"When it came to the point, I never thought that fleur would go through with it." "She'd taken a knock," "I knew that, and I'd caught her on the rebound." "She needed a shoulder to cry on, and mine happened to be there." "No, it didn't happen." "I made damn sure it would be there." "Even so, she could have called it off, but she didn'T." "Perhaps it was because, in our society, once you announce a wedding, the whole thing becomes inevitable." "The families take over, and the principals have nothing more to say." "Primitive, really." "So, what we have so far is not so much a marriage, more of an alliance." "The forsytes with their are joined to the monts with their land." "And looking at them, fleur's father and mine, who can say there's a pin to choose between them?" " You're being neglected, sir lawrence." "Thank you, not at all." "Jolly thing, a wedding." "You've done it all very well, winifred." "Oh, thank you, dear." "Where' just going up to change." "She won't be long." "Yes, it's all rather nice." "Weddings don't alter, whatever else does." "Atavistic, wonderful." "Puts me in mind of frazer." "Oh, who?" "The golden bough, don't you know?" "Remember the tribe that buries the bride up to the waist?" "How amusing." "Didn't I see june?" " Yes, probably." "Dressed in a sort of tent." "What made you ask because I thought she wouldn't come, of course." "Fertility rites." "Orange blossom." "Rice... it's all splendidly pagan and animal, don't you think?" " Yes, I dare say." "Hm." "Excuse me." "Weren't you about to tell me something about an insurance company?" "Ah, yes." "The P.P.R.S." "Yes, I'm on the board." "Old clarence died last week." "Yes, I saw the obituary." "Rather overdone, I thought." "Would you be interested in taking his place?" "We need new blood." "As new as mine?" "Ah, a hit!" "But we're not all effete aristocrats." "Elderson, our managing director, is very much on the mark." "Well, what about it, forsyte?" "It's good of you to ask me, mont." "Not at all." "You'd be doing us a favor." "Think about it, let me know." "Yes, thank you." "I will." "Well, soames has got his filly to the starting gate, but will she stay the course?" "Yes, certainly, she will." "Where's her mother?" "In france with her mother." "Good thing too, from what I hear." "They tell me this young mont's a budding socialist." "It's quite the thing, you know." "What?" " Oh, yes." "All the young men are radicals these days." "Insurance, eh?" " Against what's coming." "Not a bad idea, what?" "Better to hunt with the hounds than run with the fox." "It's a craze, like mahjong." "When michael comes into his property... yes, and when they start having puppies, that will change his tune." "Yes, it is rather complicated." "You see, val is fleur's first cousin, but I was a forsyte too, so I'm a second cousin." "Removed?" " I don't think so." "Yes, I'd like you to meet my best man." "Wilfrid?" "Wilfrid desert, this is mr." "And mrs." "Val dartie." "How do you do?" " I know, you're the poet." "You must be." "The one and only." "I read something of yours last week in the quarterly review." ""Black barrage."" "How much did you dislike it?" " Quite a lot." "Though I found it very moving, but too bitter for me, too... too astringent." "And you prefer sugar?" "I prefer siegfried sassoon, actually." "You haven't got beyond despair." "Is there anything beyond it?" "John bunyan thought so." "And after all, poets are supposed to be giant killers, aren't they?" "We must go." "Val's pining for his horses." "I hope you'll be very happy." "I'm sure you will." "So long." "Goodbye." "Well, excuse my new family." "I rather like that one, the female half, I mean." "Her father was jolyon forsyte, the painter." "The one who died a few months ago." "I know." "His work's rather old hat, but not half bad." "He seems a nice young man." "Mm?" "The poet?" " Michael mont." "Val, I had a letter this morning from jon." "Where is he?" " He's in british columbia because he wants to be in california." "Well, he thinks it's too pleasant there." "Well, he's beginning to see a joke again." "He's bought a good piece of land and sent for irene." "What on earth is she going to do out there?" " All she cares about is jon." "Do you still think it's a happy outcome?" "Fleur wouldn't have been right for him at all." "Poor fleur." "And poor michael mont." "That remains to be seen." "Thank you for coming up." "I was glad to." "Shall I unhook you?" "Please." "I suppose you think me a fool when it should have been jon." "I don't know, fleur." "Selfish