I felt a blow on my cheek and then another; I looked at the hand that had hit me and it was mine. I heard myself asking questions; I heard the answers, but it was hardly necessary to listen to the answers. I would have known them a long time ago if only my conceit and stupidity had not smothered my instincts. I hit myself again, but not so hard this time; the violence of the first two blows had made me a little sick.

“That’s enough,” I said. “I know what to do now.”

For the first time she looked genuinely frightened.

“Joe, it wasn’t as deliberate as that.” She moved over to the telephone. “I told you I was tired. I told you to leave me alone.”

“You can leave the telephone alone,” I said. “You’re not worth hanging for.”

“It’s your fault,” she said. “You never understood. You’ve never wanted to understand me.”

Suddenly I found myself against my will desiring her; and look­ing into her eyes, dilated as if by drugs, I knew that she, against her will, desired me. But it was a voyeur’s excitement and sent no signals to my loins. I turned away without speaking and went upstairs to pack.

When I came back into the drawing-room Brown was there, standing in front of the electric fire. He looked at my suitcase.

“What the hell’s this?”

“Joe’s leaving me, Daddy,” Susan said.

“Who’s the woman?”

“Norah Hauxley. He’s going to live with her in London.”

“I had an idea he was up to his old tricks.” He took out the packet of cheroots, hesitated, then brought out his leather cigar-case. “We won’t be honoured with his presence at work to­morrow then.” He pierced the Corona and lit it with an air of celebration.

“I’ll work my notice out if you like,” I said.

“We can do without you. You can’t go too soon for me.” He blew out a cloud of smoke.

There was an unopened tin of Capstan in the cocktail cabinet; I put it in my case.

“Help yourself to anything you want,” he said. “Why don’t you take some liquor with you, too?”

“They’re my cigarettes and it’s my liquor.”

“You are getting above yourself, aren’t you? Well, don’t let me keep you. You can send your resignation from the Council by post.” He clenched his fist. “You’ve made a right fool of me, haven’t you?”

“That was the idea,” I said. “And you can’t make me resign. I can vote how I please and there’s not a single damned thing you can do about it.”