Midsummer's Eve

I had to admire Uncle Peter. He went on as though nothing had happened. It was true that he followed Joseph Cresswell's example and resigned his seat. He just washed his hands of politics.

He was so rich that he could snap his fingers at respectability. I thought how different he was from Joseph Cresswell.

There were a few enquiries about the clubs, but their activities were well covered up. They were run as clubs, and gambling was not against the law. As for prostitution, occasionally there were attempts but nothing could be done to stop it entirely. We were a country in which the freedom of the individual was considered to be of the utmost importance. Any attempt to curb it would result in an outcry. Uncle Peter had been careful not to break any laws. He had protected his interests well and it was almost as though he had prepared himself for the kind of accusations which were being brought against him; and being the man he was, even the press grew tired of vilifying him and his activities.

He was not such an obvious victim as Joseph Cresswell. The one who really suffered was Helena.

I did see Joe again. He was in the Park and I think he wanted to see me for he felt he owed me some explanation.

I was with Peterkin when we met him.

We faced each other, tongue-tied. Neither of us could think of anything to say. On one hand I understood his need to avenge his father; and on the other I saw him as the destroyer of Helena's happiness.

At last Joe said: "I've been hanging about here for several days hoping to see you.”

He looked at me anxiously. "I didn't know whether you would want to see me again.”

I was silent and Peterkin said: "Why?”

Joe looked at me. "You knew, didn't you?”

I said: "I think I had better explain to Peterkin. One day when you were all out, Joe came to see me. When I went out of the room to get some wine he went up to your father's room, forced the lock in some way and got into your father's papers. I suppose they gave details of his business.”

"Listen," cut in Joe. "I knew my father had been trapped. He would never have gone home with that girl except to help her. And I essed that the whole thing had been planned in order to blacken my father's reputation.

Wouldn't you... ?”

"In your case perhaps," said Peterkin.

"I wasn't going to let it rest. I got hold of that girl ... Chloe. I threatened her, I bribed her, and at last I got the story. She had been commanded to do what she did. She wasn't knocked over. The driver was in it and so was the man who broke in. It was a well organized plot. And who was able to set that in motion? Your father.

He hadn't seen the girl himself. His minions told her what she must do. But she had caught glimpses of him once or twice going into the private offices where the books and records were kept. She had found out who he was when she had seen pictures in the papers. My father had said long ago that this woman who called herself Madame Delarge was not really the owner. There was someone behind her. I thought I knew, in fact I was almost certain. You see, there was the motive.”

"You mean this chairmanship?" said Peterkin.

Joe nodded. "My father was his rival in more ways than that. It was a despicable thing to do. I had to have my revenge. Wouldn't you?”

"For my own father ... perhaps not," said Peterkin. "For yours ... yes, I understand, Joe.”

He looked at me. "So you don't blame me?”

I could not answer him. I could only see Helena's wretched face. 7 had let him into the house. I was responsible for Helena's misery. I knew I could never love Joe.

There was a barrier between us as Midsummer's Eve was between Rolf and me.

"Annora," he went on, and laid his hand on my arm.

I said: "You didn't tell me why you wanted to come to my uncle's house.”

"How could I?”

"You sent me from the room on a pretext so that you could go upstairs and break into my uncle's study.”

"It was the only way. You wouldn't have helped me do that. And now could I have asked you to?”

^No, you certainly could not.”

"I had to do it, Annora.”

'Yes," said Peterkin. "I see how you felt.”

"It has done no good," I cried. "It has not helped your father and it has ruined Helena's happiness.”

"If John Milward can't stand out against his family, he wouldn't have been much of a husband.”

"Helena doesn't think that and I... I don't know what to think.”

We sat wretchedly looking at Achilles, so strong, so formidable, and it made me think of the weaknesses of mankind.

After a while we got up to go.

Joe took my hands and looked at me earnestly. "Annora," he said. "Do try to understand.”

"I do understand. It was revenge you wanted. Two scandals instead of one.”

"I'm going to clear my father's name," said Joe.

"How?" asked Peterkin.

"I'm going to make Chloe's confession public.”

"My father will treat it all as if it were of little significance," said Peterkin.

"His parliamentary career will be ruined as my father's has been.”