There was no comment on his words. Only Mr Hole said: “We’ll do our best to make Vivien absolutely happy.”
“In my opinion,” continued Mr Corner after the long discussion in which nothing but praise for Vivien could be heard, “the rehearsal of the interview is so good and so spontaneous that it simply couldn’t be improved. All we have to do is to broadcast the recording of this rehearsal we have made.”
All the members of the team supported the idea unanimously, and all of them agreed to meet in the evening the day after the TV broadcast and discuss the reaction in the press.
Vivien and Doctor Ovale were enjoying a nice stroll in the town centre. They went to several of the most elegant and the most expensive shops, because Vivien wanted to try on some expensive rings and earrings, watches and bracelets, necklaces and even some other sunglasses although the sunglasses she was wearing were very elegant indeed. She tried on lots of things, and the young shop assistants, assuming that she might be a spoilt daughter of some foreign millionaire hoped that she would spend a lot of money, did all they could to please her. Vivien liked being treated like a star or some very important person. She laughed a lot and talked gaily in a very low voice into Doctor Ovale’s ear. He then also laughed in the manner of a personal bodyguard or someone paid to keep a shamefully rich and spoilt person company.
“Aren’t you going to buy some?” asked Doctor Ovale.
“No, I just enjoy playing – girls are different, you know. In fact the whole glitter business is nonsense,” she said, giggling.
“Have you ever thought why people started wearing jewellery?” Doctor Ovale asked when they were in the street again.
“Not really. That’s a good question,” she said.
“It is very strange. People sometimes spend enormous sums of money for shiny pieces of polished metals and glittering minerals without asking themselves what they need them for,” Doctor Ovale said.
“Oh, I think they just find such pieces of jewellery attractive,” said Vivien.
“Methinks that explanation isn’t convincing,” said Doctor Ovale.
“And why not?” asked Vivien.
“I think that something is attractive only if it is inviting,” said Doctor Ovale.
“Well, that’s what it is – jewellery invites the onlookers to come nearer and have a closer look, and that’s what people – especially girls – want,” Vivien argued.
“Does it really? Just think for a second: somebody is ten yards away from you. Can you see her or his jewellery clearly enough so that it invites you to come nearer and have a closer look at that person?” asked Doctor Ovale.
“No, certainly not – that’s quite convincing,” Vivien admitted.
“Obviously there must be another reason that people wear jewellery,” said Doctor Ovale.
“Perhaps people just find jewellery beautiful,” said Vivien, happy to be able to suggest another solution.
“The word ‘beautiful’ is no less problematic than the word ‘attractive’,” said Doctor Ovale.
“Oh, you are cruel to me. Why should it be problematic, there are beautiful things and there are ugly things, that is very clear,” said Vivien.
“Which is in your opinion more beautiful, bewildering and fascinating: a polished piece of metal called an earring attached to the ear or the human ear itself?” asked Doctor Ovale.
“I should say the human ear is more beautiful,” Vivien answered slowly as if hesitating, because the question had surprised her and because she had immediately noticed what Doctor Ovale was up to.
“I entirely agree with you. But if we agree on that point, we must also . . .”
“Stop, stop, I see what you want to say,” Vivien interrupted him.
“Go ahead, I’m listening,” Doctor Ovale said, smiling.
“I think you want to say that a polished piece of metal, being less beautiful, cannot decorate the human ear, because the ear itself is more beautiful than the earring, am I right?”
“Yes, you definitely are. That, of course, applies not only to the human ear but to any part of the human body. Lots of people pierce different parts of their body, cover their skin with all sorts of bizarre tattoos and mutilate their body in many different ways just because they are ignorant of what they are, in fact, doing. Unfortunately most people never think about it. If they did, they would immediately realise that something that is more beautiful cannot be beautified and adorned by something that is less beautiful,” said Doctor Ovale.
“That is wonderful. Now I’m proud of not wearing any jewellery and having any tattoos. I’m lucky I have met you in time,” said Vivien, smiling.
“As you can see the word ‘beautiful’ is at least as problematic as the word ‘attractive’. If that weren’t the case, lots of aspects of our life would be different, and probably there would be less fuss about so many unimportant things,” said Doctor Ovale.
“Could you give me an example, please?” asked Vivien.
“For instance the ways people shape and paint their nails, dye their hair, not to mention the shoes and clothes that are very often quite uncomfortable or even harmful to the body. On top of all that incredible fuss are probably all sorts of so-called beauty contests,” said Doctor Ovale.
“Now I am fully confused: I hope I understand your argument concerning attractiveness and the beauty of jewellery and clothes, but the young women who enter such competitions are neither pieces of metal nor gems, nor are they clothes – they themselves are beautiful, aren’t they?” said Vivien, trying to get a more detailed explanation.
“You are perfectly right, they are, and very much so; not only those who participate in a beauty contest but also any girl could be a princess to someone somewhere. And for that simple reason the beauty of any of them should not be compared to anybody or anything else. A great poet says in one of his poems that even the beauty of a summer day is not sufficient to stand the comparison to the beauty of the woman he loves.”
Vivien suddenly stopped and stared at Doctor Ovale without stirring. Doctor Ovale stopped, too.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes . . . I . . . am, I am all right . . .” answered Vivien somewhat absently.
“Shall we sit down somewhere and have a drink? We have been walking for quite some time,” said Doctor Ovale.
“Oh, I am fine, no problem at all. But the idea to sit down somewhere and have a drink is great.”
“Look, over there, it seems quite inviting,” Doctor Ovale said pointing to a tiny café just on the other side of the charming lane they were walking along.
“Oh yes, it looks nice, promises even a lot of privacy with all those pots of flowers and plants between the tables and the passers-by,” said Vivien.
The waitress, a nice young girl, showed them to a small table in the corner as if she had known that they had a lot of things to talk about.
“It is a very pleasant place, this corner in particular. It allows you to pay attention to the world without being taken notice of,” said Doctor Ovale.
“I