 The novels leave open the nature and extent of Widmerpool 's sexuality , an aspect on which critics have often speculated . Stephen McGregor of the Spectator describes him as " impotent " ; another commentator used the words " sexual incompetent " . At school he gets <unk> a fellow @-@ pupil , expelled for sending a presumably compromising note to Peter Templer ; afterwards , Jenkins and Stringham discuss Templer 's belief that Widmerpool was motivated by sexual jealousy . A few years later , Jenkins recalls how Widmerpool recoiled when touched gently on the arm by Berthe , a French girl encountered during the pair 's summer sojourn at La <unk> , shortly after leaving school . 
