I sat at my desk. I first thought of what Dyer had said.
Was it possible that Vidal was taking advantage of Val under hypnotism and was having intercourse with her without her knowledge? The thought turned me hot with frustrated rage.
Could any man be so despicable? I remembered what she had told me: He is evil! He is a devil! If he was doing this evil thing, how could I protect her? Should I warn her? After more thought, I decided it would be cruel to do so without having a solution to offer. Had she not said she was no longer a free agent and was completely in his power and that his will had conquered hers? Now that I had more insight of what could be happening, it seemed to me she wouldn’t have made such an admission unless it was true.
There is nothing you can do, she had said. There is nothing anyone can do.
I refused to accept such a defeatist attitude. I was determined somehow to help her, but I did realise how dangerous it was for me to meddle with this power Vidal appeared to have. In my ignorance I could do harm as I had done in this irresponsible finger snapping episode.
First, then I told myself, I must find out more about hypnotism. I must consult an expert, but who? I thought of Dyer’s friend, Dr. Rappach. I hesitated. Doctors were not supposed to talk about their patients, yet this doctor had told Dyer about the man who had hypnotised his wife. I wouldn’t want it to get back to Dyer that I had been making inquiries. I felt sure the doctor hadn’t mentioned names. If I approached him tactfully it should be safe enough. I reached for the telephone book. There he was: Dr. Hugo Rappach, Neurologist. 1141 West Street. West Palm Beach
Not the best district to live in. West Palm Beach was the suburb of Palm Beach where the workers lived and where there was a large Harlem quarter.
I dialled his number.
‘This is Doctor Rappach.’ A thick, deep voice that gave me an impression of age.
‘My name is George Fellows, doctor,’ I said. The phony name belonged to one of the V.I.P.s for whom I had provided tickets. ‘I would like to consult you on the subject of hypnotism. Could you give me an appointment, please?’
There was a pause.
‘Have you been recommended to me, Mr. Fellows?’
‘Your name cropped up at a party I was attending. Someone said you used hypnotism sometimes on your patients.’
‘Was it someone I know?’ The voice was polite but perhaps now a little cautious.
‘I forget his name, doctor: short, thickset, balding. You know how it is at a party.’ I forced a little laugh. ‘Names come, names go.’
‘And you are interested in hypnotism. May I ask why?’
I trotted out the hairy excuse so often used.
‘I’m writing a novel, doctor, and I want my facts right. Naturally, I would pay your usual consulting fee.’
‘I am very busy, Mr. Fellows...’ A pause. We both breathed at each other over the line. ‘However, I could find time to see you if nine o’clock would be convenient.’
‘21.00, tonight?’
‘Yes’
‘That’s fine, doctor. I’ll be along.’
We both hung up.
I went back to my thinking.
Twice during our talks together Val had mentioned Trilby and Svengali. She had said: I was a Trilby to his Svengali.
Who was Trilby? Who was Svengali? Wasn’t there once a classical novel called Trilby? I had vaguely heard of it, but had never read it. Could this book give me a clue?
It was possible the Public Library would have a copy. I had to pass the Library on my way home. It shut at 20.00. I had plenty of time. I decided to get the book right away.
Then Mrs. Clements came in.
‘Ah, Mr. Burden, there you are. I was afraid you had gone. Mrs. Vidal is asking for you.’ Her hard blue eyes registered disapproval. ‘She is worrying about Mr. Vidal’s trip to Libya. She won’t sleep until you assure her there are no hitches.’
My heart gave a little bound. Val knew the schedule was tied up. This was her excuse to Mrs. Clements to see me.
I opened a drawer and took from it one of the schedules waiting completion of a visa.
‘There is one small point that Mrs. Vidal was attending to herself. I would be glad of the opportunity to get it settled.’
‘If you will come with me.’
As we walked along the corridor, she said, ‘Please don’t stay long. She should be resting.’
‘It’ll take a very few minutes.’
She paused at the door at the far end of the passage, tapped, opened the door and stood aside for me to enter.
‘Mr. Burden,’ she said and left, closing the door quietly after her.
Val lay in the big double bed. The shades were drawn against the evening sun. The room was cool and luxuriously furnished.
I was shocked to see how white she was: her dark eyes pools of fear and anxiety.
She held out her hand to me. I went to her, longing to take her in my arms. Her hand felt dry and cold.
‘How are you my darling?’ I asked, keeping my voice low.
‘I’m so glad you have come.’ She motioned me to sit on the bed. She kept hold of my hand. ‘What happened? I remember being at my desk and then finding myself in bed. What happened?’
So Dyer hadn’t lied to me. He had said she remembered nothing when she came out of the trance. Should I tell her?
Looking at her, fearful white and feeling her trembling. I decided not to.
‘I don’t know, Val. I wasn’t looking at you. I heard you fall. You must have fainted.’
‘No! I’ve never fainted in my life!’ Her grip on my hand tightened. ‘It has happened to me before. I have been reading in the living room, then suddenly I find myself in bed.’ She shivered. ‘I checked the time. There was a blank space of over an hour! It has happened eight times!’ She looked at me. The fear in her eyes chilled me. ‘He is responsible! I know he is!’
I was now convinced that he was. I now believed everything she had told me. This wasn’t hysteria. I was sure she was under the influence of this man.
‘I’m going to do everything I can to help you,’ I said. ‘You’re no longer alone, Val. You have me.’
She pressed her hands to her head in a gesture of despair. ‘There is nothing you can do. He has won the battle!’
‘There is something I can do and I’m going to do it!’
She looked up at me, her expression made my heart contract.
‘Forget me Clay. How are you getting on? Have you replaced me already?’
‘I have a girl who is doing the typing. I had to get her. It is the only way I can stay close to you.’
‘Is she as efficient as I used to be?’ She bit back a sob. ‘I’m no longer efficient, no longer good for anything... he has destroyed me.’
I heard footsteps. Hurriedly I stood up and moved away from the bed. A tap came on the door and Mrs. Clements came in.
‘It is time for Mrs. Vidal’s tranquilliser, Mr. Burden.’
‘I’m just going.’ To Val, I said, ‘There is nothing to worry about now, Mrs. Vidal. I’ll take care of it.’
‘Thank you.’
As I walked down the corridor and down the stairs, the picture of her despair tormented me.
‘Trust me, trust me,’ I kept saying to myself. ‘Val, darling, somehow I will help you.’
It took me only ten minutes to reach the Public Library.
The time now was 19:13. The librarian smiled at me as I approached.
‘Hello, Mr. Burden. Are you still interested in hypnotism?’
‘You have a good memory.’ I paused in front of her desk.
‘It’s not bad. Won’t you sit down?’
I glanced around the big library as I sat down. There were only a few students at the reading desks.
‘Am I right in thinking there is a book called Trilby... an old classic?’ I asked.