"I mean to say, sir, that it is not customary in England for an employee to

discuss his past employers."

 

"OK, Stevens, so you don't wish to divulge past confidences. But does that

extend to you actually denying having worked for anyone other than me?"

 

"It does seem a little extreme when you put it that way, sir. But it has often

been considered desirable for employees to give such an impression. If I may put

it this way, sir, it is a little akin to the custom as regards marriages. If a

divorced lady were present in the company of her second husband, it is often

thought desirable not to allude to the original marriage at all. There is a

similar custom as regards our profession, sir."

 

"Well, I only wish I'd known about your custom before, Stevens," my employer

said, leaning back in his chair. "It certainly made me look like a chump."

 

I believe I realized even at the time that my explanation to Mr Farraday -

though, of course, not entirely devoid of truth - was woefully inadequate. But

when one has so much else to think about, it is easy not to give such matters a

great deal of attention, and so I did, indeed, put the whole episode out of my

mind for some time. But now, recalling it here in the calm that surrounds this

pond, there seems little doubt that my conduct towards Mrs Wakefield that day

has an obvious relation to what has just taken place this afternoon.

 

Of course, there are many people these days who have a lot of foolish things to