“I was talking about Edward Cavan,” he said stiffly as Hoffman, conjured up like a puppet, stayed there, owlishly.

“Yes, the poor guy,” Hoffman shook his head, “couldn’t take it, I’m afraid. A bad business. You were working with him on your thesis, weren’t you? Bad luck, old chap. I’m sorry,” and with that, mercifully, Hoffman got up and took his check.

“You see what I mean?” George muttered after he had gone. “He’s got about as much feeling as a stuffed cod. I suppose he thinks he may get promoted now.” And then as if the full impact of this hit him after he’d said it, George sank back. “Imagine it, Pen! That idiot in Cavan’s chair. Oh my God——”

“It is rather grim,” Pen said earnestly, “but he won’t get it of course. There must be a good many sharks after the dead body. He wouldn’t really have a chance, would he?”

“I don’t know.” George waved to the waitress for another ale. “You’re a cynical little piece aren’t you?” he went on, glad now of a chance to change the subject.

“I don’t think so. I save my strength. I should think you’d be dead at the end of the day, old chap, old boy,” she mimicked Hoffman. “Take it easy, that’s what I always say——”

“Oh by the way, Pen, an old bird called me up—what was her name Kitman? Armlock? Something like that. Some friend of Cavan’s. I was awfully rude to her, I’m afraid—I was drunk, as a matter of fact. Ever hear of her?”

“Not Grace Kimlock?” Pen sat up straight for once.

“Yes—yes—that must have been it. Why, do you know her?”

“I’ve met her—she’s a distant cousin on my mother’s side. As a matter of fact, she’s a good egg, George. You’d like her, and it’s quite true—I remember now, Edward Cavan was always there. They must have been great friends. She’s a loon about anything political. My father calls her raving mad and thinks she’s a Communist. I wouldn’t be surprised, as a matter of fact. I’ll take you there if you like—if you care”—she seemed to hesitate now. “You might apologize in person.”

“I’d like to,” George said quickly. “I’d like to very much.”

“She devours young men. You’d better look out. She’ll have you running errands for the Party before you know it——”

“You’re not serious, Pen? She’s not really a Communist?”