CHAPTER 12

Monsieur Sorbonne Receives a Disappointment

“I’m so sorry,” said the man at the Films Development Store, who looked a little like a monkey, “but none of the pictures have come out.” He handed Monsieur Sorbonne a small gray envelope. “We’ve checked the film, Sir, and the film was fine. So there must be some problem with your camera.”

“That’s impossible,” said Monsieur Sorbonne. “There can’t be a problem with the camera. Why, just six months ago I took some photographs of my sweetheart and they turned out perfectly. I haven’t touched the camera since. It has to be the film.”

“It’s not, Sir, I’m sorry. We can always tell. We have a special test to test film viability. Films, Sir, that is our specialty. So I repeat, Sir; it must be your camera.”

When Monsieur Sorbonne continued to look incredulous, the monkey man went on. “Should you desire, sir, we can recommend an agent who can check it. But I do definitely advise that you should have your camera repaired.”

Hearing this, Monsieur Sorbonne was downhearted, and, speaking of his camera, he realized he had left it at the Artifacts Museum. He therefore returned to his cubicle to retrieve it. There was going to be more to this search for meaning than he had expected. Film failures. Camera breakdowns. And now God-only-knew-how-expensive repairs.