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It’s not about the dog it’s about him, when did he leave

It must be about ten months ago, yes ten months ago from now or next month about ten months I’d say at half past six on a Monday, I was coming out of my room and going past his and what do I see the door open everything upside down drawers and cupboards all open, I went in and looked around nothing left where the suitcases were on the basin nothing left, I went downstairs and what did I see the front door wide open, I went into the kitchen nothing not a word a note, I went back upstairs knocked at my gentlemen’s door and told them he’d gone they wouldn’t believe me, they slipped on their dressing-gowns and came to see for themselves that right through the house he’d left nothing of his behind, but he’d taken nothing gone off with his personal belongings and that’s just what they did say straightaway, but what I must say that is that they did say straightaway, but what I must say is that they didn’t say anything special they never seemed specially upset about it, they almost seemed to find it natural and that I mean to say that gave me a big of a turn after all ten years of loyal service I mean ten years

Was he in service there too

In service I wouldn’t say he was in service, not a servant but on the whole it came to the same thing, a secretary who did everything fixed everything made all the arrangements for traveling invitations orders bills friends all those little chores, to start with I thought he was someone like me who does what he can to earn his living, I tried I tried to talk to him find out the why and wherefore something about him but not for long not for long I soon had to admit it’s no good, the cold type if you see what I mean, secretary yes everyone had to pass through him he did the work of a dozen people at least but no talking, I used to wonder what on earth can he do his day off on Tuesdays when he never came out of his room, what on earth can he do never a soul to visit him not one friend I never knew of a single one, I’d like to have known just have a chat but nothing doing and in the end you get used to it you get used to it, but there were things he must have known because people who shut themselves up like that on Tuesdays they don’t need a chat that’s what I always told myself, they know enough already perhaps they’re tired and that’s why I just put up with it I thought oh leave him be and it’s understandable, and yet when you think of it he might have noticed I didn’t know what to do with myself on Wednesdays my day off, he might have noticed and said the odd word to me now and again, no always busy in a hurry you’d think he did it on purpose I mean anyone who didn’t know, never looking at anyone coming and going yes on purpose and that’s something I don’t understand instead of taking advantage of a minute’s break between two appointments, not even a smile who couldn’t stand even the sight of a fly in the house I was the one who had to chase after them, just to show you how it all went a bit too far

Did he stay with your gentlemen the days they entertained

Did he stay with my gentlemen how can I know if he stayed, you mean with my gentlemen and their guests I’ve no idea, when my work was finished I used to go out or up to my room because when they had company there was no question of my waiting on them and I didn’t complain I’m not curious by nature, they could have entertained the Pope I wouldn’t have known, when my work was finished I used to go out or up to my room noise doesn’t bother me I’m deaf as a post you know that as well as I do, these notes with your questions on, well and then the noise no I used to sleep or I’d go out they could have entertained anyone, what I do know is that he saw everything I’d see him on the phone, I’d see him run and give orders to the other servant they had plenty to do all day getting everything ready I’d do what I had to do and then I’d go out or off to bed, if I’d had to wait on them in the evenings as well I’d never have gone to bed, it was nearly every evening or every other evening if it was one of their good weeks, when I say god I’m not thinking of myself it made no difference to me but of them running all over the place not to mention getting ready for their tips, because that well that was quite a business and preparations would start a week in advance and it wasn’t just two people going away sometimes it was ten or twelve, and the whole mob would meet first at our place you can guess the work, I’m not talking about mine it made no difference to me once I’d finished I’d go out or off to bed

You say there was another servant

Better if I hadn’t mentioned him, not interesting and no more chatty than the others never a word from him either, we should have got on together after all working for the same folk eating together always run off our feet together, but no nothing it was as much as he could do not to tread on my corns and even if he had and knocked me about I think I’d rather have had that than the silence it’s true, I wasn’t made for a graveyard like that as a young man I was full of life didn’t have to ask me twice to tell a good story I knew some I knew some, but now I can hardly remember any so you see the others didn’t do me much good, the flunkey I used to call him the flunkey and that put him against me he’d keep his lips pursed in a vicious circle, for two pins I’d have had a word with my gentlemen but knowing them it wasn’t worth it they’d have sent me packing, besides they preferred the other chap always fussing round them he’s the one you ought to interrogate but where is he now, it’s no wonder if he hasn’t joined the other one a couple of blighters like that could be up to anything they ought to get on together, they got on well enough anyway nattering in corners and how could the flunkey have stayed on without someone to chat to, you need a make-up like mine to make-do with things as they were