Among the Wonderful Read Free Page A

about.”
    William paused to take admission from an elderly woman wearing a coat made from the pelt of
Pagophilus groenlandicus
.
    “Apparently some kind of bull on the fourth floor has some worms. In the eye area.”
    “What!”
    William chuckled.
    “The fourth floor? That must be the wildebeest. But that seems highly unlikely, since I’ve fumigated —”
    “I’m just the messenger, Emile. If I hear anything about this Archer, I’ll make sure you’re the first to know.”
    Guillaudeu reluctantly returned to the office. He’d have to go up there straightaway. Worms! Maggots, surely. Guillaudeu’s embarrassment flared.
    Mr. Archer had retreated to a corner and held his cane out as if he were about to engage in swordplay. The burlap sack moved. A monkey peeked out.
    “They’re harmless. They’re much like you” — immediately he realized that it was an unsuccessful analogy — “because they’re waiting for their permanent habitat, you see. See?
Leontopithecus rosalia —
”
    Mr. Archer was unmoved by the monkeys’ Latin name, but as if in response the tiny creatures darted out of the sheltering bag and disappeared between the crates littering the floor.
    “As you can see, Mr. Archer, the museum functions rather on its own terms. Information doesn’t always make it to every corner of the building. Your office” — Guillaudeu could think of no better way to put it — “does not exist. Yet. The museum has undergone so much transformation in recent months that the other offices are still full of ladders, equipment, building apparatuses. Apparati, rather. You get my meaning.”
    “This is ridiculous! I left the
Sun
for this?” He waved his cane.
    Guillaudeu shrugged weakly.
    “What do you propose as to my accommodations?”
    Guillaudeu’s instinct was to escort Mr. Archer straight out the door and proceed with his day as if they’d never met. Out of discomfort and an irrational and ill-fated desire to end their conversation at all costs, he offered a second choice.
    “We could clear out these crates and set you up in here on a purely temporary basis.”
    Mr. Archer paced back toward Guillaudeu, who fought an urge to dive under his desk. The man was clearly accustomed to having his way. Mr. Archer seemed to be fuming, or so Guillaudeu supposed from the fish-like opening and closing of his mouth.
    “Will these louse-infested creatures stay?” He gestured toward the burlap sack.
    “We’ll see what we can do. There are many such … specimens in need of a cage.”
    Mr. Archer stomped out to direct the unloading of his carriage.
    Guillaudeu broke up empty crates and carried the piles of wood and papers to the curb. He moved the unopened packages that he could lift to his side of the room, all the while silently enraged that he had made such a careless offer of hospitality. Mr. Archer’s valet and Guillaudeu then carried a large oak desk into the office while Mr. Archer stood by to make sure the desk was not scratched in the process.
    “This will have to do,” Mr. Archer muttered. “The rest can wait until I have my own office.”
    After the two men eyed each other for a moment, Guillaudeu retreated. He watched Mr. Archer pull a sheaf of white paper from a box and set it in front of him on his table. He primped the papers, squaring the stack so each leaf lay aligned with the next. He pulled a pencil from his waistcoat pocket and put it on the table.
    Guillaudeu picked up one of the crates that had been sitting in the office for days. He’d been receiving everything from African artifacts to monkeys, and he pried the lid offthe package warily. He dug through the packing material and finally pulled out a wrapped bundle.
    “Mr. Guillaudeu, I’m curious about something.” Mr. Archer held up a sheet of paper. “I have a letter from Mr. Barnum here, describing my duties.”
    “I see.” Guillaudeu began to unwrap the bundle.
    “Of course I fully understand the advertising bit. I’ve worked in