occurrences that were to take place during that remarkable week. Lord Darlington

called me into his study, and I could see at once that he was in a state of some

agitation. He seated himself at his desk and, as usual, resorted to holding open

a book - this time it was Who's Who - turning a page to and fro.

 

"Oh, Stevens," he began with a false air of nonchalance, but then seemed at a

loss how to continue. I remained standing there ready to relieve his discomfort

at the first opportunity. His lordship went on fingering his page for a moment,

leaned forward to scrutinize an entry, then said:

 

"Stevens, I realize this is a somewhat irregular thing to ask you to do."

 

"Sir?"

 

"It's just that one has so much of importance on one's mind just now."

 

"I would be very glad to be of assistance, sir."

 

"I'm sorry to bring up a thing like this, Stevens. I know you must be awfully

busy yourself. But I can't see how on earth to... make it go away."

 

I waited a moment- while Lord Darlington returned his attention to Who's Who.

 

Then he said, without looking up: "You are familiar, I take it, with the facts

of life."