murmured.
“Mr. Barnum’s set to have him lead a band on the balcony,” William added.
“Well,” said Edie, regaining her composure. She addressed the assembled group. “How do you all like the new museum?”
“I like it just fine,” said William, taking out his watch andchecking the time. “We had a record number of visitors yesterday, and it’s going to just keep getting better.”
“Have some wine, Emile.” Edie poured them both a glass, and raised hers. “To the Happy Family.”
A wind flicked the red and blue flags on their poles and set the rooftop trees rustling. A hat flew into the air and a group of children chased it until it sailed beyond the edge of the museum. Another surge lifted the corner of the tablecloth, upsetting two wineglasses and blowing Guillaudeu’s napkin off his lap and away. They waited for Barnum, but Barnum did not appear.
Six
“I’m surprised Mr. Willoughby is still in New York,” Edie whispered to Guillaudeu. After the meal they had left the others, and they now strolled along the promenade. A high railing protected museum visitors from vertigo. It was pleasant, Guillaudeu admitted; though windy and unusually cold, March was proving to be particularly bright.
“I thought he’d left town after what happened. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Like what? I’ve never heard his name before.”
“Oh, you’ve never heard of anyone, Emile. Thomas Willoughby’s a brilliant musician! Celebrated in London and Vienna. Solo performances every week at Mason Hall. I was there with Rosemary Timm. You remember her, don’t you? Mr. Willoughby had been praised in all the papers as a phenomenon not to be missed. Well, we just happened to go to the performance during which he became …
unhinged
, as they said in the papers.”
“That makes it sound as if his skull opened up like a treasure chest.”
“He was finishing Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Number Thirty-one and positively
soaring
, Emile. When all at once he leapt to his feet. His stool toppled and slid across the stage. At first we thought that in his fervor he had transported himself somewhere far away from Mason Hall and the movement of his body had separated from the music. Perhaps that was thecase. I don’t know. He continued to play for a few moments, and we could see he was staring into the piano’s innards some feet in front of him. And then he climbed right over the keyboard and up into the piano.”
“You’re joking.” Guillaudeu looked back to the table where Thomas Willoughby huddled alone with a glass of wine.
“His left knee hit the lowest notes and his right shoe hit the highest. The audience! You should have heard us gasp. Then he was plucking the strings inside the piano with his rump in the air!” Edie laughed, covering her mouth. “It was spectacular, Emile. Two men rushed in from offstage and picked him up by the waistband.”
“Did he resist?”
“Not exactly. But he was fixated on the instrument the whole time, his arms stretched out, playing the air, until he disappeared from view. Needless to say, we gave him a standing ovation. All his scheduled performances were canceled after that. He disappeared —”
“Until now.” Guillaudeu finished.
“Barnum must have hired him for the publicity his reputation would bring.”
“And here we are, playing his game.” They stopped by the railing.
Guillaudeu peered down at the people far below. He noted myriad worlds brushing past one another, and the randomness of it made him ill.
Looking away, Guillaudeu snapped open his watch.
“I think he’s crazy,” Edie murmured. “But even if he is, he’s not dangerous. I’m certain of that. Just look at him. Why don’t you invite him down with you, Emile. I want to stay up here, but I can see you’re ready to return to your office.”
Edie let go of his arm and straightened the collar of his shirt. He observed sadness in her eyes, but to acknowledge it would make it worse and
“Mr. Barnum’s set to have him lead a band on the balcony,” William added.
“Well,” said Edie, regaining her composure. She addressed the assembled group. “How do you all like the new museum?”
“I like it just fine,” said William, taking out his watch andchecking the time. “We had a record number of visitors yesterday, and it’s going to just keep getting better.”
“Have some wine, Emile.” Edie poured them both a glass, and raised hers. “To the Happy Family.”
A wind flicked the red and blue flags on their poles and set the rooftop trees rustling. A hat flew into the air and a group of children chased it until it sailed beyond the edge of the museum. Another surge lifted the corner of the tablecloth, upsetting two wineglasses and blowing Guillaudeu’s napkin off his lap and away. They waited for Barnum, but Barnum did not appear.
Six
“I’m surprised Mr. Willoughby is still in New York,” Edie whispered to Guillaudeu. After the meal they had left the others, and they now strolled along the promenade. A high railing protected museum visitors from vertigo. It was pleasant, Guillaudeu admitted; though windy and unusually cold, March was proving to be particularly bright.
“I thought he’d left town after what happened. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Like what? I’ve never heard his name before.”
“Oh, you’ve never heard of anyone, Emile. Thomas Willoughby’s a brilliant musician! Celebrated in London and Vienna. Solo performances every week at Mason Hall. I was there with Rosemary Timm. You remember her, don’t you? Mr. Willoughby had been praised in all the papers as a phenomenon not to be missed. Well, we just happened to go to the performance during which he became …
unhinged
, as they said in the papers.”
“That makes it sound as if his skull opened up like a treasure chest.”
“He was finishing Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Number Thirty-one and positively
soaring
, Emile. When all at once he leapt to his feet. His stool toppled and slid across the stage. At first we thought that in his fervor he had transported himself somewhere far away from Mason Hall and the movement of his body had separated from the music. Perhaps that was thecase. I don’t know. He continued to play for a few moments, and we could see he was staring into the piano’s innards some feet in front of him. And then he climbed right over the keyboard and up into the piano.”
“You’re joking.” Guillaudeu looked back to the table where Thomas Willoughby huddled alone with a glass of wine.
“His left knee hit the lowest notes and his right shoe hit the highest. The audience! You should have heard us gasp. Then he was plucking the strings inside the piano with his rump in the air!” Edie laughed, covering her mouth. “It was spectacular, Emile. Two men rushed in from offstage and picked him up by the waistband.”
“Did he resist?”
“Not exactly. But he was fixated on the instrument the whole time, his arms stretched out, playing the air, until he disappeared from view. Needless to say, we gave him a standing ovation. All his scheduled performances were canceled after that. He disappeared —”
“Until now.” Guillaudeu finished.
“Barnum must have hired him for the publicity his reputation would bring.”
“And here we are, playing his game.” They stopped by the railing.
Guillaudeu peered down at the people far below. He noted myriad worlds brushing past one another, and the randomness of it made him ill.
Looking away, Guillaudeu snapped open his watch.
“I think he’s crazy,” Edie murmured. “But even if he is, he’s not dangerous. I’m certain of that. Just look at him. Why don’t you invite him down with you, Emile. I want to stay up here, but I can see you’re ready to return to your office.”
Edie let go of his arm and straightened the collar of his shirt. He observed sadness in her eyes, but to acknowledge it would make it worse and
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