Читать книгу Unconditional Surrender онлайн

54 страница из 62

"Will he have champagne?"

"Sure to. He enjoys heavy official backing and tonight he's got two distinguished foreigners to impress. It's pleasant to get into a completely civilian circle once in a while. D'you read his paper?"

"No."

"Nor do I. But it's very highly thought of. Winston reads it."

"I don't believe you."

"Well, perhaps not personally. But a copy goes to the Cabinet Offices, I happen to know."

"I hardly know Spruce. The Loot's going."

"Then anyone can. He'll be able to get a cab. They always stop for Americans."

Lieutenant Padfield was still at work on his correspondence; he wrote rather laboriously; the pen did not come readily to him; in youth he had typed; in earliest manhood dictated. Ian sent him up to Piccadilly and, sure enough, he returned in a quarter of an hour with a taxi.

"Glad to have you come with me," he said. "I thought you were not acquainted with Spruce."

"I changed my mind."

"Survival is a very significant organ of opinion."

"Signifying what, Loot?"

"The survival of values."