Who is Sir Herbert Witherspoon from Collected Short Stories Volume Three and what is their importance? W._Somerset_Maugham English & Literature Sir Herbert Witherspoon | Collected Short Stories Volume Three

Sir Herbert Witherspoon is a British diplomat whom Ashenden initially dislikes because of his coolness. Ashenden later finds it necessary to inform Witherspoon that an American ambassador resents Witherspoon because of his inability to be anything but polite, polished and cool. Witherspoon tells Ashenden he was right to tell him about the American ambassador's feelings, then invites Ashenden to dinner. During this dinner Witherspoon tells Ashenden about the time he had an affair with an acrobat by the name of Alix.