beast." "Does michael know about jon?" " He knows that I was in love, that's all." "Then he knows what he's taking on." "Well, he wants me on any terms, and... oh, I don't care." "It'll get me away from home." "I had one letter from jon." "Very short." "It says, "I'm not coming back to england." "Bless you always." "Jon." So you see, she's made safe." "Is that quite fair to irene?" " She always told jon he could do as he wished." "That's a bad joke." "Tell me, didn't she spoil your life too?" "I don't think anyone can spoil a life." "That's nonsense." "Things happen, but we bob up." "Oh, june, what am I doing?" "Fleur, don'T." "Don'T." "There, there now." "It'll be all right." "I promise you." "It'll all come out right." "Now, look." "You mustn't sit down under it." "We can't control life, but we can fight it." "Make the best of things, fleur." "I've had to." "I held on like you for what I wanted... and failed in the end." "I cried as you're crying now." "Well... look at me." "It's all right." "Over now." "I'm sorry." "I shall forget him, I suppose, if I fly fast and far enough." "Then give me a kiss and dry your eyes." "Shall I wait?" "No, but thank you." "You've helped me through a bad moment." "Evening paper!" "Late edition!" "Government resigns!" "Election next month!" "Paper, sir?" "Thank you, sir." "Evening paper!" "Government resigns!" "Thank you, mr." "Mont." "One other thing, sir." "Yes, miss perren?" "Bicket's here." "Oh, lord." "All right." "Better show him in." "Yes, bicket?" "I've got the sack, sir." "Well, dash it all, man, what do you expect?" " You swiped five copies of copper coin." "That's right, mr." "Mont." "But you're a packer." "We have to trust you cha because it's almost impossible to keep a check on you." "If you let us down and then you get caught, you can't blame mr." "Danby for giving you the shove." "No, sir." "What is it you want?" "Another chance." "That's all jolly fine, man." "Look, sit down, bicket." "Now what made you take the books in the first place?" " I was going to sell them." "I get two pounds a week." "I can't live on that, not with prices what they are." "But it's the wife, sir." "She's been ill." "Pneumonia." "It was terrible." "I thought..." "I thought she was... but she's recovering, isn't she?" "I had to have the money." "She needed the food." "Wh you say means, in effect, that you've taken other books before and sold them?" "Try and see it from the firm's point of view." "If all the other packers were doing what you've done, we'd soon be in the cart." "And if we're in the cart, where are all of you?" "In the street." "I'm sorry, bicket." "Anyway, I don't think mr." "Danby will listen to me." "Please, sir," "I know I done wrong, but if I'm sacked and no reference, I'll never get another job, not with all this unemployment." "I don't care about me." "It's the wife, mr." "Mont." "How old is your wife?" "Just 20." "Tell you what I'll do." "I'll have a word with mr." "Desert." "After all, they were copies of his book you swiped." "If he'll speak for you, it may move mr." "Danby." "Oh, thank you, mr." "Mont." "You're a gentleman." "We all say that." "Yes, all right, bicket." "Oh, bicket?" " Yes, sir?" "I suppose you were counting on those five coppers." "Well... you'd better take that to make up." "Go on." "Only for heaven's sake, don't tell mr." "Danby." "Now, buzz off, there's a good chap." "Go on." "Miss perren, get me mr." "Desert on the telephone, will you?" "I must be out of my mind." "Oh." "I'm sorry about that, michael." "Oh, hello, bart." "Take a pew." "And what's unhinged you, my boy?" " Spot of staff bother." "No trouble for the danbys of this world." "They've got it cut and dried." "Not me." "I see too many points of view." "An excellent fault." "I've just come from the club." "What news?" "Election next month." "Your labor friends can start lying, michael." "Do you think they'll get in?" " Not this time." "Bonar law's got it all tied up, but it wouldn't be a bad thing if they did." "A taste of office might help them grow up." "Excuse me." "Yes?" " Did you get him, miss perren?" " Oh, bad luck." "No, it's all right." "I'll telephone him this evening." "Thank you." "Well, suppose they did get in?" " What could they do?" "Cure unemployment?" " They might, bart." "I doubt it." "And what else?" "Would they abolish the cinema?" " Teach english women to cook?" "Make us grow our own food?" "Would they hang all dabblers in poison gas and destroy all bombing airplanes and submarines?" "They could try." "And what