. What is kinder–to believe the best of people and burden them with a nobility beyond their endurance–or to see them as they are, and accept it because it makes them comfortable? Kindness being more important than justice, of course.”
“I don’t give a damn, Ellsworth.”
“Not in a mood for abstract speculation? Interested only in concrete results? All right. How many commissions have you landed for Peter Keating in the last three months?”
She rose, walked to the tray which the maid had left, poured herself a drink, and said: “Four,” raising the glass to her mouth. Then she turned to look at him, standing, glass in hand, and added: “And that was the famous Toohey technique. Never place your punch at the beginning of a column nor at the end. Sneak it in where it’s least expected. Fill a whole column with drivel, just to get in that one important line.”
He bowed courteously. “Quite. That’s why I like to talk to you. It’s such a waste to be subtle and vicious with people who don’t even know that you’re being subtle and vicious. But the drivel is never accidental, Dominique. Also, I didn’t know that the technique of my column was becoming obvious. I will have to think of a new one.”
“Don’t bother. They love it.”
“Of course. They’ll love anything I write. So it’s four? I missed one. I counted three.”
“I can’t understand why you had to come here if that’s all you wanted to know. You’re so fond of Peter Keating, and I’m helping him along beautifully, better than you could, so if you wanted to give me a pep talk about Petey–it wasn’t necessary, was it?”
“You’re wrong there twice in one sentence, Dominique. One honest error and one lie. The honest error is the assumption that I wish to help Petey Keating–and, incidentally, I can help him much better than you can, and I have and will, but that’s long-range contemplation. The lie is that I came here to talk about Peter Keating–you knew what I came here to talk about when you saw me enter. And–oh my!–you’d allow someone more obnoxious than myself to barge in on you, just to talk about that subject. Though I don’t know who could be more obnoxious to you than myself, at the moment.”
“Peter Keating,” she said.
He made a grimace, wrinkling his nose: “Oh, no. He’s not big enough for that. But let’s talk about Peter Keating. It’s such a convenient coincidence that he happens to be your father’s partner. You’re merely working your head off to procure commissions for your father, like a dutiful daughter, nothing more natural. You’ve done wonders for the firm of Francon & Keating in these last three months. Just by smiling at a few dowagers and wearing stunning models at some of our better gatherings. Wonder what you’d accomplish if you decided to go all the way and sell your matchless body for purposes other than esthetic contemplation–in exchange for commissions for Peter Keating.” He paused, she said nothing, and he added: “My compliments, Dominique, you’ve lived up to my best opinion of you–by not being shocked at this.”
“What was that intended for, Ellsworth? Shock value or hint value?”
“Oh, it could have been a number of things–a preliminary feeler, for instance. But, as a matter of fact, it was nothing at all. Just a touch of vulgarity. Also the Toohey technique–you know, I always advise the wrong touch at the right time. I am–essentially–such an earnest, single-toned Puritan that I must allow myself another color occasionally–to relieve the monotony.”
“Are you, Ellsworth? I wonder what you are–essentially. I don’t know.”
“I dare say nobody does,” he said pleasantly. “Although really, there’s no mystery about it at all. It’s very simple. All things are simple when you reduce them to fundamentals. You’d be surprised if you knew how few fundamentals there are. Only two, perhaps. To explain all of us. It’s the untangling, the reducing that’s difficult–that’s why people don’t like to bother. I don’t think they’d like the results, either.”
“I don’t mind. I know what I am. Go ahead and say it. I’m just a bitch.”
“Don’t fool yourself, my dear. You’re much worse than a bitch. You’re a saint. Which shows why saints are dangerous and undesirable.”
“And you?”
“As a matter of fact, I know exactly what I am. That alone can explain a great deal about me. I’m giving you a helpful hint–if you care to use it. You don’t, of course. You might, though–in the future.”
“Why should I?”
“You need me, Dominique. You might as well understand me a little. You see, I’m not afraid of being understood. Not by you.”
“I need you?”
“Oh, come on, show a little courage, too.”
She sat up and waited coldly, silently. He smiled, obviously with pleasure, making no effort to hide the pleasure.
“Let’s see,” he said, studying the ceiling with casual attention, “those commissions you got for Peter Keating. The Cryon office building was mere nuisance value–Howard Roark never had a chance at that. The Lindsay home was better–Roark was definitely considered, I think he would have got it but for you. The Stonebrook Clubhouse also–he had a chance at that, which you ruined.” He looked at her and chuckled softly. “No comments on techniques and punches, Dominique?” The smile was like cold grease floating over the fluid sounds of his voice. “You slipped up on the Norris country house–he got that last week, you know. Well, you can’t be a hundred per cent successful. After all, the Enright House is a big job; it’s creating a lot of talk, and quite a few people are beginning to show interest in Mr. Howard Roark. But you’ve done remarkably well. My congratulations. Now don’t you think I’m being nice to you? Every artist needs appreciation–and there’s nobody to compliment you, since nobody knows what you’re doing, but Roark and me, and he won’t thank you. On second thought, I don’t think Roark knows what you’re doing, and that spoils the fun, doesn’t it?”
She asked: “How do you know what I’m doing?”–her voice tired.
“My dear, surely you haven’t forgotten that it was I who gave you the idea in the first place?”
“Oh, yes,” she said absently. “Yes.”
“And now you know why I came here. Now you know what I meant when I spoke about my side.”
“Yes,” she said. “Of course.”
“This is a pact, my dear. An alliance. Allies never trust each other, but that doesn’t spoil their effectiveness. Our motives might be quite opposite. In fact, they are. But it doesn’t matter. The result will be the same. It is not necessary to have a noble aim in common. It is necessary only to have a common enemy. We have.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why you need me. I’ve been helpful once.”
“Yes.”
“I can hurt your Mr. Roark much better than any tea party you’ll ever give.”
“What for?”
“Omit the what-fors. I don’t inquire into yours.”
“All right.”
“Then it’s to be understood between us? We’re allies in this?”
She looked at him, she slouched forward, attentive, her face empty. Then she said: “We’re allies.”
“Fine, my dear. Now listen. Stop mentioning him in your column every other day or so. I know, you take vicious cracks at him each time, but it’s too much. You’re keeping his name in print, and you don’t want to do that. Further, you’d better invite me to those parties of yours. There are things I can do which you can’t. Another tip: Mr. Gilbert Colton–you know, the California pottery Coltons–is planning a branch factory in the east. He’s thinking of a good modernist. In fact, he’s thinking of Mr. Roark. Don’t let Roark get it. It’s a huge job–with lots of publicity. Go and invent a new tea sandwich for Mrs. Colton. Do anything you wish. But don’t let Roark get it.”
She got up, dragged her feet to a table, her arms swinging loosely, and took a cigarette. She lighted it, turned to him, and said indifferently: “You can talk very briefly and to the point–when you want to.”
“When I find it necessary.”
She stood at the window, looking out over the city. She said: “You’ve never actually done anything against Roark. I didn’t know you cared quite so much.”
“Oh, my dear. Haven’t I”