Matthew Hall stood up quietly and walked into the cavernous receptionroom. He walked carefully, with the steel-spring tread of a man whoseems to expect the floor to blow up under him at any moment. Forthirty-three years Matthew Hall had walked as other men. Since he wasnot conscious of his new walk, he could not say when it had become partof him. His friends had first noticed it in Paris, in '39, but hadexpected it to wear off as soon as the prison pallor disappeared. Thepallor had gone; the walk remained.