about the possessive principle that you disapprove of, would they abolish that?" " No, not on your life, my boy." "No." "All party politics are top-dressing." "We're ruled by inventors and by human nature." "You've got it bad, guv'nor." "Well, seriously, do you find reality in politics now?" " Do you find reality in anything now?" " Income tax, perhaps." "Such simple faith." "It touches me." "Everything fine and splendid is off." "No big schemes." "No great principles." "No farsighted views." "No great religion." "No great art." "Just a lot of little men in little hats." "As penteth the heart after byron wilberforce and the nelson monument?" " Oh, my poor, old bart." "You'd better come home and have tea." "I will." "Isn't it your anniversary?" " Yes, the second." "Celebrating?" " Oh, yes." "Going out to dinner and onto a ball at the humphrey'S." "Come along home and let fleur cheer you up." "Does she cheer you up?" "Oh, lord, yes." "She's a dab hand at that." "Come on." "Ah." "There, ting." "Sit there and look oriental." "Grosvenor, 1-9-2-9, please." "No. 2-9." "Thank you." "Ting, don't lick the floor." "It's bad for you." "Oh, hello?" " Can I speak to lady alison?" "Oh, it's you, alison." "Fleur speaking." "Yes, fine, thanks." "Well, it's about next wednesday..." "charles upshire's fallen out." "Yes, it is a bore, isn't it?" " I was wondering if there's any chance of your bringing gerdin minnow?" " I don't know him, of course, but he might be interested." "Will you?" "Well, do try." "And could you let me know tonight?" "Thanks awfully, yes." "Bye." "Oh, my, ting." "You mustn't lick the floor." "Mr. Desert, ma'am." "Wilfrid!" "How nice." "I was feeling all lonely waiting for michael, and here you are." "Come and sit down." "I'll ring for tea." "No tea." "Thank you." "Oh." "Very well." "Don't you think he goes beautifully with my room?" "Are you in a mood, wilfrid?" "Depends what you call a mood." "This one seems to be permanent." "Pity." "I can't be doing with permanent gloom." "Boring." "Fleur, stop it." "You know I'm crazy about you." "How would michael like that?" "From you, his best friend?" "Ugly, isn't it?" " Fleur, put that damn dog down." "I can't see your face." "If you were truly fond of michael, I'd say nothing, but you're not." "I know you're not." "Then you know very little." "I am fond of michael." "Oh, yes, but not in a way that counts." "Quite enough for safety." "Oh." "I see." "A flower that I mustn't touch." "Quite sure?" "Quite, quite sure?" "The moment I believe that, I shall go east." "Oh, east?" " Not so stale as going west, but much the same." "You don't come back." "I shouldn't like that." "No?" "Perhaps not." "You hate to lose anything once you've got it." "That's unfair." "I don't think so, but you're not going to keep me in your zoo." "I'm not going to hang around picking up the crumbs." "You know what I feel, but whether you know how badly... well, I'm warning you." "If I stay here, there'll be a smash of some sort." "Wilfrid, are you suggesting that it's my fault?" " Yes." "You've collected me as you collect everybody that comes near you." "But I don't believe that you even like me..." "I see you clearly, and I don't lie, either to myself or to you." "I love you desperately, and that's all that matters." "Don't be angry, fleur, please." "I'm too unhappy." "I'm sorry, wilfrid." "Wilfrid, I am sorry." "All right." "I'll go." "But you'll come to dinner on wednesday?" "What the hell do you take me for?" "Wilfrid, I don't like violence." "Goodbye, fleur." "Wilfrid!" "Just the man I wanted to see." "Hello, duckie." "How do you do, sir?" " Pretty spry for an old one." "Congratulations, by the way." "Copper coin." "I'm filled with admiration." "Thanks." "Hello, my dear." "Wilfrid's feeling cast down because copper coin's selling too well, on the principle that if poetry gets read at all these days, it can't be any good." "I don't want to add to your unhappiness, but danby's given the go-ahead for the second edition." "Why did you want to see me?" " Oh, yes." "One of our packers." "Poor little snipe called bicket." "He got caught snaffling five copies of copper coin." "Oh?" " Intending to sell them, of course." "But danby's given him the shove." "Well, I feel sorry for him." "There's a wife, been ill with pneumonia." "Well, he came to me, very contrite." "Won't do it again, so he says, not with yours anyway." "I was really wondering, I know danby won't listen to me, would you feel like putting in a word for him?" "I'll look in on monday