Gentleman’s Agreement
Photo-story from Janus 95 featuring Lucy Bailey as Juliet Tessler. Juliet Tessler was quality. From the top of her sleek blonde hair to the tips of her patent black court shoes she oozed efficiency. The secretary supreme. Except that the last two firms she had worked for had gone down the tubes and she had been job-hunting for eight months. The recession was biting everyone. This interview with one Nicholas Dickson whom she presumed might vulgarly answer to the name of Nick, was one in a long line of similar encounters. It was a buyers’ market, and she had been made to realise, with a bitterness bordering on contempt, that those doing the purchasing were not always able to recognise class. ‘Well, Miss Tessler,’ he was saying, ‘I’m impressed with your CV, but you’ll have to do a typing test’ Juliet almost yawned. From his strong-voiced, no-nonsense intonation she guessed he came from common stock. Unlike herself, of course. She adjusted her Nina Ricci scarf, stood proudly u...