Felix," he said. "Everybody who knew him enriches it, deepens it. He,s part of the house. It,s impossible to live there and not know Felix Nideck."
"I see," said the man in the softest voice.
The lawyers were about to attempt another intervention. Reuben raised his voice slightly.
"Why did he vanish like that?" Reuben asked. "What became of him? Why would he leave Marchent and his family the way he did?"
Arthur Hammermill immediately interrupted. "Well, all of this has been investigated," he interjected, "and actually Felix here does not have anything to add that would help us with this - ."
"Of course not," said Reuben under his breath. "I was asking him to speculate, Mr. Hammermill. I just thought he might have some sterling idea."
"I don,t mind discussing it," said the man. He reached over to his left and patted the back of Arthur,s hand.
He looked at Reuben.
"We can,t know the whole truth of it," he said. "I suspect Felix Nideck was betrayed."
" ,Betrayed,?" Reuben asked. His mind shot at once to that enigmatic inscription in the Teilhard book: We have survived this; we can survive anything. A jumble of fragmentary memories came back to him. " ,Betrayed,, " he said.
"He would never have abandoned Marchent," said the man. "He didn,t trust his nephew and his nephew,s wife to raise their children. It wasn,t his intention to drop out of their lives as he did."
Bits and snatches of conversation were coming back. Abel Nideck had not gotten along with his uncle; something about money. What was it? Abel Nideck had come into some money, right after Felix went away.
In a low rumbling voice Arthur began whispering in the man,s ear, cautioning that these were all serious questions and such, and should be discussed in another place and at another time.
The man nodded absently and dismissively. He looked again at Reuben.
"It was undoubtedly bitter for Marchent; it must have cast a shadow over her life."
"Oh, without question, it did," said Reuben. He was powerfully excited. His heart pounded like a drum, setting the pace of the conversation. "She suspected something bad had happened, not only to him but to his friends, all of his close friends."
Simon tried to interrupt.
"Sometimes it,s better not to know the whole story," the man said. "Sometimes, people should be spared the whole truth."
"You think so?" said Reuben. "Maybe you,re right. Maybe in Marchent,s case, and in the case of Felix. How can I know? But right now, I,m a guy who is craving the truth, craving answers, craving some understanding of things, an insight, any insight, a clue - ."
"These are family matters!" said Arthur Hammermill in a deep, crushing voice. "Matters in which you have no right - ."
"Please, Arthur!" said the man. "It is important for me to hear these things. Please, if you will, let us continue?"
But Reuben had come to an impasse. He wanted to leave the room, to confront this person alone somewhere no matter what the danger. Why must they go through this little drama in front of Simon and Hammermill?
"Why did you want this meeting?" he demanded suddenly. He was trembling as badly as ever. His palms were wet.
The man didn,t respond.
Oh, if only Laura were in this room. She,d know what to say, Reuben thought.
"Are you a man of honor?" Reuben asked.
The lawyers were beside themselves in a frenzy of mumbling that made Reuben think of kettledrums. That,s just what it sounded like, kettledrums at the symphony, rumbling under the music.
"Yes," said the man. He appeared utterly genuine, sincere. "If I were not a man of honor," the man suggested, "I would not be here."
"Then will you give me your word of honor you,re not offended by my dealings with your friend? That you mean me no harm on account of what happened to him, that you,ll leave me and my lady friend alone!"
"For the love of heaven!" declared Arthur Hammermill. "Are you accusing my client - ?"
"I give it," the man said. "You undoubtedly did what you had to do." He reached across the table. But he couldn,t reach Reuben,s hand. "I give it," he said again, his hand still open, helplessly.
"Yes," said Reuben, struggling to find the words, "I did what I had to do. I did what I felt driven to do. I did this - with Marrok and in other pressing matters as well."
"Yes," said the man softly. "Truly, I understand."
Reuben drew himself up in the chair. "You want Felix,s possessions?" he asked. "You can have