morning." "Thanks." "Those verses, desert, you were in the war, I gather?" "Yes." "Air service?" "And line." "A bit of both." "Hard on a poet." "I don't agree." "I think poetry's only really possible when you may be blown up at any moment, or when you live in putney." "Indeed?" " Tennyson." "Woodsworth." "Swinburne." "Browning." "They could turn it out." "They lived, but not much." "Mm." "Is there not a third condition favorable?" "And that, sir?" " Well, how shall i express it?" " A certain cerebral agitation in connection with women?" "Excuse me." "I was just leaving." "Goodbye." "Wilfrid!" "That's a very sudden young man." "Don't mind him, bart." "He broods." "Yes." "Poor old wilfrid." "I recognize the symptoms." "He's brewing up." "Out of those depths of introspection will emerge some black and savage lines of verse." "Well, who's going to tell me about the election?" "So you've heard?" " Father telephoned." "He says labor is going to get in." "Bart doesn'T." "I do hope you're not going to canvass for them, michael." "Why not?" "I think canvassing is so silly." "If anyone canvassed me," "I'd vote the other way at once." "Yes, dear." "But, darling, but you're not the average elector." "I hope not." "Cream, bart?" " Thank you, my dear." "By the way, bart wants us to go to dinner tomorrow evening." "Lovely." "But, darling, we can'T." "Why ever not?" " There's the hugo solstis concert." "Damn." "I'd forgotten about that." "Sorry, bart." "Do you know hugo's stuff?" " Isn't he supposed to be restoring english music?" " Yes, "giving it a wide and spacious freedom from melody "while investing it with literary and mathematical charms."" "Michael, that's unkind." "It's not." "I'm quoting the music critic of the morning post." "One doesn't go to hugo's concerts anticipati so I noticed." "Last time, you slept." "I tried to." "It was worse than taking a nap on the railway station at liege." "Hello, forsyte." "Good afternoon." "Well, I believe it's your anniversary." "I don't know what you're going to do with it." "Open it for me, darling." "All right." "And I'll pour father some tea." "You coming to the board meeting on tuesday?" " Board?" "Oh, P.P.R.S." "Is it on us so soon?" " Yes." "Nuisance." "I'd planned shooting the spinneys with michael." "I should let the spinneys wait." "We have to settle that annual report." "You say that somewhat uneasily." "I am uneasy." "Don't worry." "Elderson's got everything under control." "Elderson's got far too much control." "If I'd realized the extent to which he ruled the roost, I doubt if I should have come on the board." "You surely can't mean that?" "Elderson?" "Good lord." "His grandfather was my grandfather's agent at the time of the reform bill." "Put through the most corrupt election ever fought, bought every vote." "Great days, forsyte." "And over." "I don't believe in trusting a man's judgment as far as we trust elderson'S." "But he's first-class." "We were at winchester together." "A fellow at marlborough with me... went into the army, absconded with the mess funds and the colonel's wife." "Are you saying something?" "I am expressing an anxiety." "Elderson, in my view, has committed us far too heavily in the field of foreign insurance." "With the situation as it is, it's a mistake to put all your eggs in one basket." "Possibly." "Possibly." "You can always bring it up at the meeting." "Yes, I intend to." "What a delicious thing." "Oh, that's marvelous." "Very pretty, indeed." "Oh, that's very handsome." "Uncommon too." "Where did you pick it up, forsyte?" "At a sale." "It needs a strong light." "Pin it on for me, michael." "All right, darling." "Here we are... come over to the window." "They get along all right, don't they?" "Yes, I believe so." "Why?" "Well, don't you think it's time there was a movement in heirs, forsyte?" "Oh, I know we're not the royal family, but with all this modern birth control, frankly, my dear fellow, I'm getting uneasy." "There's plenty of time." "I don't like that dog, forsyte." "Dog?" "What's that got to do with it?" "I like a baby to come before a dog." "Dogs and poets distract young women." "Well, if you're as concerned as all that you can have a talk with your son." "Or you could have a word with your daughter." "It's lovely, sweetie." "Thank you." "Well..." "I must be off." "Are you coming, forsyte?" " Yes." "There's an argentine gentleman, wants to buy my goya." "Sell your goya, sir?" " Think how much you're envied." "One can't have everything." "But that reproduction we're publishing is absolutely