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14 JULY 1979
‘YOU CAN’T BE serious’
‘I couldn’t be more serious, Father, as you’d realize if you’d ever listened to anything I’ve been saying for the past ten years’
‘But you’ve been offered a place at raduate, you’ll be able to joinman ask for?’
‘To be allowed to pursue a career of his own choosing, and not just be expected to follow in his father’s footsteps’
‘Would that be such a bad thing? After all, I’ve enjoyed a fascinating and hile career, and, dare I suggest, been moderately successful’
‘Brilliantly successful, Father, but it isn’t your career we’re discussing, it’scri a bunch of villains he’d never consider inviting to lunch at his club’
‘You seeotten that those same villains paid for your education, and the lifestyle you presently enjoy’
‘I’et it, Father, which is the reason I intend to spendperiods of tio free and continue a life of crime thanks to your skilful advocacy’
Willia
‘Perhaps we could agree on a compromise, dear boy?’
‘Not a chance, Father,’ said Willia for a reduced sentence, when he knows he’s defending a weak case But for once, your eloquent words are falling on deaf ears’
‘Won’t you even allow me to put my case before you dismiss it out of hand?’ responded his father
‘No, because I’uilty, and I don’t have to prove to a jury that I’m innocent, just to please you’
‘But would you be willing to do so to please me, my dear?’
In the heat of battle Willia silently at the other end of the table, closely following the jousting between her husband and son William ell prepared to take on his father but kneas no ain A silence that his father took advantage of
‘What do you have inat the lapels of his jacket, and addressing his wife as if she were a high court judge
‘Williao to the university of his choice,’ said Marjorie, ‘select the subject he wishes to study, and once he’s graduated, follow the career he wants to pursue And racefully and never raise the subject again’
‘I confess,’ said Sir Julian, ‘that while accepting your wise judgeht find the last part difficult’