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for the Duke of Syria； who was a comparative stranger；
but still； as Duke of Syria； he was very； very welcome
beneath her roof。 She could not have explained why； but
no one was likely to ask her for an explanation； and most
hostesses envied her。
〃You must surpass yourself to…night； Richardson；〃
she said complacently to her maid； 〃I must be looking my
very best。 We must all surpass ourselves。〃
The maid said nothing； but from the concentrated
look in her eyes and the deft play of her fingers it was
evident that she was beset with the ambition to surpass
herself。
A knock came at the door； a quiet but peremptory
knock； as of some one who would not be denied。
〃Go and see who it is；〃 said Sophie； 〃it may be
something about the wine。〃
Richardson held a hurried conference with an
invisible messenger at the door； when she returned there
was noticeable a curious listlessness in place of her
hitherto alert manner。
〃What is it？〃 asked Sophie。
〃The household servants have 'downed tools；'
madame；〃 said Richardson。
〃Downed tools！〃 exclaimed Sophie； 〃do you mean to
say they've gone on strike？〃
〃Yes； madame；〃 said Richardson； adding the
information： 〃It's Gaspare that the trouble is about。〃
〃Gaspare？〃 said Sophie wanderingly； 〃the emergency
chef！ The omelette specialist！〃
〃Yes； madame。 Before he became an omelette
specialist he was a valet； and he was one of the strike…
breakers in the great strike at Lord Grimford's two years
ago。 As soon as the household staff here learned that
you had engaged him they resolved to ‘down tools' as a
protest。 They haven't got any grievance against you
personally； but they demand that Gaspare should be
immediately dismissed。〃
〃But；〃 protested Sophie； 〃he is the only man in
England who understands how to make a Byzantine omelette。
I engaged him specially for the Duke of Syria's visit；
and it would be impossible to replace him at short
notice。 I should have to send to Paris； and the Duke
loves Byzantine omelettes。 It was the one thing we
talked about coming from the station。〃
〃He was one of the strike…breakers at Lord
Grimford's；〃 reiterated Richardson。
〃This is too awful；〃 said Sophie； 〃a strike of
servants at a moment like this； with the Duke of Syria
staying in the house。 Something must be done
immediately。 Quick； finish my hair and I'll go and see
what I can do to bring them round。〃
〃I can't finish your hair； madame；〃 said Richardson
quietly； but with immense decision。 〃I belong to the
union and I can't do another half…minute's work till the
strike is settled。 I'm sorry to be disobliging。〃
〃But this is inhuman！〃 exclaimed Sophie tragically；
〃I've always been a model mistress and I've refused to
employ any but union servants； and this is the result。 I
can't finish my hair myself； I don't know how to。 What
am I to do？ It's wicked！〃
〃Wicked is the word；〃 said Richardson； 〃I'm a good
Conservative and I've no patience with this Socialist
foolery； asking your pardon。 It's tyranny； that's what
it is； all along the line； but I've my living to make；
same as other people； and I've got to belong to the
union。 I couldn't touch another hair…pin without a
strike permit； not if you was to double my wages。〃
The door burst open and Catherine Malsom raged into
the room。
〃Here's a nice affair；〃 she screamed； 〃a strike of
household servants without a moment's warning； and I'm
left like this！ I can't appear in public in this
condition。〃
After a very hasty scrutiny Sophie assured her that
she could not。
〃Have they all struck？〃 she asked her maid。
〃Not the kitchen staff；〃 said Richardson； 〃they
belong to a different union。〃
〃Dinner at least will be assured；〃 said Sophie；
〃that is something to be thankful for。〃
〃Dinner！〃 snorted Catherine； 〃what on earth is the
good of dinner when none of us will be able to appear at
it？ Look at your hair … and look at me！ or rather；
don't。〃
〃I know it's difficult to manage without a maid；
can't your husband be any help to you？〃 asked Sophie
despairingly。
〃Henry？ He's in worse case than any of us。 His man
is the only person who really understands that ridiculous
new…fangled Turkish bath that he insists on taking with
him everywhere。〃
〃Surely he could do without a Turkish bath for one
evening；〃 said Sophie； 〃I can't appear without hair； but
a Turkish bath is a luxury。〃
〃My good woman；〃 said Catherine； speaking with a
fearful intensity； 〃Henry was in the bath when the strike
started。 In it； do you understand？ He's there now。〃
〃Can't he get out？〃
〃He doesn't know how to。 Every time he pulls the
lever marked 'release' he only releases hot steam。 There
are two kinds of steam in the bath； 'bearable' and
'scarcely bearable'； he has released them both。 By this
time I'm probably a widow。〃
〃I simply can't send away Gaspare；〃 wailed Sophie；
〃I should never be able to secure another omelette
specialist。〃
〃Any difficulty that I may experience in securing
another husband is of course a trifle beneath anyone's
consideration；〃 said Catherine bitterly。
Sophie capitulated。 〃Go；〃 she said to Richardson；
〃and tell the Strike Committee； or whoever are directing
this affair； that Gaspare is herewith dismissed。 And ask
Gaspare to see me presently in the library； when I will
pay him what is due to him and make what excuses I can；
and then fly back and finish my hair。〃
Some half an hour later Sophie marshalled her guests
in the Grand Salon preparatory to the formal march to the
dining…room。 Except that Henry Malsom was of the ripe
raspberry tint that one sometimes sees at private
theatricals representing the human complexion； there was
little outward sign among those assembled of the crisis
that had just been encountered and surmounted。 But the
tension had been too stupefying while it lasted not to
leave some mental effects behind it。 Sophie talked at
random to her illustrious guest； and found her eyes
straying with increasing frequency towards the great
doors through which would presently come the blessed
announcement that dinner was served。 Now and again she
glanced mirror…ward at the reflection of her wonderfully
coiffed hair； as an insurance underwriter might gaze
thankfully at an overdue vessel that had ridden safely
into harbour in the wake of a devastating hurricane。
Then the doors opened and the welcome figure of the
butler entered the room。 But he made no general
announcement of a banquet in readiness； and the doors
closed behind him； his message was for Sophie alone。
〃There is no dinner； madame；〃 he said gravely； 〃the
kitchen staff have 'downed tools。' Gaspare belongs to
the Union of Cooks and Kitchen Employees； and as soon as
they h