first-rate." ""Property of soames forsyte, esquire." Let's get the book out first." "Shadow or substance, eh, forsyte?" "I have no family place." "You could always leave it to fleur." "Yes." "Yes, well, we'll have to see if that's worthwhile, won't we?" "Goodbye, my dear." " Oh." " I'll see you out." "Goodbye, darlings." "See you soon." "That's quite enough for a bad, small dog." "What shall we do about wilfrid, ting, hm?" " I know what you'd do." "Bite." "Happy anniversary, darling." "Oh!" "Michael, you're chin's like a boot brush." "Sorry, old thing." "Your face shouldn't be smooth." "I say, I wonder if there's anything in it." "In what?" " Well, you saw wilfrid's face when bart talked about women." "Perhaps old wilfrid's been nobbled at last." "Has he, do you think?" "Well, michael, if you don't know, nobody does." "But why, tony, why?" "Things is bad all round, vic." "But you were saying last week... last week's last week." "This is the world of business, love." "It changes overnight, and that's what's happened." "It's suddenly gone slack, so they're reducing staff." "What we going to do, tony?" "I don't know yet, but don't you worry." "I'll get something." "It's a shame." "You liked that job." "Have some more cocoa?" "I wouldn't mind." "It was all right, vic." "I liked some of the fellas, but the job... well, I mean to say, wrapping books up in a basement all day long, it wasn't all that blooming marvelous." "How's the breathing, love?" "Much better." "I'll be all right in no time." "You're still pale." "I was never the sort to have much color." "Your dad was italian, wasn't he?" "I've sometimes thought about that." "What do you mean?" " Living in the sunshine." "They say italy's a poor country." "Yeah, maybe." "But if you've got to be poor, vic," "I reckon it's better being poor in the sun than over here." "Anyway, there's other countries." "Take australia." "We had a book in there about it." "They say there's quite a movement." "Yes." "This book was on about it being the place of the future." "Called it a "land of golden opportunity."" "I like the sun, vic." "I wouldn't mind trying it." "How much does it cost then, to get there?" "A lot more than we can lay our hands on." "That's the trouble." "But I've been thinking, england's about done." "There's too many like me." "You're wrong." "There aren't enough." "What made you take a fancy to me?" " Because you don't think first of yourself, that's why." "I used to before i met you." "I'd do anything for you, vic." "Me too." "If we could only wake up in australia... but one thing's certain... we'll wake up in this blighted little room." "Ah, never mind." "I'll earn the money somehow." "Couldn't we win it on a horse?" "I've only got 47 bob now the rent's paid, and if we lose that, where'll you be?" "No, I'll get a job." "They'll give you good references, won' yeah, but that job's off." "Overstocked." "Oh, look, tony, if you want to go to australia, we'll manage it somehow." "Now, come on." "Get undressed and come to bed." "Oh, dear, doesn't old hugo just pile it on?" "Shh." "Quiet, michael." "Quiet?" "I'm still stone-deaf." "I can't hear myself speak." "I know, but other people can." "That's all very well for them, I forgot me earplugs." "Shh." "All right." "Let the voice of honest criticism be drowned in drink." "What are you going to have?" " Gin and something." "I'll bring it over." "Thank you." "Fleur." "How nice to see you." "Where's michael?" " 'S just gone for drinks." "I might just catch him if..." "no, thank you, dear." "No." "What did you think of the music?" "Interesting." "That's what everybody says." "It's a useful word, but it doesn't commit you to anything." "Yes, you know mr." "Solstis, don't you, fleur?" " Slightly." "Then could you tell him, dear, discreetly, that the fiddles were all playing in the wrong key?" "It quite ruined the oh, aunt, really." "That was on purpose." "I don't believe you." "Was it, fleur?" "Certainly." "And as for melody, michael says hugo would drop dead with shame if he achieved it, even accidentally." "Dear me." "Well, I suppose one must keep up to date, though one does find it rather a strain." "What's next, holly?" " Oh, um... beethoven." "Piano concerto." "Oh, good." "So they still play beethoven?" "Sometimes, though he's considered an awful old dud." "Poor old beethoven." "Honestly, fleur, don't you rather enjoy him?" "Honestly, yes, but, of course, one mustn't say so." "Holly, look, there's very young nicholas." "I must have a word with him." "Goodbye, fleur, dear." "Perhaps