Howard Belsey is out of sorts for the past fortnight as he broods over the coming reality of facing his mortal enemy and close competitor, Sir Monty Kipps, in the same faculty, in the same college, where he works. Kipps had already published his book on Rembrandt, whereas Belsey’s manuscript on the same painter, is incomplete.

To rub salt into the wound, Jerome had a faux pas with Victoria Kipps, the daughter of Sir Monty.

When Monty settles in the US, both Jerome and Howard will be uncomfortable.

Jerome proposed a family outing to attend a concert of Mozart’s Requiem, on Boston Common. This is family time, to get over the big looming discomfort.

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