The Soldier's Art - Anthony Powell [76]
“Getting a step too,” he said. “About time at my age.”
It was all at once clear as day that one of his reasons for coming round to Div. H.Q. was to inform Widmerpool of this promotion to lieutenant-colonel. The discovery that we had known each other in the past had removed all coolness from Farebrother’s manner. Now, he seemed, for some reason, even anxious to acquire me as an ally.
“How do you get on with our friend Kenneth?” he asked. “A bit difficult at times? Don’t you find that?”
I made no effort to deny the imputation. Widmerpool was grading low in my estimation at that moment. I saw no reason to conceal hard feelings about him. Farebrother was pleased at getting this affirmative reaction.
“I’ve no objection to a fellow liking to do things his own way,” he said, “but I don’t want a scrimmage about every new Army Council Instruction as soon as it appears. Don’t you agree? In that sort of respect Kenneth doesn’t know where to stop. Not only that, I found he’s behaved rather badly behind my back with your Corps’ M.G.A.”
It was news that Widmerpool’s activities behind the scenes had taken him as far up in that hierarchy as so relatively august a personage as the Major-General in charge of Administration at Corps H.Q.
“I mention that in confidence, of course,” said Farebrother, “and for your own guidance. Kenneth can be a little thoughtless at times about his own subordinates. I daresay you’ve found that. Not that I would say a word against Kenneth as a man or a staff officer. In many ways he’s wasted in this particular job.”
“He’s leaving it.”
“He is?”
In spite of a conviction that Widmerpool’s gifts were not being given sufficient scope, Farebrother did not sound altogether pleased to hear this matter was going to be put right. He asked the question with more open curiosity than he had showed until then.
“I don’t think it’s a secret.”
“Even if it is, it will go no further with me. What’s ahead of him?”
“The Cabinet Offices, he told me, though I believe it’s not official yet.”
Farebrother whistled, one of those crude expressions of feeling he would allow himself from time to time, which seemed hardly to accord with the dignity of the rest of his demeanour. I remembered him making a similar popping sound with his lips, at the same time snapping his fingers, when some beautiful woman’s name had come into the conversation staying at the Templers’.
“The Cabinet Offices, by God,” he said. “Has he been promoted?”
“I gather he goes there in his present rank, but thinks there’s a good chance of going up pretty soon.”
“I see.”
Farebrother showed a little relief at Widmerpool’s promotion being delayed, if only briefly. He had plainly been disturbed by what he had heard.
“The Cabinet Offices,” he repeated with emphasis. “Well, that’s very exalted. I only hope what I’ve come to tell him won’t make any difference. However, as I said before, better not refer to that until I’ve seen him.”
He shook his head. Widmerpool came back to the room at that moment. He was fidgeting with the collar of his battle-dress, always a sign he was put out. It looked as if the interview with A. & Q. had not gone too well. Seeing Farebrother sitting there was not welcome to him either.
“Oh, hallo, Sunny,” he said, without much warmth.
“I came along to bid you farewell, Kenneth, and now I hear from Nicholas you’re on the move like myself.”
Widmerpool showed a touch of surprise at Farebrother using my first name, then remembered we had formerly known each other.
“I forgot you’d both met,” he said. “Yes, I’m going. Did Nicholas tell you where?”
“Scarcely revealed anything,” said Farebrother.
Not for the first time, I noted his caution, and was grateful for it, though Widmerpool seemed to want his destination known.
“The Cabinet Offices.”
Widmerpool could not conceal his own satisfaction.
“I say, old boy.”
The comparative enthusiasm Farebrother managed to infuse into this comment was something of a masterpiece in the exercise of dissimulation.
“It will mean work, morning, noon and night,” said Widmerpool. “But there’ll undoubtedly be interesting contacts.