Портрет художника в юності

           —DidyouknowthattheForstersarethekingsofBelgium?heasked.

           Cranlycameoutthroughthedooroftheentrancehall,hishatthrustbackonthenapeofhisneckandpickinghisteethwithcare.

           Andhere’sthewiseacre,saidTemple.DoyouknowthatabouttheForsters?

           Hepausedforananswer.Cranlydislodgedafigseedfromhisteethonthepointofhisrudetoothpickandgazedatitintently

           —TheForsterfamily,Templesaid,isdescendedfromBaldwintheFirst,kingofFlanders.HewascalledtheForester.ForesterandForsterarethesamename.AdescendantofBaldwintheFirst,captainFrancisForster,settledinIrelandandmarriedthedaughterofthelastchieftainofClanbrassil.ThentherearetheBlakeForsters.That’sadifferentbranch.

           —FromBaldhead,kingofFlanders,Cranlyrepeated,rootingagaindeliberatelyathisgleaminguncoveredteeth.

           —Wheredidyoupickupallthathistory?O’Keeffeasked.

           —Iknowallthehistoryofyourfamily,too,Templesaid,turningtoStephen.DoyouknowwhatGiraldusCambrensissaysaboutyourfamily?

           —IshedescendedfromBaldwintoo?askedatallconsumptivestudentwithdarkeyes.

           —Baldhead,Cranlyrepeated,suckingatacreviceinhisteeth.

           —PERNOBILISETPERVETUSTAFAMILIA,TemplesaidtoStephen.Thestoutstudentwhostoodbelowthemonthestepsfartedbriefly.