“Now, I think it is time that I put your powers of observation to the test. This is not a simple matter of memorisation of various facts that I may from time to time have divulged. Rather, it is an issue of synthesis and, thereby, analysis. The subject, or perhaps I should say object, is myself. Would you say that the life that I live is simple or complex? If your answer is both, then you are indubitably correct.”
“There is one other important and relevant characteristic of the House of Comens that merits mention here. It is an essential venue for persons engaged in the labyrinthine – some, perhaps even you, might say Machiavellian, even Byzantine – world of politics, of all stripes and colours, to be able to find common ground in convivial consumption of gourmet food and fine Canadian vintages.”
Let me be clear. I seek neither your understanding nor your sympathy, certainly not your absolution. I need you only to, as they say in footballing – soccering? – circles , to keep your eye on the ball, to be ever attentive. I perforce do what I must, yes, in pursuit of my own interest, but always for the good of the institution I alone created, and for those whom we serve.
I refer, of course, and as you already knew, to the celebrated House of Comens. Without it, as you will see, the very basis of the Confederation of Canada would be shaken, if not worse. For it is here that the true, the sweetest fruits of governance are sown: the backroom deals hatched in the course of sumptuous meals, accompanied by the very finest local vintages.
I, Paul Passchen, do not pretend to shepherd these processes alone. These days,I am after all a mere lowly subaltern, labouring at the whim of the proprietor, Évette Martin, unworthy heir to my old friend, Ian Comens, for whom the place is named. I prepare no gourmet food, for that is the domain of Chef de Cuisine Jean-Christophe Saint-Estèphe. I procure and curate no fine wines but defer in this domain to our Garde des Vins et des Alcohols, Béatrice Ngom.
But I am still the key ingredient – no pun intended – to our continued success, and I must do what it takes to safeguard my legacy. Still, as befits our desserts, we'll keep it light, shall we?
“Contrary to the practice on the other side of what is often referred to as the pond, aka the Atlantic Ocean – I reference, of course, continental Europe, without the misnamed United Kingdom – the sovereign nations of North America seem to be in perpetual indecision regarding the degree to which they wish to coexist.”
“I know you, and you don’t need me to read your runes. I’ll just tell you this, young man, whatever your name may be now or in the future. You have had many lives, most of them today forgotten. You had fame then, of a kind, even though you were not so popular. The instance that comes to mind today was in Florence half a millennium ago. Then, they called you Nicolo.”
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