The American naval officers took me to luncheon. After luncheon I went
to the American consul’s where I was viséed. Thence to the Bow Street
station for final registration.
This evening to _The Boy_, a musical play which could use some of the
plot so prodigally expended in _Seven Days’ Leave_. But the music isn’t
bad.
_Friday, September 21. London._
The naval officers and three of us holdup men had a bitter argument
over the respective merits of Baltimore, Dowagiac, Rockford, Niles,
and What Cheer, Iowa, of which Mr. O’Flaherty is a native, and, so
far as I know, the only one. It was finally voted to award What Cheer
first prize for beauty of name, Dowagiac for handsome young men, Niles
for scenic grandeur, Rockford for social gaieties, and Baltimore for
tunnels.
I wanted to do some work, but the rest of the crowd seemed to think
my room was open house for the balance of the day, and here they stuck
despite all efforts to oust them.
To-night it was _Chu Chin Chow_ at His Majesty’s Theater. You have to
keep going to theaters in London. They’re the only places that are lit
up.
_Chu Chin Chow_ is a musical comedy based on _The Forty Thieves_, and
the music, according to our unanimous opinion, is the best since _The
Merry Widow_. I seem to have resigned as war correspondent to accept
a position as dramatic critic. But, as Mr. O’Flaherty says, there’s
nothing to write about the war, and what you do write the censors
massacre.
Our ship still thinks it’s going to sail to-morrow night, and the train
leaves at nine-thirty in the morning. I am to be convoyed to port by
the captain and the lieutenant, whose holiday is over.
_Saturday, September 22. In Bond._
We’re anchored in the middle of the river and have no apparent
intention of moving to-night. And everybody’s out of cigarettes, and
it’s illegal to sell them while we’re in bond, whatever that may mean.
But I guess I’d rather be in it than in a spy’s cell, which seemed to
be my destination at one time to-day.
The United States naval gentlemen were down at the train early and
commandeered the best compartment on it. They had saved a seat for me
and an extra one on general principles. This was awarded to Mr. Hanson,
one of the active members of the French Line conspiracy which caused my
arrest in Bordeaux. I hope he’s seasick all the way home.
On the trip up from London we scored a decisive verbal victory over the
submarines and formulated the terms of peace. Captain Baltimore and
Lieutenant Rockford said farewell at the Liverpool dock and started for
wherever they were going. We found seats in the inspection room and
waited. Mr. Hanson grew impatient at length. He flashed his passport,
a diplomatic one, on the usher and was sent through in a hurry. Not so
with this well-known suspect. I was among the last to be called. My
passport, strangely enough, was approved, but the baggage examination
was yet to come.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account