Angela called Joanna May.
‘Darling, how are you?’ asked Angela. ‘I wondered if you had any clues as to your ex-husband’s current mental health.’
‘One or two,’ said Joanna. ‘Why?’
‘Well,’ said Angela, ‘Gerald is getting quite alarmed. I tell him there’s no need. I tell him that for a man to wipe out his wife’s lovers may not be legal, or nice, but it doesn’t mean he’s insane.’
‘Angela, I know you’re only joking but I think this telephone may be tapped.’
‘Ah. Well, listeners hear no good of themselves. My husband says your husband wants him to employ the entire staff of the Divination Department over this fallout business.’
‘Then perhaps he should, Angela. I’m very fond of Gerald.’
‘But then everyone will think my husband is insane.’
‘He will at least be around to refute the view, Angela.’
‘I see. You mean, on the whole, it’s best to do what Carl May wants.’
‘For the moment,’ said Joanna May, ‘yes.’
‘In that case,’ said Angela, ‘Gerald is right. Gerald says it’s quite alarming that this man should be in charge of such large sections of the nation’s wealth and property.’
‘These large companies more or less run themselves,’ said Joanna. ‘The man at the very top is so often a figurehead. Part of Carl’s trouble is that he gets bored.’
‘Gerald thinks something should be done about it.’
‘Listeners may hear no good about themselves,’ said Joanna, ‘but they sometimes hear very useful things. Shall we meet and talk you know where?’
‘Where’s that?’
‘Where I saw and admired Gerald’s nice soft feet,’ said Joanna.
‘Ah, so that’s what you were looking at,’ said Angela. ‘He thought it was his varicose veins. You sound much better.’
‘Oh yes,’ said Joanna, ‘I’m better. I’m sorry about going on so the other day.’
‘That’s OK,’ said Angela, of the hairy chin and thick legs, and the waist as broad as her hips, salt of a world fresh sown with salt. ‘That’s OK.’