Summary

Paul is once again a third year theology student. It is once again the night of the Bollinger Club meet and the raucous celebration echoes around the quad. His friend Stubbs departs and Peter Beste-Chetwynde enters, drunk. He looks for more liquor, asks Paul why he has been ignoring him, and brings him up to date on the doings of Margot. She is now Viscountess Metroland, safely and respectably married to Maltravers, and thus free to indulge her passions with her lover, Alastair Trumpington.

In the honesty brought on by drink, Peter goes round and round, talking about their past history together. He finally states that it was wrong for Paul to have been caught up with the family at all, and Paul agrees, expounding on the static and dynamic personality types. Peter agrees, departs, and Paul sits ruminating in his chair again.

Analysis

The circle...