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Interview with Daniel Hossack.
So you’re Daniel,
then?
That’s right. Daniel Hossack, trusted manservant to Mr.
Charles Murray of Letho. In charge of his household in Naples. I’ve a new coat
and all.
Aye, because he took
you with him to Italy, didn’t he?
Aye, he did. He didna take Mr. Robbins – well, he’d be set
in his ways, being an old ... er man.
He’s, ah, 28 or so,
isn’t he? The same age as your master?
Like I say, an older man. Not the kind to make the most of
foreign travel.
But he’s off to India,
now, with the master. I believe they’re off to help Mary, who used to be Mr.
Murray’s maid?
Ho, Scary Mary? That’s what William and I – what William
used to call her. She’s an uncanny way of always knowing when you’re doing
something you shouldn’t – that is, when William’s doing something he shouldn’t.
I tell you, though, if Mary needs help it’s something serious. There’s nothing
Mary canna do.
How do you feel about
Robbins going to India instead of you?
I’d like fine to see him when he gets back! He’ll never last
the voyage, Mr. Robbins. He’s that pernickety they’ll never keep the ship neat
enough for him, and he’s not accepting of the ways of foreigners, not like me.
Oh, I’ve met some people, ken?
So you made the most
of the foreign travel, then? How did you find the journey?
Well, I’ll tell you this: sea voyages aren’t all they’re
cracked up to be. I don’t think they make ships properly. They make a gey awful
noise in the least wee wind, and there’s no stability to them at all. I ken
buildings can be mischancy things – I was there when the servants’ wing fell
down, and that was no joke, I’m telling you. But the whole time I was on that
boat, that’s what it felt like, as if the whole thing was cowping. You’d think
they’d have that sorted out by now. Boats have been around a whiley.
I can see you feel
quite strongly about that. But what about when you arrived in Naples? How did
you manage with the language? You spoke no Italian dialects before, did you?
Naw. What for would you do that in Edinburgh or Letho? But
it was easy enough to pick up. And the master gave me a few hints here and
there: he’s no so bad at languages himself. The Frenchies seemed to understand
him all right, I suppose. Not that he was in much of a mood to talk to them.
Of course, Mr. Murray
had left Edinburgh under something of a cloud, hadn’t he?
Aye, that’s a fact. Oh, he hadna done nothing wrong! He’s
all right, Mr. Murray, even if he’s gey hard on a body that might have made a
wee mistake …
Hmm. Did Mr. Murray’s
mood improve at all during his stay?
Not much. He’d gone to get away frae all that fancy society
stuff, but it was like he didn’t know any other way to live, and anyway as soon
as the high heidyins found out he had a bit of land he was in there. He didn’t
much like the crowd, I’d say: he never said, but there was never much of a look
of happiness about him when he was off to one of them things, the balls and the
sorrys and the dinners. He didn’t get to see much of the place itself, just they
big miserable villas. Now me, I got out and about and saw the world around me.
I saw some remarkable things, I can tell you: sailors all covered in pictures,
men the colour of Mr. Murray’s dining table, sea monsters laid out on a stall
for food … and the vegetables! My, there are things in that country you’d never
have thought you should eat at all, never mind raw as they came out of the
ground or off the plant. That garlic
stuff: eat enough of that and you’ll never need a tinder box again!
But you like it, eh?
Aye! Aye, well, I ken a good cook, see?
Ah, yes, this would be
Artemesia Fiorello?
That’s Mrs. Hossack to you! Aye, my bonny wee Artemesia …
And now you’re heading
back to Fife with her? How do you think she’ll manage?
Well, she has me to protect her, of course. Oh, no doubt she’ll
find it a wee thing confusing, poor lass, but well, she’ll have the bairn to
look after, all being well, and that’ll give her something to think about while
I do the serious stuff. I have to look after Mr. Murray’s luggage that he’s no
taking to India, of course. It’s a great responsibility. There’s a table with
the top made out of tiny wee stones all different colours, you’d never ken
unless you look dead close …
But you’re looking
forward to going home?
Aye, heading back to Letho with my bonny wife on my arm.
That’ll put William’s eye out! Not that he’s ever shown much talent in that
line, poor old William – the other, er, the junior manservant. He was always
sat there with his eyes on stalks when I told him of my latest conquest. Aye,
the girls around Letho had little to fear frae my pal William!
And from you?
Oh, aye, I kenned them well. And the Edinburgh lassies, aye.
Oh, I’ve had some times, I can tell you!
But now you have bonny
Artemesia. You’re a respectable married man, eh?
Eh? Oh, aye, all that. Respectable, aye. Aye, well, I
suppose …
Thank you for your
time, Daniel.
