Nikolas studies the words before him, it's not like this is the first time he has read W.B. Yeats "A Vision," yet today he can't get past one particular passage. Setting down the book he gets anxiously out of his chair and stokes the fire. Unsettled, he paces his study.
As a distraction, he picks up his brandy snifter and contemplates the amber colored contents. With a practiced twist of his wrist the brandy swirls refracting the fire light. Mesmerized by the changing color he remembers his first experience with brandy. A fine Cognac if he recalls
"There is one remaining ritual allowed civilized men Nikolas," his uncle Stefan explained. "We are no longer allowed duels and smoking is going the way of snuff, but a good brandy, that we may still enjoy. Think of it, for hundreds of years the men that made the world great, that accomplished things ended their day with a fine glass of brandy. Observe the ritual and follow in the footsteps of giants."
Stefan insisted that the best glass of brandy should be served in a room with a lit fire, "to better present the amber color." The bottle is gauche, so one must always serve brandy from a decanter. It is better to surprise the guests with the quality of the brandy, not announce it with a label.
Only use the best crystal snifters, always with a short stem and a wide round bowel. Serve the brandy at room temperature and swirl it slowly in the glass. When swirling cup your hand around the bowl to heat the brandy. Observe the color and the thickness of the legs. "Swirl it slowly, don't bruise the drink," Stefan would say.
While many will enjoy brandy with a cigar it is best enjoyed alone, unadulterated by the taste of tobacco. Nikolas takes a sip of his VSOP Camus. He rolls his first sip around his tongue savoring the light oak of this particular Cognac as it harmonizes with the slight grapefruit and almond flavors. This brandy is soft, more subtle than some. There is no heavy raisin or oily flavor.
He enjoys this nightly ritual even more than usual, finding it comforting after his earlier argument with Elizabeth. She wants him to leave her alone, to stop fighting for her love. He reflects again on that troubling passage from Yeats.
"He who bends to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy,
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's surprise."
"He who kisses the joy as it flies," he says to himself. "I want you to fly Elizabeth, to achieve all your dreams and desire." He finishes his brandy quickly, coming to a decision. He picks up the house phone and calls Alfred, "Get everything ready Alfred, we return to Greece by the end of this week."