304 Charles B. Goring, 1870—1919 
alarm. He told me that one of" his old convicts, discharged from Parkhurst, had , 
taken to newspaper-selling outside the Embankment Station. " He talks for hours," 
said Charlie desperately : " He has the eyes of a lynx. He spots me amongst 
thousands. He'll spot me in a minute. He always does. And that'll mean 
interminable conversation, and half-a-crown. Let's get into the Gar'dens while 
there's still a chance." So we dived for the Gai'dens, and were just through the 
gate, when he again pulled up. " After all," he said, " I have managed to give him ^ 
the slip three times lately. It seems rather unfair to cheat the poor old boy again, 
so soon. Let's go by the station." So we went by the station ; and he was 
duly pounced upon, and a lengthy, amicable gossip ensued ; and the half-crown 
passed from one pocket to frhe other.... Now that seems to me very like Charlie: 
that pang of conscience, that sense of fellowship which made him feel that, by 
evading him too often, he was, what he called, " cheating the old boy." 
After this, we got out on to the Embankment. It was a wonderful day, I re- 
member, in early autumn. The river was stiffly rippled; the plane trees were 
brilliant in colour and movement ; rapid clouds were passing in the blue sky ; 
bright traflfic was flashing and humming by in the broad roadway : it was a delight 
to swing along the pavement, in the keen air, arm in arm — and quarrelling all the 
time, as w^e mostly did! Presently we reached the Temple, and passed upwards 
through the narrow passages and dark archways, and across the smiling silence of 
the Courtyards : and then out again, into Fleet Street ; and up through Chancery 
Lane to Holborn ; and so to the left, towards Oxford Street. And when we were 
in New Oxford Street, I suddenly became aware of an astounding apparition on 
the opposite side of the road. Charlie observed people very acutely when he was 
in close contact with them, but he didn't notice things in crowds. He didn't 
notice this man ; and he continued to arguefy at my side, while I continued to 
amaze myself at the man. 
This person seemed to take up the whole street. It was not so much that he 
was so large, as that he was so blataiit. His clothes were the most astounding 
things in vulgarity and newness that could be conceived. He wore a buttonhole 
that was an insult. And the way his boots shone, and his hat shone, and his 
walking-stick shone as he twirled it — the way he simply glared and revolved in 
glory, as it were, with Oxford Street as a mere margin for him — simply took one's 
breath away. 
I hadn't time to pull my husband's arm, and stop his Infinites and Indefinites, 
before the whole bulk of this being was descending upon us across the road, and 
clasping Charlie with a fervent hand. I left my poor man stuttering in his grasp ; 
and went and looked into the Cameo Shop window. It was perfectly clear that he 
hadn't the remotest idea who the man was, though he was pretending he knew him ' 
And presently the volubilities broke down, and I heard this: "I don't believe 
you know me, Doctor? I am " I didn't catch the rest; but Charlie's voice 
cleared up in relief: " Oh, of course; of course !" and then proceeded to rapid and 
friendliest conversation. 
