Corridors of Power by C.P. Snow

In September, with the House in recess, Roger kept coming to his office. It was what the civil servants called, the ‘leave season'. Douglas was away and so, in my department, was Hector Rose. Nevertheless, Roger's secretaries were arranging a set of meetings to which I had to go. As I arrived in his room for one of them, Roger asked in a matter-of-fact tone if I minded staying behind after it was over. He had something he wanted to talk to me about, so he said.

He seemed a little preoccupied as he took the meeting. When he spoke, he was fumbling for the words, as a man does when he is tired and strained. I did not take much notice. The meeting was purring efficiently on. There were some unfamiliar faces, deputy secretaries, under-secretaries, appearing instead of their bosses. The competent voices carried on, the business was getting done.