1 JANUARY 1983, Page 19

Canine companions

Sir: Thank you for your kindly reference in your Notebook (27 November). Perhaps William Hickey's 'mini-paroxysm' was only a disguised defence of a fellow gossip writer whom I dubbed 'Mr Nicholas Badshott' a while ago in a letter to the Times in which I exposed his inventions concerning Mr John le Carre and myself. I have never heard of one dog defending another dog, but perhaps it sometimes happens — all honour for such a rare canine friendship.

Graham Greene

Antibes, South of France