1984 - Planet eBook

this tended.‘Some of the new developments are most ingenious. Thereduction in the number of verbs—that is the point that willappeal to you, I think. Let me see, shall I send a messengerto you with the dictionary? But I am afraid I invariably forgetanything of that kind. Perhaps you could pick it up atmy flat at some time that suited you? Wait. Let me give youmy address.’They were standing in front of a telescreen. Somewhatabsentmindedly O’Brien felt two of his pockets and thenproduced a small leather-covered notebook and a goldink-pencil. Immediately beneath the telescreen, in such aposition that anyone who was watching at the other end ofthe instrument could read what he was writing, he scribbledan address, tore out the page and handed it to Winston.‘I am usually at home in the evenings,’ he said. ‘If not, myservant will give you the dictionary.’He was gone, leaving Winston holding the scrap of paper,which this time there was no need to conceal. Neverthelesshe carefully memorized what was written on it, and somehours later dropped it into the memory hole along with amass of other papers.They had been talking to one another for a couple ofminutes at the most. There was only one meaning that theepisode could possibly have. It had been contrived as a wayof letting Winston know O’Brien’s address. This was necessary,because except by direct enquiry it was never possibleto discover where anyone lived. There were no directoriesof any kind. ‘If you ever want to see me, this is where I can