Nick Jenkins is a Second Lieutenant. He is a staff officer for Kenneth Widmerpool, a major at headquarters. Widmerpool is a school associate. As a schoolboy Widmerpool was unpopular. General Liddament cherishes Trollope, but Nick responds that he has never found Trollope easy to read. General Liddament believes that a transfer will make better use of Nick's gifts.
Nick runs into Charles Stringham as the new waiter at the mess hall. Widmerpool contends that Stringham was a a badly behaved boy at school, (and that his low position isn't surprising. At the same time Widmerpool is nervous that he will be connected with Stringham and so where possible he uses his efforts to get Stringham moved.) Stringham does not want to go to dinner with Nick. It isn't just that they would be violating the provision prohibiting fraternization, it is easy to hide in London, he doesn't want to change the rhythm of his routine as a waiter.
On leave, Nick has dinner with Hugh Moreland, the composer, who, as a consequence of the war, is finding a lot of employment in the music field. Following up on the help and information provided by General Liddament, Nick is interviewed and offered a postion to serve as a liaison with the Free French. Alas, he is unable to show mastery of the French language and so must pass up that opportunity. Although Nick makes a botch of the language test, Major Finn tells him he will keep him in mind should something else arise.
Relatives of Nick's wife are killed that same night, as Nick dines with Moreland, in a bombing raid. Returning to the mess, Nick learns that Stringhamm, subject to the machinations of Widmerpool, among others, has been transferred to the laundry, an outfit that is to receive orders to go abroad.
This novel places the reader in the thick of things in wartime London and the armed forces. Nick and the other men of his generation are really too old to be placed on active duty, but they feel compelled to do something to express their patriotism. This volume seems less episodic, more structured, and more solid than some of the other books in the series. All are excellent in their way, it is just that this one, given the events portrayed, has a more serious tone.
