I backed the loan she raised then , by the way .sx Frightful place , I thought .sx Hideous little house with horrible great cellars .sx In such a depressing part of London , too .sx " .sx " Islington's 'coming up' , " Castalia said .sx " Well , it didn't seem to be , then .sx " .sx " Evelyn Waugh lived ten minutes away from Janet's factory in the early 1930s .sx And so did George Orwell , a bit later .sx " .sx " I can see Orwell there .sx All that 'Down and Out on Wigan Pier' business of his .sx But Waugh - that does surprise me .sx " .sx " He was young and poor and not yet embittered .sx And there's some wonderful architecture in that district .sx " .sx " Well , Janet's factory isn't a good example of it .sx " .sx Castalia laughed .sx " I agree with you there .sx " .sx " I suppose she's transformed the cellars .sx They were creepy as hell when I saw them .sx " .sx " I don't know about transformed .sx I suppose she cemented the floors and she's added a lot of iron bars and gates , and created two areas for production and packaging .sx " .sx " Oh my God , Castalia , don't you start bombarding me with that jargon !sx " .sx " Not very complicated jargon , really , " Castalia said .sx " I must say 'areas' - I can't say 'rooms' for those great spaces , divided by a corridor with folding metal gates .sx " .sx " Sounds ghastly !sx " said James .sx " Yes , perfectly ghastly !sx There's strip lighting everywhere in the building except in her office .sx And there are a lot of very gloomy-looking women in pale-blue overalls , with bluebirds over their left breasts .sx " James laughed .sx Castalia said , " The corridor in the cellars is awful .sx Like something in a prison .sx I thought of Piranesi , though of course it lacks his grandeur .sx And the door from the cellars into the rest of the building is made of metal bars .sx A foreman locked it during the lunch hour .sx Janet's afraid of things being stolen .sx .. though what things , heaven knows !sx When she stays there in the evenings , does she lock up the place herself ?sx Or do they have a night watchman ?sx " .sx " No , I don't think so .sx Too extravagant .sx And I doubt if many burglars are keen on 'Blue Bird' .sx I don't think she goes round locking up - though she has keys , of course - to everything , I should imagine .sx She has a great bunch of them in her bag - her 'handbag' as she still calls it .sx I once told her she clanked like Marley's ghost .sx She didn't appreciate it .sx Don't think she knew who Marley was .sx Of course , I suppose she locks up after she's been there alone in the evening .sx You know , I often think 'working late' is just an excuse for sitting at the centre of her web , like some great spider .sx .. simply gloating .sx " .sx Castalia laughed .sx Then she said , " You mean , when she works late she's all alone in that gloomy house ?sx You'd think she'd be frightened .sx " .sx " Oh , not Janet !sx " .sx " Perhaps she meets a lover .sx " .sx " Janet ?sx You must be joking !sx " .sx " As a matter of fact , I am .sx " Castalia looked at her watch .sx The time was half-past nine .sx " Will she still be working now ?sx " .sx " Very probably .sx Why ?sx Do you intend to call ?sx " .sx " Now you're joking .sx Does she tell you in advance when she's going to stay up in London ?sx " .sx " Oh yes , always .sx A day or two before .sx Not for my sake .sx Because of making arrangements about the children .sx " .sx " A model mother !sx " .sx " I suppose so .sx " James sighed .sx " She's certainly determined to model the children on herself .sx No trace of decadent Daddy is going to be allowed to surface .sx " .sx " James , you're such a defeatist !sx " But Castalia's tone was buoyant .sx " Can't influence your children .sx Can't refuse to sign intolerable documents .sx But listen now , James .sx I've got one favour to ask you .sx Put off signing that thing about the Constable until late next week .sx " .sx James groaned .sx " Next week , " he said .sx " Late next week !sx What's today ?sx Wednesday .sx My God , and with the weekend looming ahead .sx Do you realize what pure hell my life's going to be ?sx And what a difference can a week make ?sx " .sx " Keep Syrupy glued to your side , James , and do it as a favour to me .sx Do it for Castalia .sx Remember ?sx 'One for Miss Castalia,' Nanny used to say when she gave you a spoonful of rice pudding .sx " .sx He laughed .sx " One for Miss Castalia , now James .sx .. " .sx " Oh well .sx All right .sx But I can't think what - " .sx " One for Miss Castalia !sx " .sx Yes .sx All right .sx " .sx " Good night , James darling .sx " She put down the receiver .sx She stood up .sx Then she raised her arms as if to greet sunrise in the square outside .sx But it was dusk .sx It was dark by the time she reached the corner of the street in Islington .sx Walking past the fenced wasteland , then along the terrace , she was conscious of the quietness .sx The workshops were all closed .sx The caf e 's contract for 'Breakfast all Day' had expired .sx The infrequent street lamps made small pools of light .sx The big metal door to the factory's front yard was shut , and the door at the side was , too .sx However , it was not locked , Castalia found when she tried the handle .sx She glanced up and down the empty street , then went inside , shutting the door behind her .sx The yard was even quieter than the street .sx Silence dropped over her like a cloak .sx Castalia did not go up to the front door .sx It was closed , and there was no light showing at the front of the building .sx She crossed the yard , in which three lorries and Janet's car were parked , and reached the cement path along which the products were wheeled to the lorries , and which led to the back yard .sx Here , in otherwise total darkness , shone a single square of light .sx It came from Janet's window .sx Quietly Castalia advanced until she was nearly opposite it .sx Then she looked up .sx Janet stood by the window , and Castalia stiffened and became absolutely still .sx But Janet could not see her or , though standing by the window , was not looking out .sx Now Janet turned , and began to wander round the room .sx Occasionally - like Greta Garbo in Queen Christina - she touched something .sx She stroked the china bluebird on her desk , and ran a hand over the back of a chair .sx She moved over to the glass showcase , opened it , and fingered a jar .sx Having closed the case again , she stepped back , surveying its entire contents with a doting look .sx Then she moved to the desk , and sat down in her chair .sx Back to the window , she bent over some papers .sx Castalia moved to the steps that led to the passage where Janet's office was .sx She went up them , and carefully grasped the handle of the door ahead , then very gently twisted it .sx It opened .sx Castalia gave a deep sigh .sx She smiled .sx She pulled the door shut again , went down the steps , and re-crossed the yard .sx As she skirted the square of light from Janet's window , she looked up again :sx at Janet still bowed over her desk , obviously at ease in her little blue nest in this dark and deserted building .sx Castalia went back the way she had come .sx Outside , she walked briskly towards Upper Street and the 19 bus which would take her almost the whole way home .sx It was Sunday afternoon .sx The square was hushed .sx Castalia was sitting at her desk , taking notes from an article in Italian Studies .sx She started at the ringing of the telephone so close beside her .sx " Hullo .sx " .sx " Castalia , wondered if I'd find you in .sx " .sx " Well , you have , James .sx " .sx " Coast's clear for the moment .sx Janet's taken the children to tea with the Fannings .sx " .sx " Poor old Fannings , " Castalia murmured , very low .sx " What ?sx " .sx " Nothing .sx " .sx " Castalia , I had to speak to you .sx Just to tell you I can't hold out any longer .sx I'll have to sign this damn thing about selling the Constable .sx Janet's driving me mad .sx On and on she goes about that business in London .sx And about poor old Syrupy .sx The nagging .sx .. the pressure - Castalia , I just can't take it .sx I'm going to have to sign .sx She's staying over in London next Wednesday night .sx Working late again , you know .sx And on Thursday she's got an appointment at the auction house .sx She says she's going to take the authorization with her .sx Signed .sx " James gave a feeble laugh .sx " And I think she will .sx God !sx " he exclaimed .sx " To think I used to like her dominating me .sx Now it makes my life pure misery .sx " .sx " I remember telling you it might pall .sx The gods are just , and of our pleasant vices make instruments to plague us .sx Shakespeare's always right .sx " Her tone became brisk :sx " Wednesday , you say ?sx And she's taking the document with her ?sx " .sx " That's the plan .sx " .sx " Well , James , you'd better sign , " Castalia said .sx " Better sign ?sx " .sx " Yes , didn't you just tell me you were going to ?sx Well , go ahead .sx " .sx " Aren't you furious with me ?sx " he asked .sx Castalia laughed .sx " No , not a bit .sx " .sx James said , " You know , Castalia , there are times when you completely baffle me .sx " .sx " Mmm .sx Well - don't worry .sx Just sign .sx .. and then forget about the whole thing .sx " .sx " Forget about the Constable ?sx " .sx " Yes .sx And keep cool , James .sx " .sx " So I'm to sign ?sx " There was a hopeless note in his voice .sx Then he said , " You know , I rather hoped you might galvanize me .sx Re-charge me with energy to keep on resisting .sx But now you seem to have given up the struggle , too .sx I never expected - " .sx " Stop worrying , James .sx " Then she said , " Trust me .sx " .sx " Trust you ?sx " he said blankly .sx " Yes .sx Trust me .sx Goodbye , James .sx " She rang off .sx It was ten o'clock on Wednesday evening when Castalia again took the turning to the Blue Bird factory .sx All along the terrace were dustbins , waiting to be emptied next morning .sx Some were of black plastic , but most were of battered tin .sx There was a smell of rot in the air .sx Castalia carried a large black shopping bag over her left arm .sx Reaching the factory , she went through the side door - unlocked , as before - and made her way to the back yard .sx Here , everything was as it had been on her last visit .sx The square of light shone again from Janet's window .sx Looking up , Castalia saw that Janet was writing at her desk .sx Castalia went up the steps to the back door , and turned the handle .sx Tonight , she pushed the door open , and stepped into the passage .sx Then she closed the door behind her .sx Janet , economically , had switched off the strip light in the passage , but light came from the partly open door of her office .sx Castalia ran her right hand through her hair .sx Then she went to Janet's door , pushed it wide open , and went in .sx Janet looked up sharply .sx An initial blankness on Janet's face was succeeded by an expression of astonishment .sx She said , " Castalia !sx What on earth are you doing here ?sx How did you get in ?sx " .sx " Oh , round the back .sx " Then she said , " I thought this would be a perfect opportunity for us to have a chat .sx " .sx " A chat ?sx " said Janet .sx " But how did you know I'd be here ?sx " .sx James told me .sx " .sx Janet frowned , but then her face cleared .sx A little smile appeared on it , then gradually widened .sx " Ah , Castalia , " she said in her plummiest tones , " I think I know what you've come about .sx The Constable - that's it , isn't it ?sx " As she said this , her voice deepened as if she were playing it like an organ .sx " Well , partly , " Castalia said .sx " Do sit down , my dear , " Janet said .sx " Would you mind if I didn't ?sx I rather like pacing around .sx That's what I always do at home .sx " .sx " Well , I'd love you to feel at home here - so please pace away !sx " Janet gave a little laugh .sx Castalia paced over to the showcase .sx Then she turned to face Janet .sx She rested her right elbow on the case in the attitude of the young man in the Nicholas Hilliard miniature .sx Now Janet , still smiling , gently shook her head .sx " Ah , Castalia , " she said .sx " You wanted to find me alone , so that we could talk in peace .sx About my decision - our decision , I mean , of course - to sell the Constable .sx " Janet glanced down at an open briefcase - slim and expensive-looking - propped against the desk .sx " I have James's authorization here , " she said .sx " Everything's quite above board .sx " She shook her head again .sx