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