CHAPTER II

ALARIC TAKES A NEW JOB Alaric was sitting in his office at the Ministry of Æsthetics, which, in spite of the wishes of Manlius, had not yet been abolished. Outside, a dull drizzling rain fell, but Alaric had turned on the sunshine and was warm and comfortable. Nevertheless, he felt unaccountably peevish. That morning, at breakfast, he had even felt annoyed with Eleuthera. It was second-day, and he never liked the second-day breakfast from the public kitchen. There was a choice of three dishes, all equally detestabl…