Randolph 'Randolph is Randolph is Randolph' wrote Quoodle in his
first notebook. He has all the swashbuckling virtues of the Churchills- eloquence, loyalty, truculence, magnanimity, and above all courage. First, last, and always, courage. It was an unforgettable sight to see him in hos- pital early this week on the eve of a major Operation, dictating his column for the Spectator, dispensing Pol Roger 1955, and instructing his surgeons on the conduct of the operation.
Some weeks ago Randolph and Quoodle ex- changed some reasonably rough words in print on a matter of high political and constitutional importance. Nevertheless, we continued to phone each other almost every day as if nothing had happened, making no reference at all td the argu- ment then raging. Pique is for political adoles- cents, and Randolph, to use one of his favourite words, is grown-up
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