‘Anything interesting?’ Sir Christopher asked.
‘There’s a letter from the Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften asking you to lecture.’
‘I don’t suppose that one can very well refuse – not to the Akademie – but I don’t know when we will find the time,’ Sir Christopher said.
‘And a letter from your college at Oxford, asking you to dine.’
‘That we can decline.’
‘Yes, I’ve already drafted the reply. You just have to sign it. And then, there are a few practical things. First, your yearly membership to the London Library. You said you want to keep that up?’
‘Yes, certainly.’
‘And then, there’s the subscription to The Burlington – and jolly expensive it is,’ John said.
‘And so it is, but there’s nothing to be done about that. One would rather die than live without The Burlington Magazin
