When Jack spoke now, he assumed that George would obey. Only once did George make an effort to show himself their leader still. He heard me say that Martineau, who had promised to be in the town by that afternoon, had still not arrived. George stirred himself: ‘I insist on your tracing him at once. I tried to make Getliffe realise that it was essential to keep in touch with Martineau — on the one occasion when Getliffe spared me a quarter of an hour. He didn’t trouble to recognise that my opinion was more valuable than theirs.’ He looked at the other two.
When I returned to Eden’s house, I rang up Canon Martineau, to ask if he had any news of his brother: and also Martineau’s housekeeper in his old house in the New Walk. Neither had heard from him.
As I hurried downstairs to Eden’s drawing-room, there came a jolly and wholehearted peal of laughter. Eden and Getliffe were waiting for me, glasses of sherry standing by their chairs on the broad rail by the fireside. I was five minutes late for dinner, and Eden was a little put out; though, when I said that I had been trying to find Martineau, he smiled at Getliffe’s jokes at my expense.
Getliffe, so dejected at the end of the afternoon, was in high spirits now, and as we sat down to dinner Eden looked at him with a broad and happy smile. He enjoyed entertaining him. He liked the reflection of the busy and successful world, and also the glow that Getliffe brought to so many people. With an aftertaste of envy, not unpleasant or bitter, Eden at times insisted on his own travels and tastes.
‘I want you to try another wine,’ he said, ‘I brought it from a place just behind Dijon when I was there — why! it must be five or six years ago.’
Getliffe said: ‘One doesn’t ask any better than this, you know.’ He took a gulp at his glass.
‘I don’t want you to miss the other,’ said Eden. ‘I can’t let you leave without having something a little unusual.’
‘Yours to command,’ Getliffe answered.
Getliffe held his glass up to the light.
‘I could go on drinking that,’ he said. Then he chuckled. ‘When I think of all the wine in my ancient Inn I always think it’s a shame that there are chaps like me — who could drink any of it and not be much the wiser. But as for this you’ve given us — well, L S, you and I can tell our host that if he gives us nothing worse we don’t care who’s getting amongst the bottles at out respective ancient halls.’
‘I’ve got up another bottle,’ Eden said. ‘We must finish it before the night’s over.’ He talked contentedly on, though he looked at me once with kindly concern. ‘Those days’ came in often, he told stories of counsel he had met at the Assizes, men of the generation in front of Getliffe’s. They listened to each other with enjoyment; Getliffe began telling anecdotes about judges. ‘That reminds me,’ he said, in a few minutes. ‘It reminds me of the best remark ever made by a judicial authority within the Empire of His Britannic Majesty. It was actually made by the Chief Justice of a not unimportant Colony, you understand. He was delivering judgment. You must guess the sort of case for yourself when you’ve heard the remark. He said, “However inclement the weather, His Majesty’s police stations must in no circumstances be used for the purpose of fornication.”’
Getliffe was still contented with the joke when we returned to the drawing-room. Then he and Eden found another pleasure in talking of London streets, dark during the war.
‘I remember going across to the Inn one night when I was home on leave,’ said Getliffe.
‘I had to go up to see one of your men in the Temple,’ Eden replied, ‘it must have been the same year.’
‘We might have run across each other,’ said Getliffe. ‘Perhaps we did for all you know.’
At last I could not help coming back to the trial.
On the instant Getliffe’s face was clouded.
‘I’m worried,’ he said. ‘I don’t mind saying I’m worried—’
Eden broke in: ‘Of course we’ve noticed that it’s on Eliot’s mind. But I’m afraid I am going to forbid you to discuss it now. We are all exercised about it. I dare say it’s specially so with Eliot, because he’s been friendly with the three of them for a few years now—’
‘I’m worried on their account,’ said Getliffe. ‘Of course, one likes to win one’s cases — but they count more—’ He looked at me. ‘I’m asking you to believe that,’ he said.
‘You mustn’t begin discussing it,’ Eden continued. ‘You must keep your minds off it tonight. I can’t give either of you much advice, but I’m going to make sure that you follow this.’
His mouth was curved in a firm, kindly, gratified smile. But circumstances were too strong for him. He was himself rung up twice within half an hour. The second call was from Martineau, saying that he had arrived and would come round to Eden’s house at ten o’clock. Seeing my relief, Eden said: ‘Well, I didn’t mean to let you worry tonight. I decided to guard you from some depressing news. But perhaps you’d better hear it now. That first conversation over the phone — it was with Cameron, the Principal at the School.’
‘Yes?’
‘He was just informing me, as a matter of courtesy, that if Passant couldn’t deny the immorality stories, they would be obliged to dismiss him from the School. That applies, of course, whatever the result of the case.’
‘I suppose you’d expect them to,’ said Getliffe.
‘You can’t blame them,’ said Eden. ‘After all they’re running an educational institution. They can’t be too careful. They’re entitled to say that Passant has abused a position of trust.’
I remembered George using exactly those words before the committee years ago: I remembered how he repudiated a suggestion by Jack in Nottingham that same night.
‘Shall you get rid of him yourself?’ said Getliffe.
Eden considered, and answered deliberately: ‘I don’t regard that as quite on the same footing. If he’s convicted, of course, the question doesn’t arise. But if you get them off, I don’t think I should feel entitled to dismiss someone who’s been found innocent in a court of law. It’s true that his private life will have damaged the firm; but I set off against that the good solid work he’s done for me in the past. I think, taking everything into account, I shall have to let him stay. Though naturally I shouldn’t be able to give him so much responsibility. It would mean harder work than I want until I retire.’
‘I must say, you’re more tolerant than most of us would be,’ said Getliffe. ‘I respect you for it.’ He broke off: ‘As for getting them off, I don’t know. We may as well try to find out what Martineau has to say.’
‘He’ll be here in half an hour,’ said Eden.
‘Can I get a word with him?’ said Getliffe.
‘It’s not exactly correct, is it?’ Eden was frowning.
‘But if you’re there? I’ve done it before, believe me.’
‘I’d rather Hotchkinson was here too. But maybe in the circumstances there’ll be no harm done.’
‘Not that I hope for much,’ Getliffe said.
‘I’m beginning to be sorry I inflicted it on you,’ said Eden.
‘Never mind that. One’s got to do one’s job,’ Getliffe said. Then he added: ‘I wish one of you would tell me what those three were trying to do. It’s getting me down.’
‘I’m afraid it isn’t very difficult. They wanted money to go the pace,’ said Eden. ‘They weren’t the sort to keep within their means. It’s a pity.’
‘I should have thought they could have made it like the rest of us. If they were as keen on it as all that. Or do you mean, they didn’t care a cherub’s apron for the way the money comes? With all due respect, I don’t see them quite that way. God knows, I don’t think much of them—’