4 .sx LONDON Airport was an impressive monument to the air age .sx Its stately , although modernistic lines , made it a dignified portal to the capital , though visitors had to overlook various prefabricated buildings that were still in use .sx The immigration officials were courteous ambassadors , too .sx Vera , though international in outlook , could not help feeling parochial pride in the way they handled the passengers .sx She had not told Sir Arthur Nicholas the exact time or date of her arrival and so there was no car to meet her .sx But she did not regret it .sx In the large airport bus she had a better view of the London she had not seen for over two years .sx Nor had she told her parents that she was coming .sx It would have been too much of a disappointment to them if her plans had changed .sx For the first few hours she felt like a foreigner in her own London .sx It took time to become used to hearing so much English spoken .sx The London she savoured as she sped towards the air terminal was prosperous and sleek- so like the well-fed cats she saw sitting in the gardens and on the doorsteps of the trim suburban houses lining the way .sx Yet it struck her as odd that the shops in the suburban shopping centres resembled those of an English village .sx They were a reminder of the time when the districts had been little hamlets before they were swallowed up in London's vast sprawl .sx She observed with approval that many stages of history were still written in the architecture of London .sx There were a few streets of opulent , Victorian houses , now sadly declining like gentlewomen in straitened circumstances .sx There were rows of workers' houses built in the late nineteenth century .sx Some , now cheekily painted in gay colours , with pots of little trees on either side of the doors , had become the homes of young artists or writers .sx Houses were like people , she thought , sometimes up , sometimes down .sx At the air terminal Vera hailed a taxi and gave the name of an hotel off Curzon Street .sx It had once been a private home , and now was a dignified discreet place catering for people who could no longer afford to keep town houses .sx A few well-connected foreign scientists were usually to be found there , a diplomat or two and American tourists of the more conservative type .sx Vera had never stayed in a London hotel of any sort before and had at first intended to stay with her parents .sx But she decided she could not face it .sx She must avoid outside distractions at all costs .sx She must conserve her strength for the vitally important business meetings in which she would be taking part .sx London was like a sleeping princess , awakened to life and beauty by the kiss of the sun .sx Often its attractions were veiled , hidden by fog or dimmed by grey rain .sx But today the sun had broken through .sx As her cab sped towards the hotel , she planned an itinerary .sx She would visit her parents that afternoon .sx Tomorrow she would arrange to see Sir Arthur .sx After that , her schedule would look after itself .sx Her hotel room proved to be ideal for complete relaxation .sx It was elegant and neat and Vera adored tidiness .sx As soon as the porter had brought up her suitcase , she telephoned her mother .sx " Vera !sx Where are you ?sx How wonderful to hear your voice .sx Are you really here ?sx " " Yes , mother dear .sx I'm at Crewe's hotel .sx How are you ?sx How is father ?sx " " Fine , apart from his lumbago .sx You can telephone him at his office .sx He doesn't like it but this is a special occasion .sx When are we going to see you ?sx How long are you staying ?sx " The questions tumbled out .sx " Only two days , mother .sx I am here on business .sx I have a job now .sx I'll come over in about an hour and tell you all about it .sx " " Is everything all right ?sx " Her mother's voice sounded anxious .sx " Quite all right , mother .sx Everything is splendid- never better .sx " " Is Jacques with you ?sx " " No .sx " There was a pause .sx Vera knew at once that her mother was thinking there must be something wrong between her daughter and son-in-law .sx She said good-bye and telephoned her father who tried out his night-school French on her , very slowly and correctly .sx Vera often made mistakes in grammar when she spoke French but she spoke as fast as any Frenchwoman .sx Her father could never bring himself to do anything imperfectly .sx His favourite proverb was that if a thing couldn't be done properly , it shouldn't be done at all .sx Therefore his French would always be halting .sx She telephoned Sir Arthur Nicholas and a crisp , cool , well-bred voice asked for her name .sx " Mr. Arzrumian's secretary .sx I would like to make an appointment with Sir Arthur .sx " The secretary had been alerted to the impending visit of Arzrumian .sx " One moment , " she said .sx " Sir Arthur would like to speak to you .sx " Thirty seconds later , Sir Arthur said , " Welcome to London .sx Come to the office about twelve and we can have lunch afterwards .sx Or what about today ?sx " Vera answered , " I'd like to see my parents first .sx " " Quite right , " approved Sir Arthur .sx Vera's parents lived at Southgate and although the underground service was excellent , Vera felt justified in indulging in the luxury of a taxi .sx The house was one of a terrace and was kept spotless .sx Her mother often exuded , to Vera's sensitive nostrils , a smell of carbolic soap and metal polish which were constantly in her hands .sx Hidden behind the curtains , her mother had been watching for her arrival .sx As the taxi drew up she ran out and hugged and kissed Vera .sx She held her at arm's length .sx " How is my little girl ?sx " she asked oblivious of the fact that Vera was several inches taller .sx Vera felt that they were at once on a far better footing than they had ever been .sx Mother and daughter entered the house arm-in-arm and the questions began .sx " You're so beautifully dressed , " she said and added quite inconsequentially , " can't you stay the night ?sx " " Not this time , " said Vera , " I have to prepare some notes for tomorrow .sx I have a very important business meeting .sx " " How is Jacques ?sx I'm longing to meet my son-in-law .sx Are you really happy with him , darling ?sx " asked her mother , gazing at Vera searchingly .sx It had been her great regret that she had not been able to attend the wedding in Hongkong .sx Vera wondered whether it was her imagination or was there just a hint of hopefulness in her mother's expression- did she wish to hear bad news ?sx Vera's old irritation with her mother returned for a moment .sx " Everything is absolutely fine , " Vera assured her .sx " I have a wonderful job .sx I am secretary to Mr. Arzrumian .sx " " Arzrumian ?sx " echoed her mother .sx " Where did you meet him ?sx " " In Paris .sx " " Does Jacques approve of you taking a job ?sx " " Anything which makes money has his approval , " said Vera , tartly .sx Her mother said in scandalized tones that money wasn't everything and thought how hard her daughter had become .sx The Brandons were working-class , without much money but she had never had to take a job .sx They had always managed and Mrs. Brandon could afford to scorn other people's interest in money .sx Her father arrived at six o'clock , a library book under his arm as usual .sx After greeting him affectionately , Vera glanced at the title .sx It was Religion without Revelation , by Julian Huxley .sx " Dear , serious Father , " she said .sx She thought , " How much I love you .sx " How many railway employees read books on philosophy ?sx Her father had given himself a first-rate education by reading good books and remembering what was in them .sx He had left school at 14 but could have held his own with the most educated people .sx Vera had decided not to confide any of her business affairs to her parents .sx She did not want them to worry about her .sx Neither was daring nor held views beyond the rest of the people with whom they mixed .sx It had given them quite a jolt when she had married Jacques .sx Her mother was barely a generation removed from people who considered that a foreigner in the family was not quite respectable .sx Vera spent a happy evening .sx Her father proudly took her round his little garden for , next to philosophy , gardening was his hobby and every flower in the small rectangle was carefully watched and lovingly tended .sx At last , it was time to say good-bye and both mother and father escorted her to the Underground station .sx As Vera went down the escalator she looked back and her parents were still waving to her .sx She felt strangely moved at the sight of the two elderly figures above her .sx The train roared in with a rush of pungent air .sx Vera sat down on her comfortable seat , closed her eyes and thought a little sadly about her parents .sx Green Park station was only a short walk to her hotel but the streets had not yet been cleared .sx Several young women in eye-catching well-made clothes stood at every corner .sx One or two spoke to each other in French .sx An expensively dressed little man turned a corner and approached Vera .sx " How much do you charge , dear ?sx " he asked .sx Vera looked contemptuously at him .sx " More than you could afford , my good man .sx " She stalked on , wryly amused .sx Reaching her hotel , she was overjoyed to find a huge bouquet of flowers , with a vase placed beside it , already filled with water .sx On the card was written :sx " From 'Arsenic' to Mrs. Vital , our devoted secretary .sx " So Sir Arthur was a gallant as well as a shrewd businessman !sx Next morning , Vera walked through the Park as far as Buckingham Palace , and down to the ornamental lake .sx She found it exhilarating to be back again .sx Although it was early in the year , tourists were wandering about already .sx A group of people was watching open-mouthed the sentries in their scarlet uniforms outside the gates of the Palace .sx Americans posed for their pictures with the Palace as a background .sx It was extraordinary how attractive Americans found royalty and nobility .sx She looked at her watch and decided it was time for her appointment with Sir Arthur .sx There was no doubt Sir Arthur was pleased to see her .sx No doubt , too , that he had been conducting a test of 'Hairmone' .sx His head was covered with coppery red hair which made him look many years younger .sx It was about an inch long- long enough for a crew-cut .sx " I am very grateful , my dear , " said Sir Arthur , running his fingers through the thatch .sx " I never thought it would happen to me .sx " If Sir Arthur had hesitated about going into business with Vera , he was now her staunch ally .sx " This , " said Sir Arthur , tapping his head , " is going to convince that obstinate old buzzard , Eric Selby , to join us .sx He's a hard-headed Yorkshireman and we need his advice .sx He's involved in several of my business ventures but I have to twist his arm to make him take on new commitments .sx That , " said Sir Arthur , " is the penalty of success .sx " They left for the Savoy when Sir Arthur had signed more letters and Eric Selby was waiting for them .sx He looked from Vera to Sir Arthur and was astonished and amused at the same time .sx " Arthur , " he whispered on the way to the table , " what's the idea of the toupee ?sx And why red ?sx " " Toupee be damned , " said Nicholas .sx " I'll tell you about it at lunch .sx " Vera sat opposite Eric Selby .sx She had already noted that he was of medium height , very thin and gave an impression of greyness .sx Now studying him more closely , she saw that greyness was the dominant characteristic of the man .sx He had thick , rather long , grey hair .sx " Not a future client for 'Hairmone' , " she thought to herself .sx He wore a grey Savile Row suit of exactly the same colour as his hair .sx His eyes were greyish-blue- the colour of a winter sky .sx He wore heavy framed glasses , which gave him a professorial look .sx If accents have colours , his was grey , for he spoke with a north-country voice .sx