Decline and Fall

by Waugh Evelyn

'Certainly not, said Paul.

'Oh, all right, said Philbrick, making off.

'Women are an enigma, said Grimes, 'as far as Grimes is concerned.

CHAPTER IV Mr Prendergast

Paul was awakened next morning by a loud bang on his door, and Beste‑Chetwynde looked in. He was wearing a very expensive‑looking Charvat dressing‑gown.

'Good morning, sir, he said. 'I thought I'd come and tell you, as you wouldn't know: there's only one bath room for the masters. If you want to get there before Mr Prendergast, you ought to go now. Captain Grimes doesn't wash much, he added, and then disappeared.

Paul went to the bath and was rewarded some minutes later by hearing the shuffling of slippers down the passage and the door furiously rattled.

As he was dressing Philbrick appeared.

'Oh, I forgot to call you. Breakfast is in ten minutes.

After breakfast Paul went up to the Common Room. Mr Prendergast was there polishing his pipes, one by one, with a chamois leather. He looked reproachfully at Paul.