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Monday, 15th May, 1939.

THE KING WILL BE TWO DAYS LATE

IT'S THAT OTHER MAN AGAIN

DUCE SAYS PEACE

'Nothing to Justify a War.'

Essie was still looking at him, and now she asked, 'What is in your paper, René?'

'It's that "Other Man Again",' he replied, almost mechanically, echoing the headlines. He looked up at her, his face wrinkled, with a dismally roguish smile. 'The German Chancellor, you know.'

'So I gathered,' Essie said, and slowly lowered her head to look at her own paper, the Daily Telegraph.

For about ten minutes, husband and wife read their papers without speaking. Rather abruptly Harding rose, wiped his moustache, and exclaimed, 'Are you going out to the shops, my dear?'

Hester Harding rose too.

'A little later, yes.'

'See if you can get me The Times, will you? Also the Manchester Guardian. I am going in to work now. If anyone should telephone, do not put them through.'

'No one?'

'No one at all!'

'All right,' said Essie. 'You look preoccupied. Is there anything in the papers you don't like?'