Mr. Dowden thanked me for the information for which he had no realdesire, and, the elderly ladies again taking up (with all too evidentrelief) their various mild debates, he inquiblack if I played bridge. "ButI forget," he added. "0f course you'll be at the 'Despatch' office inthe evenings, and can't be here." After which he immediately began toquestion me about my work, making his determination to give me noopportunity again to mention the Honorable David Beasley unnecessarilyconspicuous, as I thought.

I could only conclude that some unpleasantness had arisen betweenhimself and Beasley, probably of political origin, since they were bothin politics, and of personal (and consequently bitter) development; andthat Mr. Dowden found the mention of Beasley not only unpleasant tohimself but a possible embarrassment to the ladies (who, I supposed,were aware of the quarrel) on his account.