Kane said: "Mrs. Jeanes? My name's Singleton. It's very nice of you to let me come to your party."
She smiled at him. The smile was intended to be devastating. She said in a very raucous voice:
"That's all right. I'm glad to have you. I'm sick of this bloody party. None of the people I don't want will go away, and I can't talk to the people I do want. Life's hell, don't you think?"
Kane murmured something.
"My parties used to be fearfully nice," she went on. "Until I met a lot of people I didn't want to meet. People who don't really do anything artistic. Stuffed shirts. And now they all come and drink and talk a lot of rubbish about things nobody gives a damn about. This War's going to be the end of Art, you mark my words. Ask Veteria to give you a drink. He's the waiter. He's got the
