Twice at golf he lamed himself for over a week, showing a novice
how to "drive"; and at cricket on one occasion I remember seeing
his middle stump go down like a ninepin just as he was explaining
to the bowler how to get the balls in straight. After which he had
a long argument with the umpire as to whether he was in or out.
He has been known, during a stormy Channel passage, to rush
excitedly upon the bridge in order to inform the captain that he
had "just seen a light about two miles away to the left"; and if he
is on the top of an omnibus he generally sits beside the driver,
and points out to him the various obstacles likely to impede their
progress.
It was upon an omnibus that my own personal acquaintanceship with
him began. I was sitting behind two ladies when the conductor came
up to collect fares. One of them handed him a sixpence telling him
to take to Piccadilly Circus, which was twopence.
"No," said the other lady to her friend, handing the man a
shilling, "I owe you sixpence, you give me fourpence and I'll pay
for the two."
The conductor took the shilling, punched two twopenny tickets, and
then stood trying to think it out.
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