I saw Vita lunching at hte Café Royal

“I saw Vita lunching at the Cafe Royal today”

said Jack Hutchinson last night.

Oh such a pang of rage shot through me!

All through dinner, and through supper,

which ended with champagne and iced cake at 12.30,

I was going back and foraging in my mind for the seed in my pillow:

(you know what I mean: the pea under the mattress)

and that was it. And I couldn't say “who was with her?”

And it burnt a hole in my mind,

that you should have been lunching at the Cafe Royal

and not come to see me. How pleased you'll be!

You did it on purpose I daresay. But who were you with?

You knew I should get wind of it –

yes and it was a woman you were lunching with,

and there was I, sitting alone and and and…I break off my writing,

which is all dish water, to make this heated exclamation:

And when shall I see you? Dearest Creature,

do write and tell me who were you lunching with at the Cafe Royal –

and I sitting alone over the fire! I've had your book Collected Poems

in my hands–and very stately it is, like a slab of ivory engraved with steel;

but I didn't read it, because you are giving it me. Oh the Cafe Royal!

When Jack said that – not to me, but to the company,

you could have seen my hand tremble;

and then we all went on talking and the candles were lit,

and I chose mine, a green one, and it was the first to die,

which means that out of the 8 or 9 people there,

I shall be the first to wear a winding sheet.

But you'll be lunching at the Cafe Royal!