The news of the separation spread slowly.
This was because it was wholly disbelieved. Everyone immediately assumed that Giles and Katharine Festival were being humorous.
The former was lectured upon ‘cruelty’ at the Club.
The latter was mocked over the telephone.
“Is that you, Katharine? . . . I say, how many ‘l’s’ are there in ‘alimony’? . . . What? . . . Oh, but how sweet! . . . Never mind. Put a fiver on Decree Nisi for luck. . . .”
It was intolerable.
On the third day Katharine left Town—destination unknown.
On the fourth day Giles fled to Evian, leaving a note for his wife, to be delivered after he had gone.
On the fifth day they met on the shore of the lake of Geneva.