Christophe replied, to Jan's great surprise; 'I would
wish for a pair of Eusebe's sandals.9
'Comment!5 exclaimed Jan, feeling dashed and
cross, 'I thought you would at least want a house like
the mayor's that has a big garden with pale blue
vases, and a terrace with yellow tiles and a vine/
'I do not care for pale blue vases/ said Christophe.
'Well, perhaps a fine horse to ride . . .* persisted
Jan. 'A fine horse that resembles the one in that book
the Cure lent me about crusaders.5 For he longed that
his cousin should express a desire for some gift that
would cost a great deal of money. 'But yes/ he went
on dictatorially, cyou would certainly ask me to give
you a fine horse.3
'I would not. I would ask for a pair of sandals —
I have wanted a pair for a very long time.' And
indeed it was true, although until now this craving of
Christophers had gone unsuspected.
Jan frowned: 'Pou,5 he remarked with annoyance,
'they are cheap, common things, my mother says so;
and besides, they are pagan, my mother says — except
of course, when they are worn by the friars; when the
friars wear sandals they make them Christian. I
insist that you ask me for something else. If you do not
like the house of our mayor I might be able to give you
a palace; or perhaps a great ship, as you so much
love the sea, or. . . .' he paused and started to rack his
brain, 'or a sword in a jewelled scabbard,5 he finished.
Christophe sighed. 'But I do not want any of those
things,5 and that sigh had in it a suggestion of
impatience.
Now by all the laws governing courteous behaviour,
Christophe should not have continued so stubborn;
but then neither should Jan have flown into a rage
merely because of his great disappointment — and
yet so it was:
'Imbecile!5 he exploded. 'And not only are you
i 129