take the consequences. The whole world's gone mad. My only
consolation is that I have just got some new Greek things, and
that Levasseur's helping me unpack them. However, it's no good
talking to you about them. You wasted all your time at
Cambridge, and I doubt whether you could construe a bit of
Euripides to save your life.

'Of course if you want to talk this over, you had better run
down. I have got a new secretary--came here six weeks ago--a
topping young woman--who reads Greek like a bird. But her
quantities are not always what they should be. Good-bye.--Your
affectionate father,

'EDMUND MANNERING.'

Having finished the epistle he read it over with a complacent
countenance, put it up and stamped it. Then he looked at his watch.

'What a long time that young woman's been away! I told her to take
two hours off, but of course I didn't mean it. That was just my
excessive politeness. D-mn my politeness. It's always getting in my
way. I forget that women are naturally lazy. I daresay she was a bit
fagged. But if she's interested in her work, what does that matter?
I wonder whether she's looked out all these references?'

And walking over to the one neat table In the room he surveyed it.
There were some sheets lying on it mostly covered with an excellent
Greek script, which he turned over. Suddenly he swooped on one of
them.