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— any other day would have been better. I decided to ask assistance 

 from a man whom I had known for many years and who knew 

 Smuts. I was soon putting the problem to him, to ask if he would 

 telephone the Prime Minister to find out if he would see me. 

 While he was enthusiastic aboiit the whole idea his reply disturbed 

 me, for he said that as he was only an Ordinary Member he dare 

 not telephone the Prime Minister directly. I was astounded and 

 said so. *You don't know the Oubaas as I do,' he said. *If I did 

 that it Avould be as much as my seat is worth. He is a holy terror 

 to the rank and file. But [he added] you are different. The Oubaas 

 is very interested in science and I am sure if you get to him he 

 will help you.' I asked whom I should telephone, but he advised 

 me not to telephone at all as they might just put me off, being a 

 Sunday. He said it would be best for me to go straight to Groote 

 Schuur and ask to see the Prime Minister. I was more than 

 dubious about the wisdom of this, as I knew what my own reactions 

 would be in such a case, but despite my strongly expressed doubts 

 he said that he really felt that it might succeed where a more 

 formal approach might fail. It was only with considerable reluc- 

 tance that I eventually agreed to do what he advised. It was then 

 well past noon, and after clearing up affairs with the trawler and 

 seeing to my fishes, I was taken to Groote Schuur by some friends. 

 The Prime Minister was out. He had some overseas banker with 

 him and they had gone to Muizenberg, but were expected back 

 late in the afternoon. I put my case to two officials who received 

 me. It is one of my assets and one of my troubles that I can read 

 other men's minds. The younger of the two said little, but as 

 many others had done, and many were still to do, he plainly 

 thought me mad to go to such lengths for long-dead fish. The other 

 was more cautious, though I could feel that he also thought it 

 insane ; still, you never knew which way the Oubaas was going to 

 jump, he might rise to this and actually give this apparent lunatic 

 the plane he wanted, so it would be better not to turn him away 

 irrevocably now, but to wait and see. He told me that the Prime 

 Minister did not like being troubled on Sundays, as I could well 

 appreciate, but I emphasised that it was only the factor of time 

 that drove me to this end, and that I had been advised against my 

 judgment by one who should know to come in that way. I asked 

 if I should go away and telephone later, but after consideration he 



