London: The Odyssey Begins
27
"Will you also take a message to Tyler and his mother?"
Ramsay asked.
"Sure! Just write it down and I'll take it."
"I shouldn't put it in writing," Ramsay said. "I shall tell you
later."
He went on to rant against the Jews. "We're completely
under their domination here."
We walked out of his hotel together. With his black bowler
and his umbrella Ramsay presented a dejected picture of austerity and loneliness. He was now a jobless, frustrated ex-MP
living upon yesterday's ragged glory, such as it had been.
We parted, he to take a train at nearby Victoria Station, I
looking forward to meeting his friend the next day.
THE MAN WHO BOUGHT HITLER'S BUST
MEETING with Captain Robert Gordon-Canning proved far
more adventurous. As sales manager of the "Homestead Farm
Appliance Corporation," I knew I could expect an English
gentleman-farmer to ask me many questions. Next to machinery in general, I know least about farms, so it was with
some hesitation that I went to visit him at his farm in Sandwich. I was warmly welcomed and served a brandy, after
which we went out to inspect his land and stock. Canning had
inherited considerable property and was obviously wealthy.
He began to ask about American farms, seed, markets, fertilizers, and sprayers. As we walked among his fine herds, he
asked about our dairy industry. If my answers were fantastic,
I'm sure Canning ascribed them to our American idiosyncrasies. It was a relief when the interrogation finally ceased and I
turned to study my host. He was a towering, well-proportioned
man, with a ruddy complexion. Much larger than normal, his
face was set in a large head with a bald dome, and gave him a
massive appearance. His eyes were blue, puffy, and encased in