Temporary Kings - Anthony Powell [16]
‘My wife loves travel,’ said Widmerpool. ‘She likes seeing how other people live.’
No convincing answer had been offered to the question why she did not leave him for one of her many, if soon disillusioned lovers; nor why Widmerpool himself never chose his moment to divorce her. For some reason the status quo seemed to suit both. Trapnel, alleging the Widmerpool marriage to exclude sexual relationship (scarcely even tried out), had also spoken in a few tortured sentences of the frustration, agony, alienation, inspired in himself – though he loved her – by Pamela’s blend of frigidity with insatiable desire. People who went in for more precise ascriptions m such matters, especially far-fetched or eccentric ones, explained this matrimonial paradox by the theory that Widmerpool actually took pleasure in his wife’s infidelities, derived masochistic satisfaction, at the very least felt flattered, by the agitation she inspired. Pamela too, so these amateurs of psychology concluded, on her own side luxuriated no less in enjoyment of a recurrent thrill at being unfaithful. Another husband, less tolerant, could prove less satisfactory. Such hypotheses, if not widely accepted, remained comparatively unchallenged by more convincing speculation. At least they attempted to make sense of an otherwise inexplicable situation. They even offered a dim outline of a genuine, if macabre, bond of union; one very different from Trapnel’s enslavement. Even Dicky Umfraville’s comment had a certain force.
‘Anyway they’ve remained married. Took me five attempts, even if I placed the right bet in the end.’
Loss of his seat in the Commons did not prevent Widmerpool from remaining a fairly prominent figure in public affairs, though there was some surprise when (a few weeks before the Conference opened in Venice) he was created a Life Peer. This advancement, proceeding through the medium of a Conservative Government, must undoubtedly have been conferred after consultation with Labour sources of authority, then in Opposition. Roddy Cutts, who held a minor post in the Tory administration, agreed that Widmerpool’s elevation to the Lords had aroused adverse comment on both sides of the House. At the same time, Cutts was sure the recommendation must have been cleared with the Leader of the Opposition, in spite of his reputed dislike for Widmerpool himself. Cutts was inclined to dismiss talk, such as Bagshaw’s, of Widmerpool’s fellow-travelling.
‘After all, if you’re on the Left, you have to take a Leftward line in public. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a Communist. Widmerpool may have had leanings in that direction once – certainly his own side thought so – but after all he’s not the only one. Personally I’m inclined to think all that’s over and done with. There was a story about his being mixed up with Maclean and Burgess. I can’t remember which. It was even said he lent a hand in tipping them off. Somebody did, but I’m sure it wasn’t Widmerpool. Besides, I don’t believe the man’s a bugger for a moment. Labour peers had to be created. It wasn’t at all easy to settle on suitable names. Not everyone wants to be kicked upstairs to the Lords. Widmerpool lost his seat. He’d made himself very useful on the financial side at one time or another, no matter what the talk about fellow-travelling. Yes, I mean contribution to Party funds. Why not? The money’s got to come from somewhere. Probably undisclosed inner workings of the Labour Party machine played a role too. Patronage? Might be. These things happen. No different to ourselves in that respect. A political party has to be operated. The PM would never have gone over Hugh’s head. When Widmerpool arrived in the House I found him abrasive about marginal issues. Latterly we’ve got on pretty well. We may be opponents, that’s no reason why one should doubt his sincerity. What is true – probably played a part in the peerage – is the active manner Widmerpool’s promoted East/West trade, naturally a sphere where some community of political thought, anyway outward acceptance of the other fellow’s point of view, is likely to oil the wheels. Whatever he did in that direction had, of course, the blessing of the Board of Trade. He must have made a packet too. Do you ever drink that wine from round the Black Sea? We don