Read Online The military philosophers by Anthony Powell - Free Book Online Page A

dear Captain, we have become middle-aged.’
    He sighed.
    ‘I saw Sir Gavin Walpole-Wilson the other day,’ he went on. ‘Of course he is getting on now, older even than ourselves. We discussed a lot of matters – as you remember, he was formerly your country’s minister plenipotentiary to my own. Now he stands well to the left politically. I have certain leanings that way myself, but not as far as Sir Gavin. One must not remain embedded in the past, but Sir Gavin does not always understand our difficulties and the ruthless methods of a certain Ally. There are plenty of good young men in my country who want to get rid of the Germans. There are also men not equally good there who play another part – not all of them our own countrymen.’
    Theodoric spoke with great earnestness. It was clear he considered not only people like Finn and Farebrother, but even those of my own rank worth sweeping in as supporters of whatever policy he represented.
    ‘In knowing Sir Magnus Donners,’ he said, ‘I am particularly fortunate. He is personally conversant with our industrial problems, also – perhaps I should not say this –  has the ear of a Very Important Person. If something is to be done, Sir Magnus is the man to do it. I need not tell you that I have had more than one long and interesting talk with him. He says we must wait.’
    Theodoric stopped on the way down the marble stairs, where the flights divided, left and right, under the elaborately gilded wall-clock and bronze bust of Kitchener. His tone suggested my views on the matter were scarcely less important than those of Sir Magnus. In terms of propaganda, that was an effective technique. The persuasiveness of the Prince was something to be reckoned with. This characteristic could have direct bearing on the fate of his country.
    ‘I shall continue to put our case,’ he said.
    By now he had reached the great hall. Vavassor, the porter, an attendant spirit of some importance in the Section’s background, was standing by the door. It was commonly Vavassor’s duty to give warning to Finn of the arrival of callers belonging to the higher echelons, some of whom were capable of turning up without previous appointment, and demanding an interview on the spot. Vavassor could hold them in check; in extreme cases, turn them away. He was also, in this office of guarding the door, a key figure in the lives of Pennistone and myself, on account of frequent association with Allied comings and goings, raising no difficulties about our using the main entrance –  superstitiously, though uncategorically, apprehended as prerogative of officers of the rank of brigadier and above –  when we arrived for duty in the morning. This not only saved several yards of pavement, but, more important, meant avoidance of the teeming mob at the staff entrance. It was a good opening to the day’s work. Vavassor saluted Theodoric.
    ‘No fire?’ said the Prince.
    ‘Don’t let us have any coal when the weather’s short of freezing,’ said Vavassor. ‘That grate takes the best part of a hundredweight a day, it’s the truth. Wasn’t made for rationing.’
    He pointed to the huge fireplace. One supposed that at a certain level of rank – say, lieutenant-general – he called officers ‘sir’, though I had never heard him do so. In any case it was a formality he always considered inappropriate for foreigners, royal or otherwise.
    ‘When I wait to be summoned by Colonel Finn and warm myself beside the fire,’ said Theodoric, ‘I always feel like St Peter.’
    ‘I hope you won’t cut off any ears, sir, when delay has been intolerably long.’
    ‘How reassuring, Captain Jenkins, that your General Staff are brought up on the Scriptures. They are the foundation of knowledge. Now I must say goodbye. Tell Colonel Finn I will check the figures I gave him – persuade him, something I think he is rather nervous about, that I will not involve him in any matter of which he might