Henri certainly had nursed real resentments against Robert, but he'd had them for a long time. Why should he want to break now? .

Robert stared off into space, his face hard. 'I embarrass him, you understand.'

'No, I don't understand,' I replied.

'He's going downhill fast,' Robert said. 'You've seen the kind of people he goes around with? We're his bad conscience; all he wants is to be rid of it.'

'You're being unfair!' I said. 'I, too, was disgusted the other night, but you yourself explained to me that having a play produced nowadays necessarily entails certain compromises. And'with Henri, it doesn't involve very much. He hardly ever sees those people. Yes, he's sleeping with Josette, but you certainly can be sure that it's not she who's influencing him.'

'Granted that, in itself, that party was of no importance,' Robert said. 'But it's a sign. Henri is the kind who pampers himself, and he wants to be able to pamper himself in peace and quiet, without having to account to anyone.'