5 JULY 1997, Page 23

Sir: Peregrine Worsthorne (As I was saying, 28 June) claims

that all philandering involves an element of deceit and that seri- al infidelities in turn must make deceit and lying a way of life in all other endeavours. If this were true, then regular poker and bridge players, whose very skills depend on deception, would all become potential per- jurers. Since Sir Peregrine also chooses to publicise the alleged adultery of his hostess at a private dinner party one may be forgiv- en for wondering how his own honourable and invariably truthful father-in-law feels about the theory that adultery must lead to mendacity in public life.

Claus von Billow

109 Onslow Square, London SW7