Master of the Great House at Thrasher Towers, aged, blustering and suffering from chronic lumbago.

From his reminiscences we know of his colonial service in the seventies. Africa, India, Burma and Indonesia. Burma gave him a taste for curry, and Indonesia some hardwood teeth.

In idle moments, gazing into the fire, he likes to relive the bombing of Dresden (February 1945).

Passes his time drinking, shooting, thwarting escapees from his private POW camp, and being important.

"English as tuppence, changing yet changeless as canal water, nestling in green nowhere, armoured and effete, bold flag-bearer, lotus-fed Miss Havishambling opsimath and eremite, feudal still, reactionary Thrasher Towers."