Image courtesy of Metro magazine
As the train sped through Groenendael and headed into the thickest part of the Forêt de Soignes, George reflected that, even then, he understood deep down his nature was to look beyond what he later came to refer to as ‘the inanity of categorising individuals by class distinction.’
George knew no other way than to speak, to anyone he met, on equal terms. If he felt any divide was opening up, he would immediately fill it with an anecdote to try to bring things closer once again. This was where his reputation came from of over-elaborating a conversation, with elements that didn’t seem to have anything to do with the topic under discussion.
His experience that evening with Finula, all those years ago, had been a good case in point.
Je m’étais levé ce matin avec un mal de tête épouvantable. Je constatai les dégâts produits par la fête qui s’était prolongée jusqu’au petit matin : des verres oubliés sur les étagères de la bibliothèque et des mégots nonchalamment posés dans les pots de plantes. Comme toujours, je me dis « plus jamais », tout en sachant que je ne résisterai pas au prochain appel de l’animal social qui grondera en moi. 
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