Schmidt Delivered - Louis Begley - Hardcover - 1 ED

Yes, it's Schmidtie here. Hello hello. Yes, this is Schmidtie speaking. He had knocked the telephone off his night table and was groping under the bed for the receiver. People shouldn't be calling a retired gent before nine. Or was this some sort of bad news? Charlotte! I hope this is not an inconvenient time. The speaker's voice was agreeably deep, with a mystifying rough intonation at the edge. You don't remember me. Terribly sorry, I'm not good at recognizing voices. Look, there's no reason you should remember me, though people usually do remember my voice. I'm Michael Mansour. That's right, in this country I pronounce "Man-sower," not "Man-soor." Anything to make it easy for the natives. We met yesterday, at the Blackmans' party. You know who I am? Now Schmidt had his bearings. Of course, the billionaire investor who backs Gil's films. Egyptian, or something, but lodged firmly toward the top of Forbes magazine's list of the richest tycoons in America. Of course. I've read about you, more than once. The king of bottom fishers. Ha! Ha! I like that--you made a pun, right? But that's just how I make money. I'm a friend of Gil's, he gave me your telephone number. I'd like you and your wife to come over for lunch on Saturday. My house, at one-thirty, unless you want to take a dip in the ocean before we start drinking. Gil says you're his best friend. He's told me what kind of lawyer you were. I'm sorry we never got to work together. Anyway, Gil's friends are my friends. So you'll come? Excuse me, you're sure you remember meeting me? By the way, I've got a pool, too, if you don't like the ocean. Considering Mr. Mansour's grandeur, this diffidence was touching. Of course I remember, replied Schmidt, reaching for a high level of amiability. Elaine introduced us. Actually, the young woman I was with is my friend, not my wife. She's not here just now. Could I call you after I've checked with her? He was telling a white lie. Carrie was right there, resolutely asleep, her head buried under the pillow. It would take more than the three rings of the telephone and Schmidt's talking sotto voce to Mr. Mansour to wake her when she was like that. Your friend is gorgeous. Charming too. I figured she was your wife, and not your daughter, because she doesn't look like you. Anyway, congratulations! I want you to bring her, but come alone if she's busy. I can always have you over together another time. I'll be in touch. Having taken in the further news that Mr. Mansour was no longer to be found at his East Hampton residence, which he had abandoned to the more recent of his two wives, Schmidt wrote down the unlisted number. Not to worry, he would keep iBegley, Louis is the author of 'Schmidt Delivered - Louis Begley - Hardcover - 1 ED' with ISBN 9780375410888 and ISBN 0375410880.