A Handful of Dust

Brenda believes that Tony is not accepting her request well; her friends promise to support her. Tony has spent three weeks living with Jock, while Brenda has spent her time with Beaver. Their friends function as intermediaries, but their mistruths and lies hinder reconciliation. They avoid any place where there is “a likelihood of their meeting” (133). Tony hires dedicated divorce lawyers. Though Brenda has been unfaithful to him, he agrees to accept the blame for the collapse of the marriage to expedite the process.

Brenda will receive £500 per year in the settlement. To satisfy the court’s demands, Tony will need to fake evidence of his “infidelity.” The law firm has dedicated detectives and a prearranged process for this, whereby Tony will take a woman to a hotel in Brighton and be deliberately seen in her company by the hotel staff. Trying to find the right woman perturbs Tony. He and Jock visit the same bar where they met Milly, and Tony recruits her for the mission. Milly would like to bring her daughter, Winnie, but Tony insists that she does not.

Tony waits for Milly at the station. He spots the detectives, noting them to be “sticklers for professional etiquette” (138).