you'd better say nothing to mr." "Solstis." "No." "Just tell him we found his music interesting." "Light?" "Thanks." "Well, fleur?" " Am I going east?" "You're very silly." "Anything you like." "Am I going east?" "I do wish you wouldn't be so intense and difficult." "Awkward, isn't it?" "But it troubles you too, doesn't it?" "And you don't want to be troubled." "Not in that way, no." "I understand perfectly." "But then collectors oughtn't to be troubled by their possessions." "And that's all I am to you." "A piece of "ming" you don't want to lose." "Wilfrid!" ""Wilfrid, how can you be so unkind as to leave, "when your friendship is so precious to me?" " Stay and be my tame cat."" "Well, I'm sorry, it's not good enough." "You're being quite horrible." "Perhaps... but I'm also right." "I'm not staying on your terms, and I can't have you on mine, so the thing's impossible." "Let's finish it now." "No... wait." "For what?" "Wilfrid, I don't know what I want." "I need time." "Oh, I can't bear for you to be unhappy." "Don't go." "Perhaps I shall be unhappy too." "I don' my dear child, you'll be over all that in a fortnight." "If you like, I'll go to china." "Stop it." "Why not?" "One place is as good as another." "China's a damned good idea." "I'll be able to send you a piece of rea much better period than this." "You're insulting!" "I beg your pardon." "I don't want to leave you angry, fleur." "Truly, I don'T." "Then what is it you do want?" " You mustn't be a silly child." "You know perfectly well, but since it's not on..." "I want nothing." "Your blessing and your hand." "You think I'm made of ice." "Well, I'm not." "I didn't mean to play up your pride, but we must drop it, fleur." "It's no good." "You'd be a fool to go." "Wait!" "Wilfrid?" "Wilfrid!" "Oh, excuse me." "I'm sorry, darling." "What a mob." "Did you see wilfrid?" "Yes." "Did he say anything?" "No, not much." "He's got the hump." "Yes, poor old son." "We ought to have him round more often, fleur." "You always cheer him up." "We ought to go, they're starting." "Do you mind if we go home, darling?" "I'm tired." "Of courst, D." "Finish that up, and we'll go down and grab rickshaw." "What is that strange sound?" "Melody." "By jove, so it is." "Melody." "Come along, darling." "Well, vic, I'm off." "What's that?" "What have you got there?" "Ah, great stunt, this." "Look here." "You're never going out to sell those, not in the street." "Course I am." "Up the city." "Sell like hotcakes, they will, up there among all them millionaires and aldermen." "It's all right, love, it's all right." "Mustn't quarrel with bread and butter." "I'll get a job." "This is only to tus over." "But you never know, might do well at this lark." "Be my own boss, anyhow." "No kowtowing to nobody." "Come and go as I please." "I'd rather sell balloons than be a packer any day." "Then when you're well enough to get a job, we'll be able to put something away." "And then, australia here we come." "Oh, tony." "Tony." "And those, mr." "Chairman, gentlemen, are the figures on which we shall report to our shareholders at the annual general meeting." "Do you wish to comment on them, mr." "Forsyte?" "Yes, mr." "En, I d i'm not satisfied that these accounts disclose our true position." "Oh?" "In what way?" "Next year's foreign-contract commitments are all lumped under one general estimate of liability." "I am not satisfied with that." "I think they should be treated separately." "We have always treated our commitments under one general estimate, mr." "Forsyte." "And to my mind, wrongly." "Why?" " This foreign-contract business is a new policy." "Secondly, in my view," "I don't think we're taking sufficient regard of what's happening on the continent." "Unless there's a material change there for the better, I fully expect us to finish up in queer street next year." "I'm not all clear." "What precisely are you asking of the board, mr." "Forsyte?" "I am asking, as a member of the board, that we are, each of us, furnished with the full details of all foreign contracts, and that the board be adjourned till this day week, so that we may all have an opportunity" "of examining them." "Ot necessary." "It may be inconvenient, mr." "Meyricks, but it is necessary." "For all I can tell, instead of issuing a dividend, we ought to be reserving this year's profits against next year's certain loss." "Dear sir... quite absurd." "So you say." "Are we to hahose details?" "The board can have what details it likes, but permit me to remark it can be only a matter of estimate." "That