My study of this truly interesting speech was interrupted by
the entry into my compartment of two elderly mer- chants of the City of London. They also read their evening newspapers with attention. At the very moment when the train arrived at the wide platforms of Orpington, the elder of the two (and he must have been extremely old) exclaimed, " Very nice indeed." I was startled by this remark but I refrained from comment. " How do you mean nice ? - asked the accompanying merchant. " Well, satisfactory is what I really mean. After all, he said nice things about us." This was more than even I could bear. "Excuse me. Sir," I interrupted, " but do you really regard as either satisfactory or nice the fact that Herr Hitler has been rude to President Roosevelt, has torn up two more treaties, and has reaffirmed his claim for the colonies ? " " Well, what I always say," the old man answered, " is that it might have been far, far worse." " But how could it have been worse ? " I asked him. He did not answer this question. He rose very slowly in his seat and lifted down from the rack a horrible bag such as piano-tuners use. From this bag he extracted with trembling fingers a soiled little novel. He then spread his great-coat over his thin knees, grunted slightly, and relapsed into a deep sleep. The other occupant of the carriage gave me a long, low wink.
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