16 APRIL 1942, Page 4

A friend of mine sent a friend of mine to

prison on Tuesda rather untoward state of affairs. The first friend is a Bow S magistrate, the second (more accurately an acquaintance) Mr. —, why immortalise his name in this connexion?—the well- second-hand bookseller, who has bought a lot of books from for good money in his time. Now he will buy no more for tu months. He had been buying too many from the employees certain publishers, well knowing them not to have been hon come by. Such practices are no doubt to be depreca but—immoral though the sentiment is—I wish he had mana not to be found out: * * *