is a matter of opinion." "And inew, it should be the board's opinion, but only after very careful examination of the actual figures." "There should be no difficulty about that, I imagine, elderson." "No, no." "But in any case, mr." "Forsyte, we should hardly be justified in penalizing the present year for the sake of eventualities which we hope will not arise." "We are here to decide policy according to our common sense, and we can only do that with full information." "That is my point." "We have not enough." "Mr. Forsyte seems to be indicating a lack of confidence in the management." "Not at all." "I'm merely asking for information." "The board could be adjourned, mr." "Chairman." "I could come up myself at a pinch." "Possibly, we could all attend." "The times are very peculiar." "We mustn't take any unnecessary risks, not that we have any reason to complain of the results so far." "And I'm sure we all have the utmost confidence in the judgment of our managing director." "Still, as mr." "Forsyte has seen fit to ask for this information," "I think that perhaps we ought to have it." "What do you say, f i really don't think that on these accounts, we should fail to declare a dividend this year." "There's no good getting the wind up before we must." "When do the accounts go out, elderson?" " Normally, at the end of this week." "These are not normal times." "Well, may I speak plainly?" "Unless I have that information, I must tender my resignation." "Oh." "Very well." "We will adjourn the board to this day week." "You will be able to get us those figures, elderson?" "Oh, certainly, yes." "Thank you, gentlemen." "I say, forsyte." "Gave us quite a shock." "A shock?" "With your alternative." "I never remember anything of that sort before." "Ah, sleepy hollow." "Generally manage 40 winks myself." "Gets so infernally hot in here." "The board meeting is ov... yes, speaking." "Is that you, gradman?" " Yes, what is it?" "Yes, I see." "No, no, no..." "quite right to ring me here." "Yes." "Thank you." "Goodbye." "Anything wrong?" "Hm?" " Yes, my cousin, george forsyte." "Has something happened to him?" "Yes, he's dying." "Your medicine, sir." "Good afternoon." "I'm mr." "Forsyte." "Please come in, sir." "Is he conscious?" "Yes, sir." "Doctor says he won't last the night." "Yes, well... here's my card." "He might like to see me." "Thank you, sir." "If you'd care to wait here." "That's not bad." "Not bad at all." "I'm to take you in, sir." "Yes." "Mr. Forsyte, sir." "Hello, george." "Hello, soames." "Come to measure me for my coffin?" "Well, you'll pick up in no time." "You're no age." "Is there something you wanted me to do for you?" "Make me a codicil." "You'll find paper in the dressing-table drawer." "Yes?" "My three screws to young val dartie because he's the only forsyte that knows a horse from a donkey." "What have you said?" ""I hereby leave my three racehorses" ""to my kinsman, valerius dartie, because he has special knowledge of horses."" "You're a dry file, soames." "Go on." ""To bella moyle, "of 12 claremont grove," ""the sum of 12,000 pounds, free of legacy duty."" "That's a lot of money." "Write it down or I'll leave her the lot." "Is there anything else?" "No." "Read it." ""To bella moyle of 12 claremont grove, 12,000 pounds, free of legacy duty."" "That's a pill." "You won't let that bit into the paper now call my chap, and you and he can witness." "The vicar, sir, has called." "He wantso know if y woulde to sim." "No." "Give him my compliments." "Say I'll see him at the funeral." "But wait a minute." "Mr. Forsyte wants you to sign your name." "Yes, sir." "If you would just witness here." "Thank you." "See she gets it." "I can trust you." "That's one thing about you, soames." "You want to see her again?" "No." "What's the use?" "Now get me a cigar from that drawer." "Ought you to?" "Never in me life done what I ought." "Not going to begin now." "Cut it for me." "Good, isn't it?" "I always liked it." "Such a damned uncomfortable thing to live with." "You'd better buy it in before the sale." "Your cigar, george." "I'm going to have a snooze." "Well... goodbye, george." "I hope you'll soon... goodbye." "Good old soames, he merry optimt." "Goodbye." "Oh... you have my telephone number." "Let me know." "Very good, sir." "Come in." "Well... fleur!" "Why are you here?" "Why?" "You've invited me often enough." "Yes, I know, but... well, to see your junk." "Nice junk too... some of it." "If that's why you came, why didn't you bring michael?" " Oh, he's busy." "This is