Brown was sitting at a table next to the window when I went into the bar of the Conservative Club.

“Hello, lad,” he said. “You look a bit flustered. Been having an argument with Susan?”

“We had a slight difference of opinion,” I said.

He chuckled. “Wait till you’ve been wed thirty years and you won’t let it bother you. Want a drink?”

“No thanks,” I said.

“Nonsense. Just because I can’t drink any more it doesn’t follow you young chaps can’t.” He ordered me a double whisky. “Drink that up,” he said, when the whisky arrived. “It’ll put a bit of life into you.” He rubbed his hands. “You’re drinking it for me,” he said. “I’m going to enjoy myself tonight just watching Hewley’s face, by God I am.”

George Aisgill came over with Arthur Wincastle, a small timid man who ran a chain of draperies. Drapers, as if to assert that they don’t use their wares, seem to tend towards a beefy moustached masculinity; Arthur was the exception that proved the rule.

“Excuse me for butting in,” George said.

“We’ve finished,” Brown said. “Why’s Arthur looking as if he’d wet his britches?”

George sat down. “He’s bothered about the compulsory pur­chase item.”

“I’ve been away,” Arthur said.

Brown laughed. “By God, you certainly have. There’s money in corsets, eh? You’re never in Warley, these days, Arthur. What’s up, anyway?”

Arthur shifted uneasily on his chair. “I don’t think it’s right,” he said. “We even made it part of our programme this year. We’ve given our word—”

Brown held up his hand.

“Just a minute, Arthur. The Baths are part of our programme. We’ve agreed that they’re needed. And those baths will be pro­vided as soon as possible. But who said anything about the Palace site?”

“The Health Committee agreed—”

“We can change our minds, can’t we? There can be a better site than the Palace, surely.”

“You mean that all the arguments put forward for compulsory purchase of the Palace site were nonsense?”

Brown sighed. “You’re an awkward devil, Arthur. Why can’t you just take your Chairman’s word that we’re doing the best thing for all concerned? Why do you always want to know every in and out of every bloody item on the agenda?”

“It’s my duty,” Arthur said. “I’m not going to vote blindly.”

“All right,” Brown said. “I’ll explain it to you. But don’t have any brainstorms when the item comes up. George’s abstaining because he’s declared an interest, and every vote counts.”

He sighed again. “Why can’t you be like the rest of them? Why can’t you be like Joe here?” He patted my back. “Joe doesn’t rock the boat, do you, Joe?”

“If I do it might sink,” I said.