His perplexity was only superficial, new conditions reigned, the old were surpassed; here one did as one was possessed to do, no matter what it was.

Birkin rose. It was nearly one o’clock.

‘I’m going to bed,’ he said. ‘Gerald, I’ll ring you up in the morning at your place or you ring me up here.’

‘Right,’ said Gerald, and Birkin went out.

When he was well gone, Halliday said in a stimulated voice, to Gerald:

‘I say, won’t you stay here — oh do!’

‘You can’t put everybody up,’ said Gerald.

‘Oh but I can, perfectly — there are three more beds besides mine —