'I'm sure they won't.' 'You're being very charitable, Octavian.' 'Well, we must forgive him, you know.' 'Of course we forgive him. But it was a little sudden.' 'It does seem to be the mating season, doesn't it.' 'First Richard and Paula, and then this bombshell.' 'John's certainly a remarkable peacemaker.' 'You think he fixed up Paula and Richard? I doubt that I must say, I wouldn't be married to Richard for the world.' 'Paula seems pleased enough. I think they'll be happy. They know the worst, and they're terribly in love.' 'Your universal benevolence is beginning to depress me, Octavian.' 'Sorry, darling. Shall I turn out the light?' 'Yes, now we can see the moon properly, it's immense.' 'Like a huge apricot.' 'Listen to the owl.' 'Yes, isn't he lovely.' 'Where's Barbie? I didn't see her after dinner.' 'Gone to bed I think.' 'Thank heavens young Pierce seems to have gone off the boil II1vu… 'Yes. Barb must be relieved. How long are the twins staying on?' 'At least another week. Paula is having the house in Chelsea redecorated.' 'A rite of exorcism, I imagine.' 'Fumigation. It probably needs it. By the way, what was the name of that chap, you remember, the chap who killed himself in your office?' 'Radeechy.' 'Didn't you say John thought Richard was involved with him somehow?' 'It turned out there was nothing in that, at least nothing important. I believe they both knew the same girl, or something.' 'Why did John resign from the office, was it because he felt he'd muffed that inquiry thing?; 'No, I don't think so. His report was a bit thin, but the whole issue was old hat anyway.' 'Why then?» 'He wants to get on with his research, and maybe do some more teaching. He's been talking of resigning for years.' 'I expect he wants to make a break, a new life and all that.' 'I hope he'll go on coming here – I mean they will.' 'I suppose I hope it. Octavian, I must get another housekeeper. Can we afford it?' 'Yes, darling. Only don't hurt Casie's feelings.' 'Damn Casie. Well, no I won't. I wonder if anyone would understand if I advertised for a head parlourmaid? Oh Octavian, it's so sad, all our house seems broken apart, everyone is going.' 'Darling, you'll soon get other ones.' 'Other whats?' 'I mean, well, people.' 'I think you're being horrid.' 'Dear love, don't let go.' 'You disgraceful old hedonist. I just can't get over John and Mary. Do you think he's the sort of homosexual who has to get married to persuade himself he's normal? T 'You think he must be homosexual because he was moderately able to resist you!' 'Octavian, you beast. Mary is rather the mother figure isn't she?' 'I don't think John's queer. Mary just is his type, serious and so on.' 'Yes. I suppose I just wasn't his type. I feel now I made an awful ass of myself about John.' 'You're an affectionate girl, Kate.' 'Well, don't say it in that tone!' 'John wasn't up to it. It was too complicates for him. He didn't really understand you.' 'He didn't really understand me.' 'John's a very nice chap, but he's not the wise good man that we once thought he was.' 'We thought he was God, didn't we, and he turns out to be just like us after all.' 'Just like us after all.' 'Are you ready, darling?' 'Ready, sweetheart.' 'Octavian, I do love you. You cheer me up so much. Isn't it wonderful that we tell each other everything?' In fact there were a few details of Octavian's conduct, concerning long late evenings when he stayed in the office with his secretary, which Octavian did not think it necessary to divulge to Kate. However he easily forgave himself, so completely forgetting the matter as to feel blameless, and as he frequently decided that each occasion was the last he did not view himself as a deceiver of his wife. His knowledge that there was indeed nothing which she concealed from him was a profound source of happiness and satisfaction. The apricot moon shone and the night owl hooted above the rituals of love. 'They are going,' said Theo. 'Yes,' said Willy. , you are saa. 'I am always sad.' , Not always. You were almost cheerful a fortnight ago. I thought you were changed.' 'Something happened that time in London.' 'What happened?' 'I made love to a girl.' 'Good heavens, Willy! I mean, with all due respect ' 'Yes, I was surprised too.' 'What was she like?' 'A gazelle.' 'And when are you seeing her again?' 'I'm not.' 'But Willy, why not? Didn't she want to?' 'She did. But no, no, Theo. I am a dead man.' 'Dead men don't make love.' 'That was just a miracle. But a miracle need have no consequences. It is outside causality.' 'I should have thought a miracle would have consequences by definition. And you admit to being changed.' 'I don't. You said I was changed. I am just a past with no present.' 'That's a cowardly lie, if ever there was one.' 'What can one do with the past, Theo?' 'Forgive it. Let it enter into you in peace.' 'I can't.' 'You must forgive Hitler, Willy. It is time.' 'Damn Hitler. No, I will never forgive him. But that's not the problem.' 'What is the problem?' 'Forgiving myself.'
