This man was painting the woodwork of the back staircase.

Although the old paintwork here was very dirty and greasy, Misery had given orders that it was not to be cleaned before being painted.
'Just dust it down and slobber the colour on,' he had said.
Consequently, when Crass made the paint, he had put into it an extra large quantity of dryers.

To a certain extent this destroyed the 'body' of the colour: it did not cover well; it would require two coats.

When Hunter perceived this he was furious.

He was sure it could be made to do with one coat with a little care; he believed Sawkins was doing it like this on purpose.