Suddenly his face relaxed. It actually smiled, and he said, “That is really very kind of you. It is a pity when the rule is not kept for it does deprive the pension house for pets of a little income—almost all that one can spare for that excellent work. I am grateful, grateful.” I was taken aback, even more so with the explanation. “I have the responsibility for this place. Owing to a very ungenerous press campaign we are not getting the visitors we used to. So I thought I would take a few more photos for the sales-rack at the gate. Yes, I am the owner of this little place, or as I prefer to say, the trustee of it in the joint interests of the public and philanthropy. May I introduce myself?—I am Hiram Hess, Jr.”

After my faux pas I stumbled out some kind of apology.

“Please don’t make any excuse. I only wish all my guests felt the same way in our common responsibility,” he replied. “Indeed, now that you have done me one kindness, you embolden me to ask for another. I believe that the public has been scared away and this seems a heavensent opportunity.”

All this left me somewhat in the dark. I am not averse to being treated as an honored guest and murmured something about being willing to oblige. Then I remembered Mr. M. and that I was actually taking the leading part in a scene and with the “mystery character” to whom he had in fact introduced me. I turned round and found Mr. M. at my heels. I think I made the introduction well and certainly the two of them showed no signs of not wishing to play the parts in which I was now the master of ceremonies. Mr. Hess spoke first: “I was just about to ask your friend. . .”—“Mr. Silchester,” I prompted—“whether he would add another kindness. I was told only yesterday by a friend that natural history photos sell better if they can be combined with human interest of some sort. Of course when I was told that, I saw at once he was right. It must be, musn’t it?” Mr. M. made a “Lord Burleigh nod.”

“I am glad you agree. So I suggested that I might ask a movie star to pose. But my friend said No, I should get a handsome young man whose face has not been made wearisome to the public and that would give a kind of mystery element to the photo. People would ask, ‘In what movie did that face appear?’” I own that at this personal reference—I am a Britisher, you know—I felt a little inclined to blush. “And,” hurried on Mr. Hess, “now, the very day after I am told what to do, I am offered the means to do it!”