New York - The Novel

for a book on Greece and Rome. Young Charlie was looking happy, his father hadshown himself to be friendly and interesting, and even his hostess, about whose feelings he was a little uncertain, was listening with every show of interest. It seemed to Keller that he was among friends. After a slight pause, he decided it would be pleasant to share a confidence with them.
    “Between ourselves,” he told them, “there’s a chance I might be going to England next year. To Oxford.”
    “Oh,” said Charlie, looking rather disappointed.
    “I heard things were awfully quiet there,” said William Master.
    “That’s just the point,” Keller said. “So many of the Oxford undergraduates and faculty are away fighting in the war that the place is half empty. I could live in one of the colleges as a visiting fellow for a year, do a little teaching, and work on my book. I’d also have the chance to make myself known there. I might even get a permanent fellowship.”
    “How did this arise?” William asked.
    “Through Elihu Pusey,” said Keller. “Perhaps you know him?” They didn’t. “Well, he’s a rich old gentleman here in New York, and a notable scholar. I met him through some research I’m doing. He has connections with two Oxford colleges, Trinity and Merton, and he’s going to put in a good word with them both on my account.”
    “How fortunate,” Rose murmured.
    “The only thing that would hold me back is my father. He’s getting so frail that I don’t like to leave him. But he insists I should go, and he’s offered to finance the whole thing.”
    “Selfishly, I hope you stay here,” said Charlie.
    “Don’t repeat what I’ve told you, please,” said Keller.
    “Of course not,” said Rose.
    The thought of Edmund Keller being removed from Columbia for the rest of Charlie’s time there was certainly most attractive to Rose. But with all her social connections she couldn’t quite see what she could do to make it come about. If Elihu Pusey meant to recommend him to people he knew, well and good, but she had no means of influencing an Oxford college.
    She’d almost put the business out of her mind, therefore, when just a week later, at a gathering to support the New York Public Library, she saw that Mr. Pusey was also one of the guests, and asked to be introduced to him.
    He was a distinguished-looking old gentleman. It didn’t take her longto steer the conversation to Columbia University, to mention that her son was there, and that she knew Mr. Nicholas Murray Butler.
    “I know Butler, of course,” he said politely, though she didn’t detect any great warmth in the statement.
    “There’s a lecturer my son likes very much named Edmund Keller. I wonder if you have ever met him.”
    “Edmund Keller?” Now Elihu Pusey brightened visibly. “I certainly know him. A historian of great promise. In fact…” He seemed to be about to say something, and then to have changed his mind.
    “He was at my house for dinner the other day,” she said, pausing for a reaction. “He and my husband share an enthusiasm for Rolls-Royce motor cars,” she continued gently. “Mr. Keller is quite an Anglophile.”
    “Ah.” Elihu Pusey looked at her sharply. He paused a moment. “Do you know him well?”
    “Not especially well, but I know a lot about him. My husband’s grandparents, Frank and Hetty Master, were great supporters of his father, the photographer, in his early days.”
    “I see. Master.” She could see him calling to mind what he knew about the name. “Then you are the Mrs. Master who lives just off Fifth Avenue? I have heard of your dinner parties.”
    “I’m so glad. Could I persuade you to come to one of them?”
    “Most certainly.” He brightened again. Whether it was the prospect of dinner, or more probably that he knew of her reputation for sound, conservative opinions, Elihu Pusey seemed to be ready to divulge more of whatever was on his mind. “Perhaps,” he said quietly, “you could give me your opinion on a rather sensitive matter. In confidence, that is.”
    “People in my position know the value of discretion, Mr. Pusey.”
    “Quite. The fact is that I was going to write a letter for young Keller, a recommendation.”
    “I see.”
    “But before doing so, I thought I should make one or two further inquiries. His family is German, I understand. German-speaking, even. And I wondered whether, in the present circumstances …”
    She could guess exactly what Elihu Pusey