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The pool of St Branok

We were lovers in truth and I was happy through this new relationship with this wonderful husband of mine. I felt I had laid my ghost to rest. That incident had receded far into the past. It was no longer a shadow over my life.

So I was happy.

There came a day when we went into the town. The atmosphere down there was quite different. There were several big hotels, a promenade along which the fashionable strolled; outside the cafes were tables under brightly colored awnings; people sat there sipping their aperitifs.

The sun shone on the water making it look as though it were sprinkled with diamonds. Gervaise told me that it was one of the most fashionable resorts, and visitors were predominantly English.

We took our place outside the Cafe Pomme d'Or. I sipped my aperitif trying to look as though I were quite accustomed to such sophistication and that this was not all new and wonderful to me.

"The Golden Apple," I said. "I wonder why they call it that."

"There are golden apples all over the world," said Gervaise, "ever since someone gave one to somebody."

"It was Paris. I think he had to choose the most beautiful woman and he gave it to Aphrodite. There were two other contestants."

"He couldn't have been very popular with those two."

"Poor man. What could he do? He had to make a choice."

"It was rather foolish of him to get himself into such a situation."

"Apples seem to be a popular fruit in those classical legends. I believe they grew them in the Garden of the Hesperides, too."

"You would need rather a big nugget to make it into an apple. I wonder if your friend Ben has found any of that size."

"I don't think he can have done so. We should have heard if he had."

It was wonderful. I could speak of Ben easily and naturally without feeling that shiver of apprehension ... that dreaded memory coming back to me.

"I suppose the owners of these places like to remind people of these things. Perhaps the Golden Apple suggests that all the ladies who come here are as beautiful as Aphrodite and the men as handsome as Paris. After all, where you come from legends are just everyday gossip."

I thought of the knackers who had mined gold in the tin mine; and I remembered how long ago Ben and I had lain on the moor and I had told him the story.

It was comforting to be able to look back on that without fear of remembering beyond it. Gervaise had done that for me.

Afterwards we strolled along the promenade. We came to a round building with gardens in front in which bloomed the exotic flowers to which I was accustomed.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"It is a casino."

"Oh?" I replied. "That is where they gamble."

"Shall we take a look inside?"

"May we?"

"Of course."

It was quite fun at the time. I should have remembered the warnings.

There were a great number of people there. We walked round. They were playing games I did not understand.

I stood for a moment with Gervaise watching the wheel spinning round on the big table. I noticed the strained eager faces and how those people kept their eyes on the numbers all the time.

Then the wheel stopped and the croupier's stick pulled in the chips.

It was all a mystery to me but I was aware of Gervaise's growing excitement.

"Shall we go?" I said.

"Just a moment. I'd like to try my luck. Sit down. I won't be long."

He left me there. I waited. What a long time it seemed! I watched the people. They talked excitedly. Some were elated. Some melancholy. There was an atmosphere here which I had never been aware of anywhere else. It was a sort of feverish excitement.

I hoped Gervaise would not be long.

It seemed to me that I waited a very long time; when he came to me he was flushed; his eyes were brilliant; he was elated.

"I've won," he cried. "My luck was in."

He showed me a handful of money.

"At first it went wrong," he said. "I lost three times running. I was almost cleaned out ... then it started to change. I'd have gone on and on making us millionaires if I hadn't thought of you sitting here ... waiting. So I came away."

"I'm glad you did. It seemed so long."

"I was afraid it would. You don't notice the time when you are at the tables, you know."

"No, I suppose not. Shall we go now?"

It seemed to me that he left reluctantly; but as soon as we were out in the fresh air his spirits revived.

"I'll tell you what I am going to do," he said. "I am going to buy a present for someone."

"For whom?"

"For Mrs. Gervaise Mandeville, of course."

"Oh no. Let's keep the money."

"Money is not for keeping."

"Isn't it? I had always thought it was."

"That is where you have to learn. It's for giving presents ... making people happy."

"I'm just as happy without a present."