Snatched by Bill James Page B

“mucking through”, but we recognize it, understand it. Your museums are not fortresses. Perhaps they are the better for that.’
    Lepage thought Simberdy looked very tense, compared with the visitors. ‘We’re extremely grateful for your attitude to the theft,’ Simberdy said. ‘I’ll be frank, we—’
    â€˜Something else to admire in the British – their frankness,’ Kanda cried delightedly. ‘Even bluffness at times. It is still appealing. An all-consuming contempt for duplicity.’
    â€˜True,’ Simberdy replied, his voice still strained and nervous. ‘Yes, above all, one loathes duplicity. But, you see, the Director and I did fear that publicity associated with the incident might mean the Hulliborn stood no further chance of hosting the medical and surgery exhibition, because you would report that the relics could not be safe here. And the exhibition is crucial to us.’
    â€˜To, as it were, the
health
of the Hulliborn,’ Kanda said with a chortle. ‘A medical exhibition equals health!’
    â€˜The exhibition is vital in the long-run to the safeguarding of scholarship and learning in our country: the Hulliborn is a symbol, a paradigm,’ Simberdy said.
    â€˜A very worthwhile paradigm, a very grand symbol,’ Dr Itagaki cried.
    Kanda laughed in a style loaded with large-minded tolerance: ‘Absolutely no danger to the Hulliborn’s prospects as recipients of JASS. As Dr Itagaki and I understand matters – though, of course, this is mere hearsay – but as we understand things, the “Fatman” goes only for the best – hence the Hulliborn and the El Grecos and the Monet. One could say, I venture, though a little wryly, perhaps, that, if anything, it is possibly a privilege to receive the attention of him and his people: a jolly testament to excellence, albeit a bruising testament. Oh, no, rest assured that his activities here will not count crucially against the Hulliborn, in this regard.’
    â€˜A way with a rounded phrase, hasn’t he?’ Itagaki said.
    â€˜Oh, forbear your mucking bile and envy, will you?’ Kanda replied.
    Lepage thought both scholars must have been in Britain for quite a while. They seemed to have picked up some of that Western brusqueness, even belligerence, and now and then lost at least a little of that celebrated Japanese politeness.
    â€˜From the published plans of the Hulliborn buildings, we have been able to study its facilities very thoroughly, which are excellent, and we know all about its history since the founding by Lord Hulliborn of Nadle-and-Colm in the 1830s,’ Kanda said, ‘Sir Eric Butler-Minton, previous Director, of course, was a great friend of museums in our country. I have wondered whether his sobriquet,
“
Flounce”, indicated a liking for frills and transvestitism, though this would be of no great significance.’
    â€˜I’m surprised you know the word “flounce”,’ Lepage said.
    â€˜Oh, we have our flouncers, too. Think of all the snorting and pirouetting in that film,
The Seven Samurai
.
Anyway, Butler-Minton’s foibles are hardly a museums-policy concern! His wife, now widow, Lady Butler-Minton, we admire, too. She has borne matters with splendid phlegm, oh, definitely, splendidly redoubtable phlegm. The Hulliborn has a wonderful reputation for scholarship through Sir Eric and many others, including your good selves, of course – certainly your good selves. It is regarded by my Council and, yes, Government, as an honour that you wish to provide a setting for our little exhibition.’
    â€˜Little exhibition!’ Simberdy said.
    Itagaki smiled. ‘I’d say it was not inappropriate to ask at this juncture whether the “Fatman” or any other thieves would be interested in running off with some very old Yayoi or possibly Jomon tonsil-removers. Correct me if I’m awry, do, but I