I've spoken to a few chaps who have already seen it and they all say that it's great fun with some cracking chorus girls. Do you know that Malcolm Ross, the fellow from Winchester who rowed for Oxford in the Boat Race this year-well, he went backstage with a bunch of flowers and a note for one of the girls and she accepted his invitation to dine at Carlo's Restaurant after the performance the following evening,' 'You think she sang for her supper?* I said with a grin.
'I don't honestly know, but the newspapers say the chorus line is well worth watching especially as some of the costumes are rather naughty,' said Frank with undisguised relish. 'So how about it, old boy?'
Trying hard not to sound conceited, I explained to Frank (and to Barry Jacobs who had just joined us) that I already had an invitation to meet the cast on Saturday night at a private party after the show, but that if I could smuggle my pals in, I'd let them know as soon as possible. 'Gosh, you're a fast worker, Rupert,' said Frank admiringly. Talk about being quick off the mark. If this gathering is anything like the theatrical revels I've read about in the Jenny Everleigh books, it's just as well you're playing football before and not after the party!' 'Yes, especially as I'm playing with you in the team on Saturday afternoon and Esme Dyotte is coming to watch the game. I want to be on the winning side, Rupert, so be a good chap and keep your mind off your cock and on the match until we've beaten Merton by at least six goals!' Frank shook his head in warning.
'You'll be lucky if you manage to scrape a draw, Barry. Merton plan to field four Corinthians in their line-up.' 'Gosh, we'll have a real fight on our hands,' said Barry gloomily. It jolly well serves me right for wanting to show off in front of Esme'.' 'Cheer up, old lad-at least you aren't playing in goal so she won't have to see you bending down every ten minutes to pick the ball out of the net,' said Frank, though perhaps not surprisingly these words of comfort elicited only a glare from Barry. 'I think I'll take up golf instead,' he muttered. 'At least I can only let myself down on the course. Still, I'm sure that win or lose Esme will keep to our arrangement on Sunday.
She can't see me after the match because she's going with your friend Beth Randall to see The Taming Of The Shrew at the New Theatre on Saturday night along with some other girls. But I'm planning to take her out to Standlake for luncheon on Sunday.' 'I didn't know there were any public houses serving meals on Sunday round there, though it's a pretty part of the county,' I commented. 'You're right, Rupert, there aren't any but Mr. and Mrs. Greenacre, some old friends of my parents, live there and yesterday Mr. Greenacre called and asked me to join them for lunch on Sunday. He said that I should bring a friend if I would like to, so I've asked Esme.' 'And has she accepted?' asked Frank. 'I'm waiting for her reply as I only left a message at her rooms this morning. I wrote to her after what happened at Doctor Blayers' party, and I do hope that she will come to Standlake with me. To be frank, I'm a bit worried as I went over the top a bit when I wrote to her.' 'Oh, don't worry at all about that,' I said with all the assurance of an eighteen-year-old man of the world. I don't think you can over-flatter a woman. Remember what Ovid said: Quae dant, quaeque negant, gaudent tamen esse roatae.'
'Whether they give or refuse, women are pleased to have been asked,' translated Frank and Barry's face brightened.*You think so?' he said as we stood up to greet the dons who marched their way through to the High Table. 'I wrote her a little poem,' he added as we resumed our seats.*Would you like to hear it?* 'Why not?' said Frank and as Nancy (of all people!) plonked brimming plates of oxtail soup in front of us Barry fumbled in his pocket and brought out a piece of paper and began to read his Ode to Esme: 'I care not what other men may say, The maid that suits my mind, Is the girl who meets me on the way And while she is free, she is kind. With her beauties never could I be cloyed Such pleasures I find by her side; I don't love her less because she's enjoyed By many another beside. She opens her thighs without fear or dread, And points to her dear little crack, Its lips are so red, and all overspread With hair of the glossiest black.
Reclined on her breasts or clasped in her arms, With her my best moments I spend, And revel the more in her sweet melting charms, Because they are shared with a friend.' 'A splendid effort, old chum,' I said, although I wondered how Esme would take to Barry's emphasis on the fact that Beth and I had also romped with her during that wild night at The Cat and Pigeons hotel.
Frank also congratulated the poet and Nancy whispered a 'well done' in Barry's ear as she waited for us to finish our soup. The fish course was a rather undistinguished piece of grilled cod but when this had been cleared away Nancy brought a fine roast joint of beef to the table and placed it before me to carve for the eight of us who were sitting at our table. My father had taught me to carve at an early age so I had no worries as I rose, knife and fork in hand, to make the first incision into the mouthwatering piece of beef in front of me. But as I looked up the table to the students furthest away from me and asked whether they preferred their meat rare or well-done, I was startled by what appeared to be a small hand grabbing my ankle underneath the table. I cast a glance down but could see nothing as the overhanging white tablecloth concealed all. Saying nothing except to enquire as to how the other diners wished to have their beef prepared, I manfully carried on carving as the mysterious but determined hand started to stroke first my ankle and then the upper part of my calf. I wondered whether it was Nancy playing a practical joke and looked around for her, but she was nowhere to be seen and another maid brought bowls of roast potatoes and green vegetables to our table. Now I enjoy a good joke as much as the next man but there was a time and place for this admittedly agreeable massage. However, right now I wanted to tuck in to my dinner so I simply ignored the wandering fingers which by now had reached my knees. What should I do? I had no wish to call over a steward for certainly poor Nancy would face instant dismissal without a reference.