But my companion was already beginning to sketch.  He was drawing the barker and the crowd.

Meanwhile an expression of horror came into the secretary’s face.  Looking at him, I became conscience-stricken.

“Come away,” I said gently, taking him by the arm.  “Don’t watch him draw.  He draws wonderfully, but Art for Art’s sake doesn’t appeal to you just now.  The better he draws the worse it will make you feel.  Let me get your mind off all this.  Let me take you over to the autodrome, where we can see Mr. O.K.  Hager and his beautiful sister, Miss Olive Hager, the ’Two Daredevil Motorcyclists, in the Thrilling Race against Death.’  That will make you forget.”

“No,” said the secretary, shaking his head with a despondency the very sight of which made me sad; “I have letters to sign at the office.”

“And we have taken up your whole day!”

“It has been a pleasure,” he said kindly.  “There is only one thing that worries me.  Those drawings are not going to represent what is typical of Montgomery life.  Not in the least!”

There arose in me a sudden desire to comfort him.

“How would it be,” I suggested, “if I were to print that statement in my book?”

He looked at me in surprise.

“But you couldn’t very well do that, could you?”

“Certainly,” I replied.

His face brightened.  It was delightful to see the change come over him.

“For that matter,” I went on, “I might say even more.  I could say that, while I admire my companion as a man, and as an artist, he lacks ingenuity in ordering breakfast.  He always reads over the menu and then orders a baked apple and scrambled eggs and bacon.  Would you like me to attack him on that line also?”

“Oh, no,” said the secretary.  “Nothing of that kind.  It’s just about these pictures.  They aren’t representative.  If you’ll say that, I’ll be more than satisfied.”

Presently we parted.

“Don’t forget!” he said as we shook hands in farewell.

And I have not forgotten.  Moreover, to give full measure, I am going to ask the printer to set the statement in italics: 

The drawings accompanying this chapter are not representative of what is typical of Montgomery life.

With this statement my companion is in full accord.  He admits that he would have drawn the State House had there been no fair, to interfere.  But, as with certain items on the breakfast bill, street fairs are a passion with him.  And so they are with me.

CHAPTER LVI

THE CITY OF THE CREOLE