Tom Murphy Chapter 18

The next morning, I was busy running errands for the Mayor at the Council Chambers and was astonished when Gustav arrived. He was attired in his new clothes and looked very elegant and mature. We almost collided in the foyer. I noticed the staff and visitors were scrutinising him as if they had never before seen so dark and mysterious a stranger.

I nodded stiffly and importantly to him above my armful of brown folders. He acknowledged me grandly. I was instantly reminded of a movie. The foreign Princely visitor twirled his silver cane and the footman bowed to the ground. This visitor to the Council Chambers didn't have two sixpences to rub together.

I have come to see the Mayor, said Gustav.

You will have to make an appointment with his secretary, I interposed.

Gustav impatiently shrugged his shoulders and puffed up his chest.

I haven't time. Go and tell him now that Gustav Rosenblum, son of the late Herr Martin Rosenblum a deputy of the Reichstag of the German Republic and of Doctor Frau Rosa Rosenblum, wishes to see him.

I hurried back to the Mayor's office. I knew the Mayor well enough to know those resounding titles would excite him. By the time I got through his door all my words after Gustav Rosenblum were a muddle and confusion. I also suddenly remembered Gustav's infamous letter to Vicky McLean.

But the Mayor seated alone at his desk gave his leonine smile.

Yes indeed Tom, show him in.

It appeared that those in the know had kept the identity of Vicky's mysterious suitor from her father.

I raced back down the corridor and gestured to Gustav. I thought I glimpsed a surprised look on Gustav's face. If so, it instantly reverted to its haughty look. He straightened up again and walked leisurely to the mayoral office. My satisfaction grew more when the Mayor greeted Gustav at the door and ushered him to a chair. I remained standing uncertainly at the door.

The Mayor was beaming and rubbing his hands as if the Duke of York had just entered his sanctuary. He sat down in the mayoral chair.

Herr Rosenblum, I have waited so long for a Rosenblum to grace this office. Now that you have done so, what can I do for you?

Calling Gustav Herr I knew would put my friend at ease. No one had used Mister for me. This was new even for Gustav. Gustav sat back in the chair and an old and a young lion faced down each other. I stayed determinedly quiet in my business of gathering the town's secrets.

At last, Gustav shifted his eyes from the mayoral glare.

Mr Mayor, my family is now destitute and we need financial aid.

The Mayor's demeanour transformed. His smile vanished. He leaned forward and waved his hand as if he was swatting a fly.

Such a bald request is most unexpected. Most pleaders for money take an afternoon to get to it.

Gustav shrugged his shoulders again. I struggled not to smile.

Mr Mayor, why haggle about it like tradesmen? We have no money. You are responsible for the welfare of the people of this city and you have plenty.

To my mortification, the Mayor started his most condescending laugh.

You have a lot to learn about the world. You can't demand money because you have none and the other fellow has it. If the world worked like that, we would all still be chimpanzees picking fleas off each other. In the worst of times, you people always have money secreted away somewhere. You should be soft touching them, they'll see you right.

Gustav flushed furiously. I could see that he was desperate because he controlled himself. He swallowed and spoke again.

Mr Mayor, my family lost its entire fortune in Germany. Those that you call our people are too desperately saving themselves to consider our situation. You are all we have left.

The Mayor cleared his throat.

I have a discreet mayoral fund to give a helping hand to city residents in distress. The money is my own private charity. So the amounts are calculated to a pound here a pound there. Maybe, if you demonstrated to me self help, I could provide a small temporary succour.
Maybe, – at this moment the Mayor looked at Gustav hard – you could use your talents to get a job.

I shuddered. I could see by the astonished look of Gustav that he had never thought of that. Gustav recollected his sanguine self.

Mr Mayor, there are no opportunities in your city for my talents. There is only one place that would allow my talents to flourish and benefit mankind – New York.

Gustav's voice choked with emotion at that magic name. The Mayor's mouth dropped. When he recovered, he spluttered.

New York. My boy, if you can't succeed in this city, how are you going to succeed in that metropolis?

Gustav looked at the Mayor with complete contempt.

Mr Mayor, this is a worthy town for butcher boys, New York is the beacon for the geniuses of the world. When New Yorkers see talent, in a week it is a shooting star. Lend my family the money to go to New York, and in five years your benevolence will be applauded all over the world. What quicker cheaper way to bring fame to your city, and we will pay it back.

The Mayor seemed almost to choke. I knew that Gustav had perhaps unwittingly touched on his weak spot.

You have extraordinary confidence in your talents and prospects,
said the Mayor.
There is nothing yet in your life to encourage that confidence. I think you have a lot to learn. But I make allowance for your youth. You remind me of myself at your age. I too shot for the stars and got to the moon.
You will find out that it is not confidence in your own genius that gets you success. There is no longer in the world undiscovered diamond mines. Perhaps you could go into politics, but Anglo-Saxons pay no attention to foreigners, and in your native land the present Chancellor seems to have pre-empted you.
The key, my boy, is education. A wise old teacher taught me that. He had to thrash me to get rid of my headstrong attitudes. That is where I might be able to help you and your family.

Several visitors and staff had now knocked on the mayoral door.

Gustav and Tom, I invite you to a meal at the Cosmopolitan Club at seven p.m. this Friday. As I suspect you are both penniless, I will pay for the meal.

The Mayor picked up a fountain pen and scribbled inside a memo book. Gustav and I murmured our assent. Gustav augustly shook hands again with the Mayor and departed out the door.

At the end of the day as I was leaving for home, the Mayor accosted me.

Gustav like you is a little fool, no wonder you stick together like housebreakers. The difference is his foolishness shoots the stars, yours, my boy, will always sink you into mud and duck ponds.

I smiled wanly. I thought his words were tactless as I had indeed been a housebreaker and sunk in a duck pond. Ever since that night, the Mayor had been brusque with me.
When I had seen him in his office the morning after the housebreaking, I had feared for my job.

I took out my payment out of your pocket, Sir, I said coolly.

The Mayor gave to me a very dirty look.

I gave back a look of such innocence that I felt I had fooled him. My innocent look I had cultivated all my life as a fag‑end in a worker's family and now an employee of a man I knew to be two‑faced. Maybe I fooled him at that time. But over the following days, he was twitchy and ill at ease with me. I reasoned that I had now even less chance to lose my job if I kept the town's greatest secret hidden away.

Then I sinkingly remembered that I had told Gustav.