Day of Judgment. Jack Higgins

an article here on page three. He’s giving the Vanderbilt Memorial Lecture at the Smithsonian tonight.’

      ‘I thought he’d given up the academic life,’ the Secretary of State said. ‘I heard his brother died last year and left him a fortune.’

      ‘No, he’s still Professor of Modern English Literature at Balliol.’ The President folded the newspaper, stood up and eased his back. ‘I’d like to see him – when he’s finished his lecture, of course.’

      ‘As you say, Mr President.’

      The Secretary of State started for the door and President Kennedy called softly, ‘And – Dean?’

      ‘Yes, Mr President?’

      ‘Let’s make it the west basement entrance when you bring him in. No Press on this one – by request.’

      Professor Charles Pascoe was bored, for the subject of his lecture at the Smithsonian, Aspects of the Modern Novel, was one he found increasingly unrewarding, as he did the company of the academics who surrounded him at the reception afterwards. The arrival of the polite young man from the State Department with a request that he visit the White House that very night had come as a happy release.