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Richard. “What happened?”
    â€œThe Chancellor’s last budget happened. You may recall that two areas were particularly badly affected by the reduction in spending: the ministries and higher education. I am the victim of both economies.”
    â€œWow!” Richard repeated. “The Firm…well, I can just about understand that. But the College…I thought you were one of those immovable Honorary Fellows— life tenure, full pension, all that shit.”
    â€œI was.”
    â€œSo what went wrong?”
    â€œAs part of its new economy drive, the College has decided to abolish Honorary Fellowships. The amendments to the College Statutes were voted through at the last meeting of College Council, and they gave us no leave to appeal.”
    â€œYou mean the motion was streamrollered through the Council by the Bursar or someone like that.”
    â€œAlmost certainly. Apparently there was little opposition to the idea within the Council—”
    â€œAnd I suppose they didn’t bother to ask the Honorary Fellows what they felt about the idea.”
    â€œQuite. The issue is settled, so in a few weeks’ time I shall be entirely without work.”
    â€œThat’s bad,” Richard said.
    â€œThe news didn’t fill me with elation, I must confess. But that isn’t all that’s happened. The other news is about Margaret.”
    â€œHow is she?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, she’s pregnant.”
    â€œWhaaat…?“ Richard’s eyes bulged with astonishment.
    â€œYou heard me. She’s expecting a child.”
    â€œYou’re taking the piss,” Richard said, shaking his head.
    â€œI most certainly am not.”
    Richard threw back his head and laughed until tears ran down his face.
    â€œI suppose…I suppose it was an accident,” he gasped.
    â€œLet’s just say it came as a pleasant surprise.”
    â€œAre you sure it’s yours?” Richard giggled.
    â€œOf course I’m sure,” Wyman snapped. “We don’t all take a different partner each night, you know.”
    Richard howled with mirth and reached for a half bottle of Scotch that lay on the floor.
    â€œThis calls for a celebratory drink,” he said, and took a long pull from the bottle. “Here, have a swig.”
    â€œDon’t you bother with glasses or cups around here?” Wyman asked.
    â€œThey’re either broken or filthy,” Richard said. “Believe me, the bottle’s safer.”
    Wyman shook his head in disgust and drank from the bottle.
    â€œI don’t believe it,” Richard grinned. “I’m going to have a sibling. Or is she going to abort?”
    â€œNo, we will have the child.”
    â€œWe?”
    â€œYes, we,” Wyman said. “We intend to marry.”
    â€œMarry? Wow. This is more news than I can handle at one sitting. Well, congratulations. No one can accuse you of being predictable, can they?”
    It was Wyman’s turn to grin.
    â€œIt does all seem to have happened at once. It will be nice to have another child, but it won’t be easy, given my redundancy.”
    â€œI bet.”
    â€œThat’s really why I’ve come to see you. I hope you appreciate that my financial position has changed dramatically. Quite simply, Richard, I won’t be able to bail you out next time you get into trouble with your bank. The money just won’t be there.”
    â€œI see,” Richard said.
    â€œI hope you do see. I’m afraid you will just have to get used to the idea of working for money, distasteful as it may sound.”
    â€œIt not only sounds distasteful, it is. But I’ll manage.”
    â€œMost people do,” observed Wyman. “Your mother always felt that I was wrong to reach for the cheque-book whenever you needed money. She believed that I was subsidizing a slothful, unproductive existence, and she was probably right. I didn’t mind