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By Root 2415 0

I thought it over and decided, on balance, that you were right in feeling Stringham should not be there – in fact should not be at these Headquarters at all. Now you seem dissatisfied at what has happened. Why should it be your job – still less mine – to keep Stringham wrapped in cotton-wool? In any case, you surely don’t envisage him remaining here after he and two of Div. H.Q.’s officers, one of them its D.A.A.G., have been collectively concerned in putting another officer to bed because he has been found drunk in the street. You assured me Stringham would not be an embarrassment to us. That is exactly what has taken place.”

“But Stringham is quite used to the idea of drunks being put to bed. As he said last night, the pair of us once had to put him to bed ourselves. It couldn’t conceivably affect Stringham’s behaviour that he helped with Bithel – especially as Bithel’s gone.”

“That has nothing to do with it.”

“What has then?”

“Nicholas, have you never heard of the word discipline?”

“But nobody knows except us – or was Barker-Shaw or somebody about when you got Bithel to G Mess?”

“No one – as it fortunately turned out. But that makes no difference whatever. Stringham could certainly not remain here after an incident of that kind. I applaud my own forethought in making the arrangement about him I did. So far as these Headquarters are concerned, the farther afield he is sent the better. Let me add that all this is entirely a matter of principle. Stringham’s presence would no longer affect me personally.”

“Why not?”

“Because I am leaving this formation.”

That piece of information brought a new, disturbing element into the conversation. I was annoyed, even disgusted, by Widmerpool’s attitude towards Stringham, this utter disregard for what might happen to him, posted away to God knows where. However, worse now threatened. Self-interest, equally unattractive in outer guise and inner essence, is, all the same, a necessity for individual survival. It should perhaps not be too much despised, if only for that reason. Despised or not, its activities are rarely far from the surface. Now, at Widmerpool’s words about leaving, I was unwelcomely conscious of self-interested anxieties throbbing hurriedly into operation. What was Widmerpool’s present intention towards myself, if he were to go elsewhere? Would my fate be as of little interest to him as Stringham’s? That was my instant thought.

“You’ve got promotion?”

“In the sense of immediate accession of rank – no. With the connotation that my employment will now be established in a more lofty – an incalculably more lofty – sphere than a Divisional Headquarters – yes.”

“The War Office?”

Widmerpool raised his hand slightly, at the same time allowing a brief smile to lighten his face in indication of the superiority, stratospheric in degree, towards which he was about to soar beyond the range of any institution so traditionally prosaic, not to say sordid in function, as the War Office. He folded his arms.

“No,” he said, “not the War Office, I am thankful to say.”

“Where, then?”

“The Cabinet Offices.”

“I’m rather vague about them.”

“An admission that does not surprise me.”

“It’s the top thing of all?”

“You might describe it that way.”

“How else?”

“The Cabinet Offices comprise, in one aspect, the area of action where the Ministry of Defence – the Chiefs of Staff, if you prefer – are in immediate contact with each other and with the Government of this country – with the Prime Minister himself.”

“I see.”

“So you will appreciate the fact that my removal of Stringham from these Headquarters will not affect me in the smallest way.”

“You go at once?”

“I have only heard unofficially at present. I imagine it will be the matter of a week, perhaps less.”

“Have you any idea what will happen to me when you’re gone?”

“None.”

There was something impressive in his total lack of interest in the fate of all persons except himself. Perhaps it was not the lack of interest in itself – common enough to many people – but the fact that he was at no pains to conceal this within some