By Nigel Balchin, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1946

Nigel Balchin wrote lots of books, including a business book “How To Run a Bassoon Factory” under the pseudonym Mark Spade. I really enjoy his dry wit and flowing prose.

[p324] “Well, you speak as an expert in these matters, Doctor Garsten. But perhaps you’d agree that to the plain man who uses his common sense this might appear to be a clear case of an error of judgement?”

Garsten leant forward slightly. “To the plain man who uses his common sense,” he said silkily, “everything is always clear – after the event.”