POPULARITY 205 



the dialogue, arranged by Plato, would have 

 shone even in Plato's gallery. He seemed in 

 talk aggressive, petulant, full of a singular energy ; 

 as vain you would have said as a peacock, until 

 you trod on his toes, and then you saw that he 

 was at least clear of all the sicklier elements of 

 vanity. Soundly rang his laugh at any jest 

 against himself. He wished to be taken, as he 

 took others, for what was good in him without 

 dissimulation of the evil, for what was wise in him 

 without concealment of the childish. He hated 

 a draped virtue, and despised a wit on its own 

 defence. And he drew (if I may so express myself) 

 a human and humorous portrait of himself with 

 all his defects and qualities, as he thus enjoyed 

 in talk the robust sports of the intelligence ; giving 

 and taking manfully, always without pretence, 

 always with paradox, always with exuberant 

 pleasure ; speaking wisely of what he knew, 

 foolishly of what he knew not ; a teacher, a learner, 

 but still combative ; picking holes in what was said 

 even to the length of captiousness, yet aware of all 

 that was said rightly ; jubilant in victory, delighted 

 by defeat : a Greek sophist, a British schoolboy. 



Among the legends of what was once a very His late 

 pleasant spot, the old Savile Club, not then divorced lanty. 

 from Savile Row, there are many memories of 

 Fleeming. He was not popular at first, being 

 known simply as ' the man who dines here and 



