The pool of St Branok

"He does own several of the clubs where I play."

"Oh, Gervaise, I thought you were getting better."

"Sorry," he said ruefully. "But listen. We're going to Australia. We are going to find gold. We're going to be millionaires. Then I shall shrug aside my debts because with a lordly gesture I shall pay on the nail."

"Do be sensible, Gervaise. This is a serious matter."

"Sorry again, darling. Of course it is a serious matter. But it is going to be exciting."

"What has Uncle Peter said to you?"

"He will settle my debts and pay our passage out ... with a little to spare for the time before we get started. He's writing to Benedict asking if he will meet us and help us get started, to be our sponsor and guardian angel. And we shall be leaving shortly for our adventure overseas."

"Why should Uncle Peter settle your debts?"

"It's not quite so altruistic as you might be thinking. Your uncle is an astute business man. He wants what they call collateral for his money."

"What do you mean?"

"Some sort of security which we are in a position to offer."

"What?"

"This house, of course."

"It was my parents' wedding present!"

"That does not in any way detract from its value."

"Gervaise, what have you done!"

"Nothing as yet. It's all in the air. But it is a wonderful solution. In fact it is the only solution ... or I fear that 'ere long I shall find myself languishing in prison for debt; and what chance has a poor debtor then of repaying what he owes?"

"Gervaise, you're frightening me."

"I'm frightening myself. I am seeing more and more that I have to find a way out of this trouble ... and this is it. I have to do something, Angelet."

"Some work, you mean. Yes, I have thought of that."

"This will be admirable. It will suit my temperament. Every day will be a gamble. Just imagine it ... the excitement of going into those gold-fields ... never knowing whether it is going to be The Day."

"We know nothing about it. Where shall we live?"

"Oh, there are places. The experienced and knowledgeable Benedict will show us the way. From him we will learn all we need to know. You don't seem enthusiastic, Angelet."

"It's hard to. I know nothing about it. It all seems a trifle mad to me. And you have given Uncle Peter this house in order to settle your debts. You can't do that."

"It's only on paper ... a safeguard ... for him. When we come back with all this millions of pounds' worth of nuggets ... I think that's what they call them ... we shall hand him back what we owe him and we shall have our dear little house waiting for us. But Angelet Mandeville might wish for a grander place in which to live now that she is a golden millionaire. A country mansion and a town house. I wonder if there are any castles for sale?"

"Be practical, Gervaise."

"I'll try but I'm so excited about this project. I know in my bones that it is going to be right for us."

We lay awake for a long time talking about Australia. It seemed to me a wild dream ... something that Gervaise liked to contemplate and had no roots in reality. But I was perturbed about all the debts and that he could mortgage our house in order to settle them.

I thought it might be one of those dreams with which Gervaise liked to soothe himself and that he only half believed it. But this was not so. He really had spoken to Uncle Peter. Uncle Peter himself took me on one side and said: "I think it is not such a bad idea. Gervaise is one of those people who are always going to gamble. Nothing would cure him. I'll take care of things here while you are away. If he could get himself a fortune I fancy he would not be so reckless. Young men with small incomes often try to augment them. It might be that if he were rich the urge might dimmish a little."

"Do you really think we should go to Australia?"

"I think it is not a bad idea, as I said. People are beginning to talk of Gervaise's tendency ... not for play but not to pay. A man needs a good income to live the way he does. Let him go to Australia. It might be good for him ... and it could be the making of him. I have written to Benedict. I am sure he will do all he can to help."

My parents came to London. I could see that they did not like the idea —particularly my mother. That was understandable. She would be thinking of her own visit to Australia which had ended in such a disastrous climax.

I was sure that my father would have settled Gervaise's debts rather than we should go, but I was beginning to see that that would be no real solution. Gervaise must do something for himself. If his debts were paid there would be more. I knew him now. This gambling was not merely a pastime with him; it was an obsession. It was almost like an illness; it would recur. If he did find a fortune in Australia it was just possible that that urge would diminish ... possibly be cured. I had come to the conclusion that it was something we had to try.

Grace was horrified. She said: "Think of all the hardships out there."