hepplewhite, isn't it?" "You know very well it is." "And that chair." "Now, I do like that." "You said I'd be a fool to go away." "Because of me?" "Yes, I think you would." "I'm not worth that sort of gesture." "That's not what you meant." "Wasn't it?" " Well... it's what I mean now." "You came to tell me that?" "I don't believe you." "I'll tell you why you came, because it's dangerous, a new sensation." "You can feel modern and daring without committing yourself to anything." "The idea of passion excites you, but that's all." "You've got no intention of letting yourself in for the real thing." "You've never loved anyone." "That's not true." "And you don't intend to." "For you, it's a sort of fashionable game." "Well, let me tell you, fleur, for me, it's no game." "I loathe myself for what i'm doing because of michael, and I can't stop myself because of you." "Do you think that's funny?" "Do you think that's an amusing game?" "Let me tell you, it may be more a great deal more dangerous than you think." "Wilfrid, stop it." "I'm going to kiss you, at least I shall have that." "Then... we'll see." "Wilfrid, that was silly." "I'm not to be taken like that." "Lovely balloons." "Come on, lady, take a packet for the kids." "I'm not sure you can stand there." "Give us a chance, constable." "You might cause an obstruction." "If I'm in the way, I'll stand anywhere you like." "But I'm right on my bones, honest." "Haven't seen you here before." "That's right, constable," "I'm new to this." "Me first day." "I'm down to me last two bob, and the wife's been sick." "We'll see." "I shan't make trouble for you if no one objects." "Much obliged." "Here, take it." "I mean it." "Take it for your little girl." "To please me." "I'll buy one and give you a start." "Not now." "In an hour when I go off duty." "Have it ready." "A big magenta one." "Thanks!" "Balloons!" "Balloon, sir?" "Best quality." "What would I want with a balloon?" " Children like them." "No weight, sir." "Waistcoat pocket." "I dare say." "I have no children." "Grandchildren, sir?" "Nor grandchildren." "Thank you, sir." "Give me two." "How much are they?" "A tuppence, sir." "Much obliged." "All right." "Keep the change." "Balloons!" "Who'll buy my balloons?" "Lovely balloons!" "What do you think, miss perren?" "Barrington or aubrey greene?" " I think mr." "Greene's is awfully clever." "But barrington's has the commercial touch, eh?" " Yes, I suppose so." "Aubrey's a lad, though." "His stuff's original, it's new-minted." "Barrington's a tired old hack." "A good tired old hack, mind you, but let's take a flyer." "Settle for aubrey." "I'm glad." "I just thought i ought to... quite right, miss perren." "Keep me on the straight and narrow if you can, and I'll try to lead you astray." "No offense, miss perren, no offense in the world." "Though what mr." "Danby's going to say, I don't know." "Is mr." "Desert still in...?" " Yes." "In with mr." "Danby now." "They all go to our friend mont, with some tale or other." "He has a very soft heart, but I can't take bicket back." "His wife's been damned ill." "If she has, I'm sorry." "It doesn't excuse what he did." "This sort of thing, it's most insidious." "We've been trying to trace the leak for some time." "Tiresome, I grant you, but aren't you being unduly hard?" " Not hard, mr." "Desert, only just." "And are you a judge of justice?" " I hope so." "Try four years in the trenches and then have another go." "I don't see the connection." "The experience you've been through, it was bound to be warping." "A damn sight less warping than sitting on one's behind being just." "In effect, you are telling me that I should make no distinction between honesty and dishonesty." "That's absurd." "You know it perfectly well." "I know nothing perfectly well, mr." "Danby, and I mistrust those who say they do." "Let us say life is a game." "If you don't observe the rules... oh, hang the rules." "Give the poor blighter another chance." "Do it as a favor to me." "After all, I wrote the rotten book." "I'm sorry, but with me, well, it's a matter of conscience." "Bicket doesn't come back." "That's final." "Hello, old son." "What luck?" " No go." "Old scrooge is too just." "I was afraid of that, but thanks for trying anyway." "Sorry." "I can't handle his kind." "Don't go, wilfri look, I'm just leaving." "Come and have a drink with us." "Fleur would be glad to see you." "Fleur... what is it, wilfrid?" " What's wrong?" "Michael... you've got to know..." "I'm in love with fleur." "I'll take her from you if I can."