is to say when the wounds of bereavement had only superficially healed, my

father was called into Mr John Silvers's study to be told that this very same

personage - I will call him simply 'the General' - was due to visit for a number

of days to attend a house party, during which my father's employer hoped to lay

the foundations of a lucrative business transaction. Mr Silvers, however, had

remembered the significance the visit would have for my father, and had thus

called him in to offer him the option of taking several days' leave for the

duration of the General's stay.

 

My father's feelings towards the General were, naturally, those of utmost

loathing; but he realized too that his employer's present business aspirations

hung on the smooth running of the house party - which with some eighteen or so

people expected would be no trifling affair. My father thus replied to the

effect that while he was most grateful that his feelings had been taken in to

account, Mr Silvers could be assured that service would be provided to the usual

standards.

 

As things turned out, my father's ordeal proved even worse than might have been

predicted. For one thing, any hopes my father may have had that to meet the

General In person would arouse a sense of respect or sympathy to leaven his

feelings against him proved without foundation. The General was a portly, ugly

man, his manners were not refined, and his talk was conspicuous for an eagerness

to apply military similes to a very wide variety of matters. Worse was to come

with the news that the gentleman had brought no valet, his usual man having

fallen ill.