"A letter from Brian Brivati, Gaitskill's biographer, led Michael to describe an incident at Porto Fino. On holiday there, Michael and Jill ran into Gaitskill, who was accompanied by one of Michael friends, Maurice Bowra, who had taught Gaitskill at Oxford. "We couldn't walk properly because every time we'd be cut by Gaitskill," who was evidently still sore about Michael's harsh criticisms of his party leadership. Gaitskill and Co. would go off in another direction when they saw Michael and Jill approach. No word was exchanged between the two men for two days. On the third day, "Bowra came out to us, crossed the road and said, 'I can't let this go on any longer. I think they're behaving stupidly toward you--whatever the arguments you have. I've told him I can't be a party to that because we're old friends.'" Michael and Gaitskill never did exchange words."