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glasses the girls affected. Big pretty forget-me-not eyes, asparkle with interest and excitement.
    â€˜You’re Arlette? She told me about you last night. Got into trouble staying out. I should be going to class really – oh rats, I’ll cut it. I’ll have a beer, and thanks. Come and sit down then. No, the others are going, class at three but it’s only physiology, digestive tube or some crap.’ The table was littered with coffee cups but a grubby sort of boy brought the beer and her schnapps and whisked them away.
    â€˜She seems to be in a terrific uproar,’ in a chilly voice. The girl calmed down, sipped her beer and became sensible.
    â€˜Well, I live nearby. We’re friends too. I’m not at that crappy Gymnase, thank God – the other sucker-machine across here.’ Miles too hot here near the stove; she undid her raincoat and took a taste of schnapps, wished she hadn’t ordered it.
    â€˜Dropped in after lunch; we generally go that far together on the bike. Seems there was a blow-up at lunch. You know about it, I gather.’
    â€˜She asked my advice on a family problem.’
    â€˜Yes, I know. I found the advert, I suggested it. She phonedfrom here. And she went to see you – well, she cut a class. The Brutus – that’s that old sneak of an overseer they have there – marked her absent and being more or less in the pay of her father phoned him to say Marie-Line’s cut an hour and I thought you should know. Well then, the Pater who’s absolutely out of Zola was frothing, and he has her under a sort of curfew: she’s not allowed out after supper. She was telling me what you said, and was back late, so two big terrible black marks see, and I guess there was a post-mortem at lunch today. Anyhow I rang for her on my way in, and the old bag of a housekeeper made faces but let me in, and Marie-Line had been crying and wouldn’t speak, but she shoved that note in my hand.’
    â€˜She said nothing?’
    â€˜Only that she wouldn’t be going to school because she wasn’t allowed out, and I could come and see her, but no more.’
    â€˜What about you – will you be marked absent?’
    â€˜Oh, I don’t care. An hour – I’ll say I was at the dentist. No problem,’ in Mauricette’s accent. ‘I mean, my old man’s fussy about the exam, but I’m fairly up-to-date on the work. As long as I’m not out late too often … That old prick of a dentist, he really belongs in the time when girls got sent to the convent for dancing with the wrong man.’
    â€˜All right, I get it. Well, I was writing her a note. I’ll finish it – will you take it to her?’
    â€˜Of course. Her old man knows mine so I’m tolerated if looked on sourly. I’ll be let in.’
    â€˜I don’t like this hole and corner passing of missives, but there’s not much choice right now. There’s nothing private in it. I ask you to add your voice to mine. Tell her to cool it. I don’t expect her to apologize if she’s unable to, but to show herself amenable and not openly hostile create a chink of light and I can perhaps wedge my foot in it. This nonsense of cutting her wrists – she’s not that much of a fool? I’m taking it that’s just to jolt me.’
    â€˜Did she say that? – lordy: no, and she’s not a fool, but she’sa very emotional girl and she got tremendously worked up. Ten minutes after she’ll have forgotten that.’
    â€˜Good. Do you know Michel?’
    â€˜Of course, he’s a lamb. Very quiet and well balanced. His trouble is he hasn’t a penny.’
    â€˜Would he come and see me?’
    â€˜Course he would. Love it.’ Sufficiently spontaneous to hearten her.

Chapter 6
Stocktaking
    She got home to find Arthur stumping about in peculiar underclothes, English and shapeless.
    â€˜It really is too bad. A brand