The House of Doors

Penang, 1921

Willie makes notes on Lesley’s story, more interested in hearing what else she has to say than in writing. Though he feels it betrays Lesley, Willie explains Robert’s affair. Gerald is unsurprised; he’s noticed Robert’s attention to him and laughs at the irony given that Lesley appears homophobic. Willie wonders if Gerald’s assessment of Robert’s interest is based in narcissism rather than reality. Gerald, who cannot return to England after being arrested for having sex with men, is sympathetic to Lesley’s reluctance to leave Penang, even for the sake of Robert’s health. He speaks with uncharacteristic longing about missing his mother. Gerald blames Syrie’s influence, causing Willie to frown at the crude, sexist terms Gerald uses to describe her. Gerald decides to get a job in New York following their trip, which leads Willie to feel their relationship will soon end.

Lesley, Willie, Gerald, and Robert visit the Protestant cemetery, which causes Willie to long for his childhood and think of his Aunt Sophie. Lesley confides that while she and Robert often brought writer friends here before the war, they haven’t visited since Robert’s return from the front. She shows Willie Arthur’s grandmother’s headstone. Robert shows Willie two graves: The first is Francis Light, who established Penang as a British Settlement; the second is James Scott, Francis Light’s business partner, cousin to Sir Walter Scott, and part of Robert’s family, many generations past.