Free Sidney Chambers and The Dangers of Temptation by James Runcie

things.’
    ‘You won’t put it as strongly as that, surely?’
    ‘That’s not my decision. I can only tell the truth about what has happened.’
    ‘Without pity or mercy, it seems.’
    ‘That has to come after the whole truth . . .’
    ‘And nothing but the truth.’
    ‘Remorse follows, then pity, then forgiveness. I think that’s the general order of things, Mrs Wilkinson.’
    ‘You never called me Barbara.’
    ‘You have to start with the truth. Everything flows from that.’
    Sidney realised he was being harder on her than he had originally meant to be. Perhaps he was making up for all his softness at the start.
    By the time he reached the Eagle in order to talk things over with Geordie he had still not made a decision on how much he should say. He should really tell his friend that Mrs Wilkinson had withheld information about the extent of her relationship with Fraser Pascoe, the forged cheque and the sleeping pills. She had also attempted to mislead the police by accusing Tom Raven. Was this enough for a charge of perverting the course of justice? Or should he adopt a more forgiving tone after all that trauma and remember Christ’s words to the woman taken in adultery: ‘Go and sin no more.’
    In the end, he told Geordie everything. ‘I thought hell had no fury like a woman scorned,’ his friend began as he handed Sidney an inadequate tomato juice. ‘It turns out that children are even worse. It’s like a Greek tragedy out there.’
    ‘Well, the Greeks did write the first crime stories. They had murders all over the place.’
    ‘And they were supposed to be the greatest civilisation known to man. Just shows how little human nature changes.’
    Sidney picked up his drink. ‘Barbara Wilkinson and Fraser Pascoe. If they’d known about the results of their affair they’d never have started it.’
    ‘I don’t know, Sidney. People are reckless. Sometimes these things are unstoppable.’
    Geordie had that dangerous look in his eye that meant he was not going to hold back on what he was about to say, whatever the consequences. ‘You got off lightly when you think about it, old boy. Just imagine if it had been you and Babs instead.’
    ‘That was never a possibility.’
    ‘You are not going to admit that you were attracted to her when all this began?’
    ‘Never.’ Sidney stood up to order another round. ‘I love my wife. Restraint has always been my watchword.’
    ‘As long as you keep saying that.’
    ‘I mean it.’
    ‘Do you think you’re bored, Sidney?’
    ‘No. Too much to think about.’
    ‘Perhaps we still hanker for the drama of war-time?’
    ‘I don’t miss the loss of my friends.’
    ‘It’s funny, though. It seems religion is never quite enough for you.’
    ‘We have to keep searching. Sometimes people need distractions and moments of respite. They just have to choose the right ones.’
    ‘Drink is safer than flirtation.’
    ‘Sometimes one follows the other.’
    ‘In both cases you have to know when to stop.’
    Sidney hesitated. ‘Have you ever given up alcohol, Geordie?’
    ‘I certainly have.’
    ‘When?’
    ‘I can give up for several hours at a time. Now stop getting so anxious about life, faith and women. Buy yourself a pint or a bottle of dog.’
    ‘Perhaps I will.’
    ‘You’ve earned it, man. No one’s looking.’
    ‘I feel a bit bad about it.’
    ‘If that’s the only temptation you’re submitting to then you’re doing well. Have a chaser while you’re at it.’
    ‘No, I think that’s too much.’
    ‘Howay, man, I’ll pay.’
    Geordie barged his way past Sidney to the bar and bought beer and whisky for both of them. After they had settled back down in their seats and got out the customary game of backgammon, he mentioned that he thought he had seen Hildegard talking to Barbara Wilkinson in town. ‘But that can’t be right. Your wife wouldn’t bother passing the time of day with a lass like that. Just as well you kept your