Summary

While traveling through London en route to King’s Thursday, Paul meets Arthur Potts, an old peer from Oxford, for dinner. In urban surroundings, far from the wilds of Wales, Paul feels like a real person again. He enjoys the dinner that he can order for himself in creditable French, the company of a likeminded peer, and the topics ranging from politics to culture. In this chapter, Paul is the portrait of a man in charge of his life. The two men exchange information about their lives, their future and the events that have transpired so far.

Analysis

In this setting, Paul Pennyfeather briefly emerges from the shadows of his life at Llanabba. He feels he is back to his old self, discussing important political and cultural issues of the day with his equal, who has also abandoned education in pursuit of important matters with...